Clearwater vs Round Rock
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Clearwater
Round Rock
The Verdict
Round Rock is 2.0% less expensive than Clearwater overall. A household earning $75,000 in Clearwater would need approximately $73,544 in Round Rock to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Clearwater has the same purchasing power as $73,544 in Round Rock.
Conversely, $75,000 in Round Rock equals $76,485 in Clearwater.
Living in Clearwater vs Round Rock
Housing Costs
Clearwater's housing index of 115 is higher Round Rock's 92, translating to median home prices of $385,000 vs $413,000. The $28,000 difference in home prices means roughly $1,824 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,625/mo in Clearwater compared to $1,400/mo in Round Rock, a monthly difference of $225.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 102 in Clearwater and 96 in Round Rock. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $485/month in Clearwater vs $456/month in Round Rock. Round Rock offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $348/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 101 in Clearwater and 109 in Round Rock. Monthly utility bills average approximately $404 in Clearwater vs $436 in Round Rock. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 92 in Clearwater and 96 in Round Rock. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $66,400 in Clearwater and $100,500 in Round Rock. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $64,466 and $99,505 respectively. Round Rock residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,549/month to housing in Clearwater vs $2,345/month in Round Rock. In Clearwater, median rent of $1,625/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Round Rock, median rent of $1,400/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 23 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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