Clearwater vs Springfield
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Clearwater
Springfield
The Verdict
Springfield is 22.6% less expensive than Clearwater overall. A household earning $75,000 in Clearwater would need approximately $61,165 in Springfield 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 $61,165 in Springfield.
Conversely, $75,000 in Springfield equals $91,964 in Clearwater.
Living in Clearwater vs Springfield
Housing Costs
Clearwater's housing index of 115 is higher Springfield's 67, translating to median home prices of $385,000 vs $225,000. The $160,000 difference in home prices means roughly $10,404 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,625/mo in Clearwater compared to $950/mo in Springfield, a monthly difference of $675.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 102 in Clearwater and 94 in Springfield. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $485/month in Clearwater vs $447/month in Springfield. Springfield offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $456/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 101 in Clearwater and 79 in Springfield. Monthly utility bills average approximately $404 in Clearwater vs $316 in Springfield. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 92 in Clearwater and 116 in Springfield. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 24-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $66,400 in Clearwater and $46,000 in Springfield. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $64,466 and $54,762 respectively. Clearwater residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,549/month to housing in Clearwater vs $1,073/month in Springfield. In Clearwater, median rent of $1,625/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Springfield, median rent of $950/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 48 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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