Clearwater vs Tacoma
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Clearwater
Tacoma
The Verdict
Clearwater is 12.0% less expensive than Tacoma overall. A household earning $75,000 in Clearwater would need approximately $85,194 in Tacoma 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 $85,194 in Tacoma.
Conversely, $75,000 in Tacoma equals $66,026 in Clearwater.
Living in Clearwater vs Tacoma
Housing Costs
Clearwater's housing index of 115 is lower Tacoma's 140, translating to median home prices of $385,000 vs $400,000. The $15,000 difference in home prices means roughly $972 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,625/mo in Clearwater compared to $1,600/mo in Tacoma, a monthly difference of $25.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 102 in Clearwater and 105 in Tacoma. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $485/month in Clearwater vs $499/month in Tacoma. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 101 in Clearwater and 108 in Tacoma. Monthly utility bills average approximately $404 in Clearwater vs $432 in Tacoma. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 92 in Clearwater and 106 in Tacoma. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 14-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 $58,974 in Tacoma. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $64,466 and $50,405 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 $1,376/month in Tacoma. In Clearwater, median rent of $1,625/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Tacoma, median rent of $1,600/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 25 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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