Cost of Living Comparison Between Clearwater, FL and Thornton, CO Cost of Living Comparison Between Clearwater, FL and Thornton, CO

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,965 in Clearwater, FL versus $2,904 in Thornton, CO.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,441 in Clearwater, FL versus $4,088 in Thornton, CO.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,917 in Clearwater, FL versus $5,272 in Thornton, CO.

Living in Clearwater, FL is roughly 2% more expensive than in Thornton, CO, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Clearwater, FL 116% above, Thornton, CO 112% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.71 $16.71

$20.11 $20.11

-16.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$67.1 $67.1

$85.2 $85.2

-21.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.40 $11.40

$13.23 $13.23

-13.83%

Cappuccino

$5.05 $5.05

$5.82 $5.82

-13.23%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 $2.32

$2.88 $2.88

-19.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$2.19 $2.19

-19.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.46 $5.46

$6.84 $6.84

-20.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.11 $8.11

$7.77 $7.77

4.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.03 $1.03

-4.85%

White Bread (500g)

$3.82 $3.82

$3.40 $3.40

12.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.18 $4.18

$4.30 $4.30

-2.79%

Eggs

$3.98 $3.98

$5.00 $5.00

-20.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.90 $10.90

$14.65 $14.65

-25.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.77 $14.77

$13.37 $13.37

10.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.18 $20.18

$19.35 $19.35

4.29%

Apples (1kg)

$6.29 $6.29

$5.07 $5.07

24.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.98 $1.98

-25.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.08 $6.08

$4.47 $4.47

36.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.05 $6.05

$4.74 $4.74

27.64%

Potato (1kg)

$4.11 $4.11

$2.70 $2.70

52.22%

Onion (1kg)

$3.93 $3.93

$2.64 $2.64

48.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.62 $2.62

$2.38 $2.38

10.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.48 $2.48

10.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.77 $10.77

$10.60 $10.60

1.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.35 $16.35

$19.71 $19.71

-17.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 $1.89

$2.68 $2.68

-29.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.77 $4.77

$4.52 $4.52

5.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.98 $2.98

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.76 $45.76

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.41 $3.41

$3.60 $3.60

-5.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.66 $0.66

$1.41 $1.41

-53.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$59.3 $59.3

$24.88 $24.88

138.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$1.04 $1.04

-12.50%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$37.6K $37.6K

$25.2K $25.2K

49.42%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.6K $25.6K

$25.4K $25.4K

0.80%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$246 $246

$161 $161

52.69%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$55.5 $55.5

$77.4 $77.4

-28.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.9 $75.9

$87.8 $87.8

-13.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.26 $40.26

$55.7 $55.7

-27.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.44 $25.44

$9.81 $9.81

159.33%

Cinema Ticket

$15.69 $15.69

$15.18 $15.18

3.36%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,243 $1,243

$1,500 $1,500

-17.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.7K $24.7K

$25.0K $25.0K

-0.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.1 $75.1

$58.7 $58.7

27.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.2 $54.2

$39.94 $39.94

35.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 $107

$81.8 $81.8

31.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$138 $138

$125 $125

10.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,059 $2,059

$1,963 $1,963

4.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,540 $1,540

$1,556 $1,556

-1.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,554 $3,554

$2,769 $2,769

28.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,901 $2,901

$2,283 $2,283

27.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,950 $2,950

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,694 $2,694

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,756 $3,756

$5,400 $5,400

-30.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.18

6.14

0.65%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Clearwater, FL: August 18, 2026

Last update for Thornton, CO: August 18, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,059 in Clearwater, FL and $1,963 in Thornton, CO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Thornton, CO pays 44% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $67.0 in Clearwater, FL vs $85.0 in Thornton, CO. Groceries flip the comparison at $458 vs $444, with Thornton, CO cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Clearwater, FL vs Thornton, CO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Thornton, CO is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 44% lower in Thornton, CO. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,059 in Clearwater, FL versus $1,963 in Thornton, CO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,243 in Clearwater, FL versus $1,500 in Thornton, CO. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Thornton, CO – a meal for two runs $85.0 versus $67.0 in Clearwater, FL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Thornton, CO is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Clearwater, FL and Thornton, CO are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Thornton, CO gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Clearwater, FL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.