😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,925 in Clearwater, FL versus $2,755 in Waterford.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,415 in Clearwater, FL versus $3,957 in Waterford.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,905 in Clearwater, FL versus $5,158 in Waterford.
😐Living in Clearwater, FL is roughly 6% more expensive than Waterford, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Clearwater, FL118% above, Waterford106% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Clearwater, FL
Waterford
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.19$19.19
$23.52€20.14
-18.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.9$71.9
$93.4€80.0
-23.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.87$9.87
$12.53€10.73
-21.23%
Cappuccino
$4.63$4.63
$3.93€3.36
17.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34$2.34
$2.45€2.10
-4.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85$1.85
$2.26€1.93
-18.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.42$4.42
$6.88€5.89
-35.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.38$7.38
$5.58€4.78
32.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Clearwater, FL
Waterford
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.13$1.13
$1.37€1.17
-17.52%
White Bread(500g)
$3.56$3.56
$2.78€2.38
28.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.08$4.08
$2.38€2.04
71.43%
Eggs
$4.41$4.41
$4.21€3.60
4.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.76$11.76
$11.91€10.20
-1.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.37$12.37
$10.36€8.87
19.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.77$16.77
$14.48€12.40
15.81%
Apples(1kg)
$6.11$6.11
$3.07€2.63
99.02%
Banana(1kg)
$1.42$1.42
$2.68€2.29
-47.01%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.32$5.32
$3.49€2.99
52.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.25$5.25
$3.64€3.11
44.23%
Potato(1kg)
$3.52$3.52
$2.25€1.93
56.44%
Onion(1kg)
$3.91$3.91
$1.47€1.26
165.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.02$2.02
$1.25€1.07
61.60%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.78$2.78
$1.99€1.70
39.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.83$6.83
$18.03€15.43
-62.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.96$17.96
$20.20€17.29
-11.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75$1.75
$3.06€2.62
-42.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85$3.85
$3.23€2.77
19.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Clearwater, FL
Waterford
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.99$2.99
$2.55€2.19
17.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.59$32.59
$64.9€55.6
-49.81%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.45$3.45
$6.00€5.14
-42.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.70$0.70
$1.21€1.04
-42.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.2$61.2
$34.69€29.69
76.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.86$0.86
$1.98€1.69
-56.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.7K$28.7K
$36.5K€31.3K
-21.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.4K$24.4K
$40.7K€34.8K
-40.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Clearwater, FL
Waterford
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$257$257
$221€189
16.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.88$44.88
$26.17€22.40
71.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.8$74.8
$63.0€53.9
18.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Clearwater, FL
Waterford
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.08$39.08
$48.41€41.44
-19.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.71$24.71
$14.49€12.40
70.53%
Cinema Ticket
$14.08$14.08
$13.27€11.36
6.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Clearwater, FL
Waterford
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$422$422
$1,205€1,032
-64.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,284$7,284
$7,638€6,538
-4.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Clearwater, FL
Waterford
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.5$66.5
$95.5€81.8
-30.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.6$54.6
$56.6€48.44
-3.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100$100
$115€98.8
-13.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$171$171
$131€112
30.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Clearwater, FL
Waterford
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,093$2,093
$1,752€1,500
19.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,592$1,592
$1,402€1,200
13.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,653$3,653
$2,727€2,334
33.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,955$2,955
$2,227€1,906
32.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,929$2,929
$4,118€3,525
-28.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,767$2,767
$2,883€2,468
-4.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Clearwater, FL
Waterford
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,731$3,731
$3,331€2,852
12.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.59
4.23
55.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Clearwater, FL: April 28, 2026
Last update for Waterford: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,093 in Clearwater, FL and $1,752 in Waterford. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Clearwater, FL pays 12% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $72.0 in Clearwater, FL vs $93.0 in Waterford. Groceries flip the comparison at $427 vs $363, with Waterford 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 Waterford: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Waterford cheaper than Clearwater, FL?
Waterford is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Clearwater, FL or Waterford?
Clearwater, FL pays 12% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Clearwater, FL and Waterford?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,093 in Clearwater, FL versus $1,752 in Waterford. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Clearwater, FL vs Waterford?
All in, you'll spend $2,925 per month in Clearwater, FL versus $2,755 in Waterford – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Waterford runs roughly 99% less than in Clearwater, FL. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $3,000 enough to cover costs in Clearwater, FL or Waterford?
Both cities are expensive relative to $3,000. Waterford is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is it better to live in Clearwater, FL or Waterford?
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.
Which city is safer, Clearwater, FL or Waterford?
Safety-wise, Clearwater, FL and Waterford are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Waterford gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Clearwater, FL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Clearwater, FL vs other spots: cost of living compared