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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,681 in Thornton, CO versus $2,925 in Clearwater, FL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,104 in Thornton, CO versus $4,415 in Clearwater, FL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,527 in Thornton, CO versus $5,905 in Clearwater, FL.

Living in Thornton, CO costs roughly 8% less than in Clearwater, FL, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Thornton, CO 100% above, Clearwater, FL 118% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.62 $19.62

$19.19 $19.19

2.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.3 $85.3

$71.9 $71.9

18.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.77 $11.77

$9.87 $9.87

19.25%

Cappuccino

$5.44 $5.44

$4.63 $4.63

17.49%

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

$2.98 $2.98

$2.34 $2.34

27.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 $2.21

$1.85 $1.85

19.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.39 $6.39

$4.42 $4.42

44.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.35 $7.35

$7.38 $7.38

-0.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.13 $1.13

-9.73%

White Bread (500g)

$3.52 $3.52

$3.56 $3.56

-1.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.77 $5.77

$4.08 $4.08

41.42%

Eggs

$5.65 $5.65

$4.41 $4.41

28.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.24 $14.24

$11.76 $11.76

21.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.96 $12.96

$12.37 $12.37

4.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.71 $18.71

$16.77 $16.77

11.57%

Apples (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$6.11 $6.11

-27.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.42 $1.42

11.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$5.32 $5.32

-28.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.09 $5.09

$5.25 $5.25

-3.05%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.52 $3.52

-24.15%

Onion (1kg)

$2.50 $2.50

$3.91 $3.91

-36.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.02 $2.02

1.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.78 $2.78

-19.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.99 $9.99

$6.83 $6.83

46.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.75 $19.75

$17.96 $17.96

9.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.75 $1.75

30.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.85 $3.85

-2.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.99 $2.99

-34.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.59 $32.59

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.56 $2.56

$3.45 $3.45

-25.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 $1.43

$0.70 $0.70

104.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.19 $24.19

$61.2 $61.2

-60.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$0.86 $0.86

-4.65%

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

$31.9K $31.9K

$28.7K $28.7K

11.28%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$24.4K $24.4K

6.87%

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

$174 $174

$257 $257

-32.32%

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

$71.0 $71.0

$44.88 $44.88

58.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.8 $66.8

$74.8 $74.8

-10.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.18 $43.18

$39.08 $39.08

10.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.71 $24.71

Cinema Ticket

$14.79 $14.79

$14.08 $14.08

5.04%

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

$1,517 $1,517

$422 $422

259.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.4K $16.4K

$7,284 $7,284

124.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 $58.1

$66.5 $66.5

-12.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.34 $37.34

$54.6 $54.6

-31.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.9 $98.9

$100 $100

-1.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 $121

$171 $171

-29.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,576 $1,576

$2,093 $2,093

-24.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,351 $1,351

$1,592 $1,592

-15.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,802 $2,802

$3,653 $3,653

-23.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,526 $2,526

$2,955 $2,955

-14.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,929 $2,929

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,767 $2,767

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,200 $5,200

$3,731 $3,731

39.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.37

6.59

-3.34%

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

Last update for Thornton, CO: April 26, 2026

Last update for Clearwater, FL: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,576 in Thornton, CO and $2,093 in Clearwater, FL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Thornton, CO pays 39% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $85.0 in Thornton, CO vs $72.0 in Clearwater, FL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $434 vs $427 per month, with Clearwater, FL cheaper across the board.

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

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

Thornton, CO is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Thornton, CO pays 39% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,576 in Thornton, CO versus $2,093 in Clearwater, FL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,517 in Thornton, CO versus $422 in Clearwater, FL. 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 $72.0 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, Thornton, CO and Clearwater, FL 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 9% less than in Clearwater, FL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.