Wondering how far your dollar stretches in Clearwater compared to Jacksonville? Below we break down housing costs, rent, taxes, income, and quality of life using 2026 data so you can make an informed relocation or remote-work decision. Every number is computed from Census, BLS, and Zillow data specific to these two metro areas.
| Clearwater | Metric | Jacksonville | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 104 | Cost of Living Index | 96 | -7.7% |
| $325,000 | Median Home Price | $310,000 | -4.6% |
| $1,600 | Median Monthly Rent | $1,098 | -31.4% |
| $52,800 | Median Household Income | $61,400 | +16.3% |
| 0.9% | Property Tax Rate | 0.9% | +1.1% |
| 3.6% | Unemployment Rate | 3.3% | -8.3% |
| 24 min | Average Commute | 27 min | +12.5% |
| 44.2 | Median Age | 37.2 | -15.8% |
| 117,000 | Metro Population | 1,590,000 | +1259.0% |
Data sourced from Census Bureau, BLS, Zillow, and ApartmentAdvisor (2024-2025). COL Index: 100 = national average.
Monthly mortgage assumes 6.5% interest, 30-year fixed, 20.0%down payment. PITI includes principal, interest, property tax, and homeowner's insurance.
Buying a home in Clearwater costs $1,982/month (PITI) compared to $1,893/month in Jacksonville — a difference of $89/month or $1,068/year. The price-to-income ratio is 6.2x in Clearwater versus 5.0x in Jacksonville, suggesting Jacksonville is relatively more affordable for homebuyers relative to local incomes. At a 15% savings rate, it takes 8.2 years to save a down payment in Clearwater compared to 6.7 years in Jacksonville.
Estimated on each city's median household income, single filer, standard deduction, 2025 rates.
| Tax Category | Clearwater | Jacksonville |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Income | $52,800 | $61,400 |
| State Income Tax | None | None |
| Federal Income Tax | $4,207 | $5,239 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $4,040 | $4,697 |
| Property Tax (on median home) | $2,925/yr | $2,821/yr |
| State Sales Tax Rate | 6.0% | 6.0% |
| Total Tax Burden | $8,247 (15.6%) | $9,936 (16.2%) |
| Take-Home Pay | $44,553 | $51,464 |
Florida has no state income tax, giving Clearwater residents a significant tax advantage. On median household income, total taxes (federal + state + FICA) come to $8,247 in Clearwater (15.6% effective) versus $9,936 in Jacksonville (16.2% effective). After taxes, take-home pay is $44,553 in Clearwater and $51,464 in Jacksonville. Property taxes add $2,925/year on the median Clearwater home versus $2,821/year in Jacksonville.
These figures adjust for cost of living using the formula: adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). If you earn $52,800 in Clearwater (COL 104) and relocate to Jacksonville (COL 96), you would need $48,738 to maintain the same purchasing power. This means you can take a pay cut of $4,062 and still maintain your lifestyle in Jacksonville.
Beyond costs, quality of life matters. The average commute in Clearwater is 24 minutes versus 27 minutes in Jacksonville, a difference of 3 minutes each way. Jacksonville's lower unemployment rate of 3.3% versus 3.6% suggests a stronger job market. Clearwater skews slightly older with a median age of 44.2 vs 37.2 in Jacksonville.
Clearwater is 7.7% more expensive than Jacksonville overall. Clearwater has a cost of living index of 104 compared to 96 for Jacksonville (national average = 100). The biggest difference is housing: the median home costs $325,000 in Clearwater vs $310,000 in Jacksonville.
The median home price in Clearwater is $325,000, which is $15,000 more than Jacksonville's median of $310,000. Monthly rent follows a similar pattern: $1,600/month in Clearwater vs $1,098/month in Jacksonville, a difference of $502/month or $6,024/year.
To maintain the same standard of living, a $52,800 salary in Clearwater is equivalent to $48,738 in Jacksonville. This is based on the cost of living index ratio: Clearwater's COL index of 104 vs Jacksonville's 96. Conversely, $61,400 in Jacksonville equals $66,517 in Clearwater.
On a median household income, the combined federal, state, and FICA tax burden is $8,247 (15.6% effective rate) in Clearwater vs $9,936 (16.2% effective rate) in Jacksonville. Property taxes on the median home are $2,925/year in Clearwater (0.9% rate) vs $2,821/year in Jacksonville (0.9% rate). Sales tax rates are 6.0% in Florida and 6.0% in Florida.
Clearwater median household income: $52,800/yr. Jacksonville median household income: $61,400/yr (Census ACS).
Median monthly rent: $1,600 in Clearwater vs $1,098 in Jacksonville. Annualized that is $19,200 vs $13,176.
Jacksonville offers a lower cost of living (index 96 vs 104), which lets remote-workers keeping a coastal salary stretch further. Clearwater typically wins on amenities and labor-market depth.
Clearwater and Jacksonville numbers are pulled from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI (home values, rent), the U.S. Census Bureau ACS (income, demographics), and BEA RPP (cost-of-living index). Each value is timestamped on the page.
Source feeds (Zillow, Freddie Mac PMMS, Census ACS, BEA RPP) are refreshed on their native cadence. Page caches revalidate every 24 hours via Next.js ISR.
No. The Clearwater vs Jacksonville cost-of-living page is educational reference using public data and standard formulas. It is not personalized tax, legal, or investment advice. Consult a licensed professional for material decisions.
Home prices use Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI)[1]; rents use Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI)[1]. Median household income comes from the Census ACS 5-year estimates[2].
COL indices use the BEA Regional Price Parity methodology[3], normalized so 100 = national average.
Property tax rates are effective rates from the Tax Foundation[4], expressed as % of owner-occupied home value. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% fixed rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down, $1,800/yr homeowners insurance.
Federal tax calculations[6] assume single filer, standard deduction. State tax uses the top marginal rate times taxable income after the state standard deduction. FICA = 6.2% Social Security (up to wage base) + 1.45% Medicare.
Salary equivalence uses adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). This captures cost-of-living shift but not state income tax differences.
Unemployment figures are the most recent monthly MSA-level readings from the BLS LAUS series[7].
Last reviewed is computed from the maximum retrievedAt across every source this page consumes.
City data from Census Bureau[2], BLS[7], and Zillow[1] (2024-2025). Tax calculations use 2025 IRS rates[6], single filer, standard deduction. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% PMMS rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down. COL Index: 100 = national average[3]. Last reviewed .