Clear Lake, SD vs Philip, SD

Clear Lake, SD and Philip, SD have a very similar cost of living, with only a 2.5% difference in their overall index. Clear Lake scores 64 while Philip scores 62 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Clear Lake is $679/month compared to $739/month in Philip — a 8% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Clear Lake has cheaper rent, Philip actually has lower median home values ($102,800 vs $144,400).

Median household income in Clear Lake is $65,398 compared to $43,750 in Philip (+49.5%). While Clear Lake is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Clear Lake spend roughly 12.5% of their income on rent, less than the 20.3% in Philip.

Climate-wise, Philip is notably warmer with an average of 47.6°F compared to 43°F in Clear Lake. Clear Lake receives more rainfall at 22.7" per year compared to 16.3" in Philip.