Clearwater, FL vs Sarasota, FL

Clearwater is moderately more affordable than Sarasota, with a 5.8% lower cost of living index. Clearwater scores 109 compared to 116 for Sarasota, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Sarasota can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Clearwater is $1,539/month compared to $1,514/month in Sarasota — a 2% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Sarasota has cheaper rent, Clearwater actually has lower median home values ($326,100 vs $409,700).

Median household income in Clearwater is $64,440 compared to $70,065 in Sarasota (-8%). While Sarasota is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Clearwater spend roughly 28.7% of their income on rent, more than the 25.9% in Sarasota.