City Comparison
Clearwater vs Tallahassee
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Clearwater scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Clearwater
Tallahassee
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Tallahassee is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
15% lower than in Clearwater.
Housing costs are a major driver: Clearwater's average rent is
30% higher than Tallahassee's.
| Metric | Clearwater | Tallahassee | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,750 | $1,350 | +30% |
| Groceries | $420 | $420 | 0% |
| Utilities | $175 | $175 | 0% |
| Transport | $115 | $115 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $240 | $230 | +4% |
| Monthly Total | $2,700 | $2,290 | +18% |
| Cost Index | 102 | 92 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Clearwater offers 9% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Tallahassee delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Clearwater is estimated at
$54,000 vs $50,000 in Tallahassee.
| Metric | Clearwater | Tallahassee |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $63,000 | $58,000 |
| Salary Needed | $54,000 | $50,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 61,765 idx | 63,043 idx |
| Household Income | $65,400 | $55,500 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 3.9°F of each other.
For sunshine, Tallahassee comes out ahead with 12 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Tallahassee sees 3.3 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Clearwater | Tallahassee |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 73.40°F | 69.50°F |
| Summer High | 88.90°F | 90.90°F |
| Winter Low | 54.10°F | 44.20°F |
| Rainfall | 42.30 in | 38.70 in |
| Snowfall | 0.00 in | 3.30 in |
| Sunny Days | 231 | 243 |
| Humidity | 72.00% | 70.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Tallahassee has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
1,500 minutes (25 hours) per year compared to Clearwater.
Clearwater scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Clearwater leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Clearwater | Tallahassee |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 24 min | 21 min |
| Transit Score | 45.0/100 | 42.0/100 |
| Walkability | 58.0/100 | 45.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 52.00 | 38.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Tallahassee is the larger city
— approximately 0.6x the population of Clearwater.
From a growth perspective, Tallahassee is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Tallahassee has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Clearwater | Tallahassee |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 117,292 | 198,000 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.80% | 0.90% |
| Median Age | 44.0 | 27.5 |
| Unemployment | 3.50% | 3.20% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Clearwater
Advantages
Home to Clearwater Beach, consistently ranked among the top beaches in the United States by TripAdvisor.
Abundant sunshine averaging 231 sunny days per year with warm winters averaging a low of 54.1°F.
World-class healthcare access anchored by Morton Plant Hospital and the extensive BayCare Health System.
No state personal income tax in Florida, providing financial relief for residents and retirees.
Vibrant outdoor lifestyle with extensive opportunities for boating, fishing, and park recreation.
Drawbacks
High homeowners insurance rates and vulnerability to tropical storms and hurricanes along the coast.
Significant seasonal traffic congestion, particularly along routes leading to Clearwater Beach.
Higher-than-average housing and rental costs driven by strong coastal real estate demand.
High reliance on automobile transportation with limited heavy rail public transit options.
Summer heat and humidity can be intense during peak months from June through September.
Tallahassee
Advantages
Median home prices and overall cost of living remain below the national average per recent housing data.
Abundant natural beauty featuring extensive park systems, canopy roads, and proximity to state forests.
Strong local economy anchored by state government stability and two major universities.
High concentration of healthcare facilities and medical professionals relative to population size.
Vibrant cultural, arts, and college sports community offering year-round entertainment.
Drawbacks
Summer months bring high humidity and frequent afternoon thunderstorms.
Public transit options are limited outside of core bus routes, maintaining high car dependency.
Traffic congestion can spike significantly along major corridors during university semesters and legislative sessions.
Property crime rates in certain central urban sectors exceed national averages.
Job market diversity can be somewhat concentrated in public sector and education fields.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Clearwater
#350Florida, USA
59.9 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,750
Avg Salary
$63,000
Cost Index
102
Commute
24 min
Transit Score
45.0/100
Walkability
58.0/100
Sunny Days
231/yr
Avg Temp
73.40°F
Pop. Growth
0.80%
Unemployment
3.50%
Livability
76
Business
70
Tallahassee
#404Florida, USA
58.3 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,350
Avg Salary
$58,000
Cost Index
92
Commute
21 min
Transit Score
42.0/100
Walkability
45.0/100
Sunny Days
243/yr
Avg Temp
69.50°F
Pop. Growth
0.90%
Unemployment
3.20%
Livability
75
Business
67
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