Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Clearwater, Florida
A $326,000 home here costs
$2,707per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.40% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $116,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,806. The real number is $901 higher every month, 50% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Pinellas County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Clearwater against Pinellas County and Florida
| Measure | Clearwater | Pinellas County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $326,100 | $319,000 |
| Median property tax | $2,386 | $2,324 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.732% | 0.729% |
| Median gross rent | $1,539 | $1,525 |
| Population | 117,075 | 960,565 |
The weather behind that power bill
Clearwater sits in Pinellas County, which averages a high of 90.6°F in its hottest month and a low of 52.5°F in its coldest, with 53.62" of precipitation a year and 51% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 3,701 cooling and 447 heating degree days, which is what sets the $166 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Pinellas County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Pinellas County
Full Pinellas County cost breakdown · Every county in Florida
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Clearwater averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Clearwater every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Clearwater I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Clearwater?
A $326,000 home in Clearwater, Florida costs approximately $2,707 per month with 20% down at 7.4%. That is $1,806 principal and interest, $199 property tax, $197 homeowners insurance, $234 utilities and $272 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Clearwater?
Clearwater has an effective property tax rate of 0.732%, based on a median home value of $326,100 and median real estate taxes of $2,386. That is in line with the Pinellas County average of 0.729%.
What is the average home price in Clearwater?
The median owner-occupied home value in Clearwater, Florida is $326,100, against $319,000 across Pinellas County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Clearwater?
Median gross rent in Clearwater is $1,539 a month, against $2,707 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Clearwater?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Clearwater, Florida at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $116,000 a year. That covers the full $2,707 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Clearwater, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Florida.
- Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
- Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
- Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.