Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Montgomery County, PA would need to be about $35,185 in Clearfield County, PA, or $14,815 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Montgomery County, PA vs Clearfield County, PA: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Clearfield County, PA is cheaper than Montgomery County, PA.
Moving to Clearfield County, PA is estimated to save $17,743 per year.
Cheaper County
Clearfield County, PASave about $17,743 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Montgomery County, PA is about $35,185 in Clearfield County, PA.
Biggest drivers
Healthcare increases by $1,213 per year. Housing saves $10,502 per year.
Housing: $10,502 lower in Clearfield County, PA
Taxes: $4,549 lower in Clearfield County, PA
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $1,213 higher in Clearfield County, PA
Food: $842 lower in Clearfield County, PA
Transport: $459 higher in Clearfield County, PA
Montgomery County, PA→Clearfield County, PA
Equivalent salary in Clearfield County, PA
$35,185
-29.63% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Montgomery County, PA: $140,263
Median Income in Clearfield County, PA: $75,314
Living Index in Montgomery County, PA 42.69%
Living Index in Clearfield County, PA 55.96%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Montgomery County, PA to Clearfield County, PA.
* Living index is estimated as (estimated total cost / area median income) * 100. A living index above 100% means modeled costs exceed median income.
Cost of Living Breakdown by Category
Summary
Moving from Montgomery County, PA to Clearfield County, PA is estimated to save $17,743 per year. A $50,000 salary in Montgomery County, PA would have similar purchasing power to about $35,185 in Clearfield County, PA. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -29.63% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $10,502 per year lower (-56.24%); Taxes is $4,549 per year lower (-37.14%).
Below we break down the annual categories behind the difference using Economic Policy Institute 2026 Family Budget data.
Why this comparison matters
These notes use the actual annual cost differences between Montgomery County, PA and Clearfield County, PA, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 42.7% of median family income in Montgomery County, PA and 56.0% in Clearfield County, PA. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $10,502 per year lower in Clearfield County, PA than in Montgomery County, PA. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Clearfield County, PA changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $842 per year lower in Clearfield County, PA than in Montgomery County, PA. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Clearfield County, PA can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $459 per year higher in Clearfield County, PA than in Montgomery County, PA. Transportation matters for commuters because driving distance, vehicle costs, and transit access can change how much of a salary is left after getting around Clearfield County, PA.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $1,213 per year higher in Clearfield County, PA than in Montgomery County, PA. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Clearfield County, PA changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $3,522 per year lower in Clearfield County, PA than in Montgomery County, PA. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Clearfield County, PA help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in Montgomery County, PA and Clearfield County, PA, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Clearfield County, PA, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $4,549 per year lower in Clearfield County, PA than in Montgomery County, PA. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Clearfield County, PA matters even if the headline salary looks similar before deductions.
What changed the most?
The following cards show the annual category differences that most affect the move to Clearfield County, PA.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Clearfield County, PA
Annual Increase:
$1,213 per year
HEALTHCARE has the largest annual increase when moving to Clearfield County, PA.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Clearfield County, PA
Annual Savings:
$10,502 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Clearfield County, PA.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -56% lower | |
| Food | -17% lower | |
| Transport | 4% higher | |
| Healthcare | 31% higher | |
| Other Costs | -48% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -37% lower |
In Clearfield County, PA, modeled annual costs are $42,142 compared with $59,885 in Montgomery County, PA.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Clearfield County, PA. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Clearfield County, PA is not a metropolitan location, while Montgomery County, PA is a metropolitan location.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
