Clearwater vs St. Petersburg: Where SPC Students Save on Rent

Clearwater is the cheaper city for SPC students, by about $200 a month on a one-bedroom. Average one-bedroom rent ran $1,649 in Clearwater versus $1,848 in St. Petersburg as of September 2026, and the gap widens to $514 on a three-bedroom. But the cheapest pockets of St. Pete match Clearwater, so the campus you attend should decide the city, not the other way around.

Key Takeaways

• Clearwater wins on averages: $1,649 for a one-bedroom against $1,848 in St. Pete, roughly $2,400 a year in your pocket.
• Downtown St. Pete is the expensive outlier. Its average rent hit $3,187 in September 2026.
• Disston Heights, in west-central St. Pete, averages $1,418, which undercuts every Clearwater neighborhood in the same survey.
• On FMP, the lowest clear one-bedroom prices sit up north (Beltrees Plaza in Dunedin at $1,125, Midway Court in Clearwater at $1,145).
• Your SPC ID rides every PSTA bus free, so living in the "wrong" city costs you time, not fare money.

Clearwater vs St. Petersburg Rent: The Numbers Side by Side

Clearwater is cheaper at every unit size the survey tracks (it doesn't report a Clearwater studio average). Here are average asking rents for September 2026 from Yardi's market survey, which tracks large apartment complexes in both cities:

• One-bedroom: $1,649 in Clearwater, $1,848 in St. Petersburg. Difference: $199 a month.
• Two-bedroom: $1,952 versus $2,267. That's $315 a month, or about $158 per person if you split it.
• Three-bedroom: $2,333 versus $2,847, a $514 gap. Split three ways, it's $778 each in Clearwater and $949 in St. Pete.
• All units: $1,864 versus $2,057.

Other trackers see a smaller gap. A Tampa Bay Observer rent breakdown from May 2026 put both cities' all-bedroom averages near $2,200, with St. Pete running a bit higher on studios and one-bedrooms. Treat the $200 one-bedroom gap as the realistic ceiling on what moving north saves you, not a guarantee.

Want to see every place near your campus with real starting prices? FMP's SPC student housing page lists 23 rentals across Pinellas, from Dunedin down to Gulfport.

Where St. Petersburg Gets Expensive (and Where It Doesn't)

Downtown is what drags St. Pete's average up. The same September 2026 survey puts Downtown St. Petersburg at $3,187 a month, Lakewood Estates at $2,547 and the Tropicana Field area at $2,340. Those are the neighborhoods closest to SPC's Downtown Center and Midtown Center, which is rough luck if that's where your classes are.

Go west and prices fall hard. Disston Heights averages $1,418 and Greater Pinellas Point $1,444. Both are cheaper than any Clearwater neighborhood in the survey. Disston Heights also sits within a short drive of the St. Petersburg/Gibbs Campus at 6605 Fifth Ave N.

FMP listings tell the same story. Downtown, Beacon 430 lists from $2,095 and 1701 Central from $2,145. Out near Gibbs, Lakeshore Apartments lists a one-bedroom at $1,265, and Kenwood Villas at 3901 Fifth Ave N lists one-bedrooms from $1,295 and a two-bedroom at $1,595. Same city, nearly $850 apart.

Where Clearwater Gets Cheap

Clearwater's floor is lower, but so is its ceiling. Its priciest neighborhood in the survey, Historic Bayview, averages $2,177, about a thousand dollars under downtown St. Pete. The cheapest areas are Clearwater Golf View ($1,448), Imperial Park ($1,483) and Clearwater North East ($1,514).

The best deals on FMP are older garden-style complexes. Midway Court at 1060 Jasper St lists a one-bedroom at $1,145 and a two-bedroom at $1,425, about 4 miles from SPC's Clearwater Campus on Drew St. A little farther north, Beltrees Plaza in Dunedin starts at $1,125 for a one-bedroom and $1,645 for a three-bedroom.

Do the math on that three-bedroom. Split three ways, it's about $548 a person, one of the lowest per-person splits on FMP's SPC page. (Rent at both complexes climbs with each added bedroom, which tells you these are whole-apartment prices, not per-bed.)

Check the Clearwater student apartments page for current prices near the Drew St campus, and tour at least two places before you sign. Older complexes vary a lot unit to unit.

Which City Should You Pick for Your SPC Campus?

Pick the city your campus is in. SPC's Clearwater Campus and its Downtown Center are roughly 15 miles apart, and that's a long cross-county commute to make twice a day just to save $200.

• Clearwater or Tarpon Springs campus: Live in Clearwater or Dunedin. You get the cheaper market and the short commute. Easy call.
• St. Petersburg/Gibbs Campus: Stay in St. Pete, but stay west. Lakeshore and Kenwood Villas beat Clearwater's averages and sit within 3 miles of class.
• Downtown or Midtown center: This is the only case where the price gap tempts. Even then, look at Disston Heights or Kenwood before you look north.
• Seminole or the Health Education Center (in Pinellas Park, right in the middle): You can go either direction, so let the specific apartment win.

Commuting between your apartment and class? Your SPC ID covers it. Through the U-PASS program, any student taking at least one credit course rides every PSTA route free, express buses and trolleys included, per SPC's free bus rides page. In St. Pete, the SunRunner runs downtown to St. Pete Beach every 15 minutes during the day. Ride your route at class time before you sign anything.

The Hidden Costs That Can Erase the Gap

A $200 rent difference disappears fast. Almost every SPC-area listing on FMP notes that the property hasn't posted its monthly fees yet, so your real total could be higher than the base rent. Ask every leasing office for the all-in monthly number, including trash, pest control and any amenity fee.

Gas and parking count too. If a cheaper Clearwater apartment means driving to Gibbs four days a week, you've spent part of the savings on fuel. And downtown St. Pete towers often charge separately for a garage spot. A slightly pricier apartment on a bus line you ride free can come out ahead. For more on the full picture, read our guide to where SPC students rent without dorms.

Frequently Asked Questions About Clearwater vs St. Petersburg Rent for SPC Students

Is Clearwater cheaper than St. Petersburg for students?

Yes, on average. A one-bedroom averaged $1,649 in Clearwater and $1,848 in St. Petersburg in September 2026. The exception is west-central St. Pete, where Disston Heights averages $1,418, below every Clearwater neighborhood.

What's the cheapest apartment near SPC's Clearwater Campus?

$1,125. That's the one-bedroom starting price at Beltrees Plaza in Dunedin on FMP. Midway Court on Jasper St in Clearwater is close behind at $1,145, about 4 miles from campus.

How much can roommates save in Clearwater versus St. Pete?

About $158 a person each month on a two-bedroom, and $171 each on a three-bedroom, based on average rents. Split Beltrees Plaza's $1,645 three-bedroom three ways and you're near $548 each.

Should I live in Clearwater if I go to the Gibbs Campus?

Probably not. The savings are real but small, and the commute is long. Lakeshore Apartments ($1,265) and Kenwood Villas ($1,295) put you within 3 miles of Gibbs at prices close to Clearwater's.

Do SPC students ride the bus free between Clearwater and St. Pete?

Yes. Your SPC ID is a free PSTA pass on every route, as long as you're enrolled in at least one credit course. Just show it when you board.