Monthly housing costs in Clermont
| Cost | Monthly | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Typical rent | $2,058 | Zillow Observed Rent Index, August 2026 |
| Mortgage, 10% down | $2,574 | Principal and interest on $385,700, 30 years at 7.03% |
| Mortgage, 20% down | $2,288 | Principal and interest on $342,900, 30 years at 7.03% |
Typical home value $428,600 (Zillow, August 2026). Rate: Freddie Mac 30-year average, week of September 24, 2026. Taxes, insurance and HOA/CDD fees are extra and covered below.
How expensive is Clermont?
Clermont costs more than the average Florida town to buy into, but less than the Orange County suburbs next door. Zillow's typical home value was $428,604 in August 2026 and typical rent was $2,058 a month. Winter Garden, a few miles east, was $566,535 and $2,374.
Against state and national benchmarks, the American Community Survey (2020 to 2024) puts Clermont's median owner-reported home value at $418,400, compared with $359,000 for Florida and $332,700 for the US. Median household income is $82,306 in Clermont, against $74,568 in Florida and $80,734 nationally, so local incomes are slightly higher too, but not by as much as home values.
MIT's Living Wage Calculator estimates that one adult with no children needs $50,574 a year before tax to cover basic costs in Lake County. Housing is the biggest line in that budget, followed by transportation, which is high here because most trips are by car.
Housing costs in Clermont
Buying a home
Zillow's typical Clermont value of $428,604 is down 2.3% on the year and up 21.4% over five years. At the Freddie Mac average rate of 7.03% (week of 24 September 2026), principal and interest on that price is about $2,574 a month with 10% down and $2,288 with 20% down. New construction in the Wellness Way corridor started from the high $300,000s at Lennar's Wellness Ridge in September 2026, and Pulte listed Parkside Trails from $419,990. See our Clermont new construction guide.
The market has softened. Across the Orlando metro, homes took a typical 70 days to go pending in August 2026, sold for about 97.3% of list price, and 28% of listings had a price cut. That gives buyers room to negotiate but is not a forecast.
Renting
Zillow's typical Clermont rent was $2,058 a month in August 2026, down 0.3% on the year. That is above Orlando's $1,896 and below Winter Garden's $2,374. Under the common 30% guideline, the typical rent needs a household income of about $82,320 a year. MIT's housing budget for one adult in Lake County, based on federal rent benchmarks, is $17,795 a year, or about $1,483 a month, which shows how much cheaper a smaller or older unit can be.
Property tax
The 2025 total millage inside most of the City of Clermont was 16.6766 (6.0850 school and 10.5916 non-school), and 17.1351 in the Wellness Way mill groups, according to the Lake County Property Appraiser. On the typical $428,604 home with a 2026 homestead exemption, that works out to about $6,451 a year, or $538 a month: $2,456 in school tax after the $25,000 exemption and $3,995 in non-school tax after the full $51,411. Without homestead the same home would pay about $7,148. This assumes the assessed value equals the Zillow figure, which is a simplification. Our Lake County property tax guide has every rate and a worked example.
Homeowners and flood insurance
Citizens Property Insurance, the state-created insurer, recommended an average Lake County homeowners (HO-3) premium of $2,339 a year for policies from June 2026 to May 2027, up 7.3% from $2,180. That is about $195 a month. Orange County's recommended average was $2,922. Private-market quotes can be higher or lower, and roof age, construction year and wind mitigation features drive the price. Flood insurance is separate from a homeowners policy, so check the FEMA flood zone for any home near a lake and get a flood quote even if it is not required.
HOA and CDD fees
Most new Clermont communities sit inside a community development district (CDD), whose charges appear on the property tax bill. The Wellness Ridge CDD's FY2027 budget sets operations and maintenance assessments from $506.93 for a 22-foot townhome to $1,382.54 for a 60-foot single-family lot. Debt assessments are extra: $1,303 a year for a 50-foot lot under the Series 2023 bonds and $1,564 under the Series 2024 bonds. HOA dues come on top. In the 55+ market, 55places lists Kings Ridge dues of about $213 to $396 a month. Get the exact figures for the lot in writing.
Everyday costs
Electricity and water
The Wellness Way plan lists Duke Energy Florida for electricity, and the City of Clermont utility department and Sunshine Water for water, in the south Clermont corridor. Elsewhere, confirm the providers for the address. Duke filed in September 2026 to lower 2027 rates, saying a typical residential customer using 1,000 kWh a month should see a $0.71 decrease from December 2026 to January 2027. Summer drives the biggest bills: NOAA normals show about 113 days a year at 90°F or hotter near Clermont. Ask the seller for 12 months of electric and water bills, and confirm which water provider serves the address.
Groceries and food
MIT estimates annual food spending in Lake County at $4,417 for one adult, about $368 a month, and $12,925 for a household of two adults and two children. Florida does not charge sales tax on most grocery food, so the 7% rate mostly hits restaurants and household goods.
Transportation and commuting
Transportation is the second-biggest cost in MIT's Lake County budget: $9,626 a year for one adult and $16,146 for two adults with two children. That reflects commuting distances. The American Community Survey (2020 to 2024) finds 27.4% of Clermont workers commute 45 minutes or more, compared with 16.5% nationally. LakeXpress buses run along State Road 50 and US 27, but most households need a car for each worker, and a toll transponder if the commute uses the toll roads toward Orlando.
Healthcare
MIT puts annual medical costs, including premiums and out-of-pocket spending, at $3,000 for one adult and $6,931 for two adults with no children. Orlando Health South Lake Hospital in Clermont provides emergency and specialist care locally, which keeps travel costs down for routine visits.
Childcare
Childcare is the largest extra cost for working parents. MIT estimates $10,038 a year for one child and $19,897 for two in Lake County. That is why its living wage for one adult with one child jumps to $80,495 before tax.
Internet and phone
MIT's internet and mobile budget for Lake County is $1,581 a year for one adult, about $132 a month, and $2,154 for two adults. Check which home internet providers serve the specific address, since options can differ between older streets and new subdivisions.
Taxes in Clermont
Sales tax
The sales tax rate in Clermont is 7%: Florida's 6% state rate plus Lake County's 1% discretionary sales surtax. The Florida Department of Revenue lists the Lake County surtax as in place since 1988 and running to 31 December 2032.
Income tax
Florida has no state personal income tax, so wages, pensions and retirement withdrawals are taxed only at the federal level. That can offset some of Florida's higher insurance costs for movers from high-tax states.
Property tax and the city rate
Property tax is the main local tax. The city portion of Clermont's millage was 4.59 mills on the 2025 roll, and local reporting in August 2026 said the city approved a 4.59 mill rate for the coming year. Parcels outside city limits pay county fire and stormwater levies instead. On a new purchase your first bill is based on the reassessed value, not the seller's capped value, so estimate it from the price you pay.
Salary needed to live in Clermont
MIT's Living Wage Calculator (updated February 2026) gives these pre-tax figures for Lake County:
| Household | Hourly (per working adult) | Annual before tax |
|---|---|---|
| 1 adult, no children | $24.31 | $50,574 |
| 1 adult, 1 child | $38.70 | $80,495 |
| 1 adult, 2 children | $48.62 | $101,128 |
| 2 adults (1 working), no children | $32.06 | $66,675 |
| 2 adults (both working), 1 child | $22.09 | $91,892 |
| 2 adults (both working), 2 children | $26.36 | $109,659 |
Here is how Clermont housing compares with common incomes. Buying the typical home with 20% down comes to about $3,021 a month once you add estimated homestead property tax ($538) and the Citizens average premium ($195) to principal and interest, before any HOA or CDD.
| Gross income | Typical rent ($2,058) as share of income | Typical purchase (about $3,021) as share of income |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | 49.4% | 72.5% |
| $60,000 | 41.2% | 60.4% |
| $75,000 | 32.9% | 48.3% |
| $100,000 | 24.7% | 36.3% |
To stay near 30% of gross income, you would need about $82,320 a year to rent the typical home and about $120,840 to buy it. MIT's list of typical Lake County salaries, from Bureau of Labor Statistics data, includes $99,500 for healthcare practitioners, $57,090 for education jobs and $47,360 for office and administrative support.
Clermont vs nearby cities
Zillow figures for August 2026:
| City | Typical home value | 1-year change | Typical rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clermont | $428,604 | -2.3% | $2,058 |
| Winter Garden | $566,535 | -1.0% | $2,374 |
| Orlando | $371,120 | -1.4% | $1,896 |
| Lakeland | $309,954 | -1.3% | $1,722 |
Winter Garden costs about $138,000 more to buy into and $316 more a month to rent, in exchange for a shorter drive to Orlando. The City of Orlando is cheaper on paper, but its housing stock is older and more mixed; our Orlando cost of living guide covers its utility and transit costs. Lakeland, to the southwest in Polk County, is the lowest-cost of the four. Within Lake County, Groveland and Minneola are worth pricing too.
Ways to lower your costs
File for homestead
If the home is your permanent residence on 1 January, file with the Lake County Property Appraiser by 1 March. The exemption takes $25,000 off assessed value for all taxes and up to a further $26,411 for non-school taxes in 2026, worth about $697 a year on the typical Clermont home at 2025 rates. It also triggers the Save Our Homes cap on future assessment increases.
Get a wind mitigation inspection
A wind mitigation report documents roof shape, roof-to-wall connections and opening protection, which insurers use to apply discounts. Ask the seller for an existing report, or order one before you bind insurance.
Apply to My Safe Florida Home
The state's My Safe Florida Home program offers a free wind mitigation inspection and grants of up to $10,000, matching $2 for every $1 the homeowner spends, for improvements such as roof upgrades, impact windows and doors and garage door reinforcement. The home must have a homestead exemption, have been built before 1 January 2008 and have an insured value of $700,000 or less, which fits many resale homes in older Clermont neighborhoods.
Compare CDD and HOA totals before you choose
Two similar new homes can differ by more than $1,000 a year in CDD debt alone, depending on the bond series. Put each option's price, CDD, HOA, insurance and tax into one monthly figure before you compare, and ask whether the CDD debt can be paid off early.
Rent first if you are unsure
Renting for a year costs less than buying the typical home each month and lets you test commutes before you commit, at the price of a second move. Our Clermont relocation guide sets out both paths, and our Clermont pros and cons guide covers the trade-offs beyond cost.
Common questions
Is Clermont, FL expensive to live in?+
It is mid-priced for Central Florida. Zillow's typical home value was $428,604 in August 2026, above Orlando's $371,120 but well below Winter Garden's $566,535, and typical rent was $2,058 a month. MIT estimates one adult with no children needs $50,574 a year before tax to cover basic costs in Lake County, which does not stretch to the typical rent.
What salary do you need to live comfortably in Clermont?+
Using the 30% guideline, you need about $82,320 a year to rent the typical Clermont home at $2,058 a month, and about $120,840 to buy the typical $428,604 home with 20% down once property tax and an average Citizens insurance premium are included. HOA and CDD fees on newer homes push that higher.
What is the sales tax in Clermont, FL?+
The sales tax rate in Clermont is 7%. That is Florida's 6% state sales tax plus Lake County's 1% discretionary sales surtax, which the Florida Department of Revenue lists as running to 31 December 2032. Florida has no state personal income tax.
How much is property tax on a Clermont home?+
The 2025 millage inside most of the City of Clermont was 16.6766. On the typical $428,604 home with a 2026 homestead exemption, that is about $6,451 a year, or about $7,148 without homestead. Homes in Wellness Way mill groups paid 17.1351, and CDD assessments are billed on top. Check the parcel on the Lake County Property Appraiser site.
How much is homeowners insurance in Clermont?+
Citizens Property Insurance recommended an average Lake County homeowners premium of $2,339 a year for policies from June 2026 to May 2027, up 7.3% from $2,180. Private insurers may quote more or less. Roof age, construction year and wind mitigation features make the biggest difference, and flood insurance is a separate policy.
Who provides electricity in Clermont?+
The Wellness Way plan lists Duke Energy Florida as the electric provider in the south Clermont corridor. Duke has asked the Florida Public Service Commission to cut its typical 1,000 kWh residential bill by $0.71 from December 2026 to January 2027. Confirm the provider for the exact address.
Is Clermont cheaper than Winter Garden?+
Yes. Zillow's typical home value in August 2026 was $428,604 in Clermont against $566,535 in Winter Garden, a gap of about $138,000, and typical rent was $2,058 against $2,374. Clermont is in Lake County and Winter Garden in Orange County, so property tax rates and insurance benchmarks also differ.
Sources
- Zillow Research: Home value and rent data (ZHVI, ZORI), August 2026
- Freddie Mac: Primary Mortgage Market Survey
- MIT Living Wage Calculator: Lake County, Florida
- Census Reporter: ACS 2024 5-year data for Clermont, Lake County, Florida and US (B19013, B25077, B08303)
- Lake County Property Appraiser: 2025 millage sheet
- Lake County Property Appraiser: Exemptions
- Florida Department of Revenue: Additional homestead exemption CPI adjustment
- Florida Department of Revenue: Discretionary sales surtax rates (DR-15DSS)
- South Lake Tablet: Clermont cuts property tax rate for second consecutive year (Aug 2026)
- Citizens Property Insurance: 2026 Recommended Rate Filing
- Wellness Ridge CDD: FY2027 adopted budget (PDF)
- Wellness Way: official site and FAQ
- 55places: Kings Ridge
- Lennar: New homes in Clermont
- Pulte: New homes in Clermont
- Duke Energy: Duke Energy Florida requests to lower rates in 2027 (Sept 2026)
- NOAA NCEI: 1991-2020 annual normals, Clermont 9 S (USC00081641)
- Orlando Health South Lake Hospital
- Wikipedia: Clermont, Florida (transportation)
- My Safe Florida Home: FAQs