Cost of Living in Panama City, FL
Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Panama City, FL to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Panama City, FL?
With a price level of 97.3 (U.S. average = 100), Panama City, FL is close to the national average. In detail, housing costs are 4% below average; everyday goods are 4% below average; utilities are 12% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining cost about the same as the national average. The biggest difference from the national average is in utilities.
Prices in Panama City, FL vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 97.3 | −2.7% |
| Housing | 96.4 | −3.6% |
| Goods | 96.2 | −3.8% |
| Utilities | 88.1 | −11.9% |
| Other services | 98.9 | −1.1% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Panama City, FL
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,358 | $54,320/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,413 | $56,520/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,601 | $64,040/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,058 | $82,320/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,557 | $102,280/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Panama City, FL
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Panama City, FL | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $38,900 | $33,436 |
| $60,000 | $58,400 | $49,104 |
| $80,000 | $77,800 | $63,562 |
| $100,000 | $97,300 | $77,281 |
| $150,000 | $145,900 | $110,989 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Florida 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Panama City, FL's median wage of $45,030 takes home about $3,197 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,413, which is 44% of take-home pay — well above the 30% guideline, so many workers here share housing or rent smaller units. That leaves about $1,784 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Panama City, FL
- Federal income tax$3,224
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,792
- Medicare (1.45%)$653
- Florida income tax$0
- Take-home pay$38,362
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Highest-paying jobs in Panama City, FL
| Job | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waiter and Waitress | $34,990 | $30,294 | $31,136 |
| Retail Salesperson | $32,290 | $28,125 | $28,907 |
| Cashier | $29,080 | $25,546 | $26,256 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $28,050 | $24,709 | $25,396 |
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in Florida cities
Half of Florida’s 9,929,860 workers earn less than $47,880 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $36,290–$75,410 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Tallahassee, FL stretches a paycheck furthest, while Miami, FL is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami, FL | $48,640 | 114.2 | $1,942 | 56% | $1,497 | $36,146 |
| Tampa, FL | $48,940 | 100.9 | $1,696 | 49% | $1,763 | $41,137 |
| Orlando, FL | $46,630 | 101.4 | $1,731 | 52% | $1,573 | $39,093 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $48,830 | 99.5 | $1,374 | 40% | $2,077 | $41,630 |
| North Port, FL | $47,440 | 102.4 | $1,686 | 50% | $1,672 | $39,347 |
| Cape Coral, FL | $46,780 | 102.3 | $1,638 | 49% | $1,676 | $38,855 |
| Lakeland, FL | $46,140 | 97.1 | $1,230 | 38% | $2,041 | $40,409 |
| Palm Bay, FL | $49,030 | 100.0 | $1,478 | 43% | $1,987 | $41,574 |
| Deltona, FL | $44,940 | 99.4 | $1,393 | 44% | $1,798 | $38,533 |
| Pensacola, FL | $46,240 | 97.7 | $1,257 | 38% | $2,021 | $40,253 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $46,520 | 93.9 | $1,193 | 36% | $2,104 | $42,120 |
| Naples, FL | $47,800 | 103.2 | $1,797 | 53% | $1,585 | $39,329 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $46,490 | 100.2 | $1,467 | 45% | $1,828 | $39,445 |
| Gainesville, FL | $47,020 | 96.7 | $1,193 | 36% | $2,137 | $41,310 |
| Crestview, FL | $47,510 | 97.0 | $1,492 | 44% | $1,871 | $41,589 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Panama City, FL vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panama City, FL | 97.3 | $1,413 | $45,030 | 90,610 |
| St. George, UT | 97.3 | $1,218 | $45,140 | 90,500 |
| Bellingham, WA | 103.3 | $1,493 | $57,820 | 91,390 |
| Florence, SC | 86.8 | $922 | $43,520 | 89,060 |
| Medford, OR | 101.4 | $1,229 | $49,900 | 89,060 |
| Bloomington, IL | 93.5 | $999 | $53,140 | 88,110 |
| Monroe, LA | 83.6 | $772 | $38,150 | 87,500 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Panama City, FL expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL metro area are 97.3% of the U.S. average, with housing at 96.4%. It is the #124 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Panama City, FL?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $58,378 in Panama City, FL (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $45,030.
Can you afford Panama City, FL on the median wage?
A single worker on the $45,030 median wage takes home about $3,197 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,413 would take 44% of that.
How much is rent in Panama City, FL?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Panama City, FL are $1,358 for a studio, $1,413 for one bedroom, $1,601 for two bedrooms and $2,058 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Panama City, FL
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Waiter and Waitress — $34,990
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,050
Sales and Related Occupations
- Retail Salesperson — $32,290
- Cashier — $29,080