CostIndexUSA

Bellingham, WA vs Panama City, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

WA
Bellingham
103.3
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
More AffordableFL
Panama City
97.3
overall index
$1,700/mo rent

Panama City is moderately cheaper than Bellingham — 5.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bellingham, you would need $75,400 in Panama City. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing14.6%
Bellingham
112.9
Panama City
96.4
🛒 Groceries8.4%
Bellingham
105
Panama City
96.2
🚗 Transportation0.6%
Bellingham
104.4
Panama City
103.8
🏥 Healthcare0.6%
Bellingham
94.5
Panama City
93.9
Utilities11.8%
Bellingham
99.9
Panama City
88.1

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Bellingham to see what you'd need to earn in Panama City to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Panama City, FL
$75,400
$4,600 less needed in Panama City

Formula: salary × (97.3 ÷ 103.3) = salary × 0.9419. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Bellingham, WA

Median Home Price
$598,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,875
Housing Index
112.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
26.6×

Panama City, FL

Median Home Price
$337,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,700
Housing Index
96.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.5×

Bellingham has 14.6% lower housing costs compared to Panama City.

Income & Job Market

Bellingham, WA

Median Household Income
$74,900
Per Capita Income
$42,700
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
92,314
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyManufacturingTourism

Panama City, FL

Median Household Income
$69,700
Per Capita Income
$39,700
Unemployment Rate
3%
Population
36,877
Top Industries
MilitaryTourismHealthcareManufacturingRetail

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Bellingham, WA
3.3×income-to-rent ratio

70% of income left after rent (median)

Panama City, FL
3.4×income-to-rent ratio

71% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.