CostIndexUSA

Fort Wayne, IN vs Panama City, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableIN
Fort Wayne
92.6
overall index
$1,150/mo rent
FL
Panama City
97.3
overall index
$1,700/mo rent

Fort Wayne is moderately cheaper than Panama City — 5.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fort Wayne, you would need $84,100 in Panama City. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+33.3%
Fort Wayne
72.3
Panama City
96.4
🛒 Groceries+2.0%
Fort Wayne
94.3
Panama City
96.2
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Fort Wayne
104.1
Panama City
103.8
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Fort Wayne
94.2
Panama City
93.9
Utilities+2.2%
Fort Wayne
86.2
Panama City
88.1

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Panama City, FL
$84,100
$4,100 more needed in Panama City

Formula: salary × (97.3 ÷ 92.6) = salary × 1.0508. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Fort Wayne, IN

Median Home Price
$245,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,150
Housing Index
72.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.8×

Panama City, FL

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

Panama City has 33.3% higher housing costs compared to Fort Wayne.

Income & Job Market

Fort Wayne, IN

Median Household Income
$66,300
Per Capita Income
$37,800
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
270,402
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingFinanceRetailGovernment

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).

Fort Wayne, IN
4.8×income-to-rent ratio

79% 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.