CostIndexUSA

Gainesville, FL vs Panama City, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableFL
Gainesville
96.7
overall index
$1,650/mo rent
FL
Panama City
97.3
overall index
$1,700/mo rent

Gainesville is slightly cheaper than Panama City — 0.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Gainesville, you would need $80,500 in Panama City. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+3.7%
Gainesville
93
Panama City
96.4
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Gainesville
96.2
Panama City
96.2
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Gainesville
103.8
Panama City
103.8
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Gainesville
93.9
Panama City
93.9
Utilities≈ Equal
Gainesville
88.2
Panama City
88.1

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Panama City, FL
$80,500
$500 more needed in Panama City

Formula: salary × (97.3 ÷ 96.7) = salary × 1.0062. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Gainesville, FL

Median Home Price
$294,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,650
Housing Index
93
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.8×

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 3.7% higher housing costs compared to Gainesville.

Income & Job Market

Gainesville, FL

Median Household Income
$59,300
Per Capita Income
$33,800
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
140,003
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyGovernmentResearch

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).

Gainesville, FL
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

67% 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.