CostIndexUSA

Mobile, AL vs Panama City, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableAL
Mobile
88.1
overall index
$1,250/mo rent
FL
Panama City
97.3
overall index
$1,700/mo rent

Mobile is moderately cheaper than Panama City — 10.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Mobile, you would need $88,400 in Panama City. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+60.4%
Mobile
60.1
Panama City
96.4
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Mobile
96.4
Panama City
96.2
🚗 Transportation+2.3%
Mobile
101.5
Panama City
103.8
🏥 Healthcare+2.2%
Mobile
91.9
Panama City
93.9
Utilities+4.6%
Mobile
84.2
Panama City
88.1

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Panama City, FL
$88,400
$8,400 more needed in Panama City

Formula: salary × (97.3 ÷ 88.1) = salary × 1.1044. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Mobile, AL

Median Home Price
$187,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,250
Housing Index
60.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.5×

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 60.4% higher housing costs compared to Mobile.

Income & Job Market

Mobile, AL

Median Household Income
$55,400
Per Capita Income
$31,600
Unemployment Rate
3.1%
Population
187,041
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingLogisticsMilitaryAerospace

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).

Mobile, AL
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% 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.