CostIndexUSA

Palm Bay, FL vs San Luis Obispo, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableFL
Palm Bay
100
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
CA
San Luis Obispo
108.6
overall index
$3,000/mo rent

Palm Bay is moderately cheaper than San Luis Obispo — 8.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Palm Bay, you would need $86,900 in San Luis Obispo. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+29.3%
Palm Bay
111.7
San Luis Obispo
144.4
🛒 Groceries+9.4%
Palm Bay
96.2
San Luis Obispo
105.2
🚗 Transportation+1.4%
Palm Bay
103.8
San Luis Obispo
105.3
🏥 Healthcare+1.5%
Palm Bay
93.9
San Luis Obispo
95.3
Utilities+67.8%
Palm Bay
88.1
San Luis Obispo
147.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Palm Bay to see what you'd need to earn in San Luis Obispo to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in San Luis Obispo, CA
$86,900
$6,900 more needed in San Luis Obispo

Formula: salary × (108.6 ÷ 100) = salary × 1.0860. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Palm Bay, FL

Median Home Price
$336,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,875
Housing Index
111.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.9×

San Luis Obispo, CA

Median Home Price
$880,000
Median Monthly Rent
$3,000
Housing Index
144.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
24.4×

San Luis Obispo has 29.3% higher housing costs compared to Palm Bay.

Income & Job Market

Palm Bay, FL

Median Household Income
$78,600
Per Capita Income
$44,800
Unemployment Rate
5.1%
Population
119,760
Top Industries
AerospaceHealthcareTechnologyManufacturingRetail

San Luis Obispo, CA

Median Household Income
$90,700
Per Capita Income
$51,700
Unemployment Rate
4.4%
Population
47,536
Top Industries
EducationTourismAgricultureHealthcareTechnology

Affordability at a Glance

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

Palm Bay, FL
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

71% of income left after rent (median)

San Luis Obispo, CA
2.5×income-to-rent ratio

60% 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.