CostIndexUSA

Palm Bay, FL vs Topeka, KS Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

FL
Palm Bay
100
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
More AffordableKS
Topeka
88.8
overall index
$1,125/mo rent

Topeka is moderately cheaper than Palm Bay — 11.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Palm Bay, you would need $71,000 in Topeka. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing41.8%
Palm Bay
111.7
Topeka
65
🛒 Groceries2.3%
Palm Bay
96.2
Topeka
94
🚗 Transportation5.1%
Palm Bay
103.8
Topeka
98.5
🏥 Healthcare5.1%
Palm Bay
93.9
Topeka
89.1
Utilities+0.9%
Palm Bay
88.1
Topeka
88.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Topeka, KS
$71,000
$9,000 less needed in Topeka

Formula: salary × (88.8 ÷ 100) = salary × 0.8880. 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×

Topeka, KS

Median Home Price
$204,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,125
Housing Index
65
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.1×

Palm Bay has 41.8% lower housing costs compared to Topeka.

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

Topeka, KS

Median Household Income
$65,300
Per Capita Income
$37,200
Unemployment Rate
3.3%
Population
125,310
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareManufacturingFinanceRetail

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)

Topeka, KS
4.8×income-to-rent ratio

79% 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.