CostIndexUSA

Palm Bay, FL vs Wichita Falls, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

FL
Palm Bay
100
overall index
$1,875/mo rent
More AffordableTX
Wichita Falls
89.5
overall index
$1,200/mo rent

Wichita Falls is moderately cheaper than Palm Bay — 10.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Palm Bay, you would need $71,600 in Wichita Falls. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing38.9%
Palm Bay
111.7
Wichita Falls
68.2
🛒 Groceries2.5%
Palm Bay
96.2
Wichita Falls
93.8
🚗 Transportation2.6%
Palm Bay
103.8
Wichita Falls
101.1
🏥 Healthcare2.7%
Palm Bay
93.9
Wichita Falls
91.4
Utilities4.5%
Palm Bay
88.1
Wichita Falls
84.1

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Wichita Falls, TX
$71,600
$8,400 less needed in Wichita Falls

Formula: salary × (89.5 ÷ 100) = salary × 0.8950. 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×

Wichita Falls, TX

Median Home Price
$167,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,200
Housing Index
68.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
11.6×

Palm Bay has 38.9% lower housing costs compared to Wichita Falls.

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

Wichita Falls, TX

Median Household Income
$63,500
Per Capita Income
$36,200
Unemployment Rate
2.7%
Population
104,553
Top Industries
MilitaryHealthcareManufacturingRetailGovernment

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)

Wichita Falls, TX
4.4×income-to-rent ratio

77% 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.