CostIndexUSA

Panama City, FL vs Roanoke, VA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

FL
Panama City
97.3
overall index
$1,700/mo rent
More AffordableVA
Roanoke
93.6
overall index
$1,350/mo rent

Roanoke is slightly cheaper than Panama City — 3.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Panama City, you would need $77,000 in Roanoke. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing18.6%
Panama City
96.4
Roanoke
78.5
🛒 Groceries+0.6%
Panama City
96.2
Roanoke
96.8
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Panama City
103.8
Roanoke
103.5
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Panama City
93.9
Roanoke
93.7
Utilities+0.9%
Panama City
88.1
Roanoke
88.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Roanoke, VA
$77,000
$3,000 less needed in Roanoke

Formula: salary × (93.6 ÷ 97.3) = salary × 0.9620. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Panama City, FL

Median Home Price
$337,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,700
Housing Index
96.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.5×

Roanoke, VA

Median Home Price
$287,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,350
Housing Index
78.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.7×

Panama City has 18.6% lower housing costs compared to Roanoke.

Income & Job Market

Panama City, FL

Median Household Income
$69,700
Per Capita Income
$39,700
Unemployment Rate
3%
Population
36,877
Top Industries
MilitaryTourismHealthcareManufacturingRetail

Roanoke, VA

Median Household Income
$65,500
Per Capita Income
$37,300
Unemployment Rate
3.2%
Population
99,394
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingRetailFinanceGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

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

Panama City, FL
3.4×income-to-rent ratio

71% of income left after rent (median)

Roanoke, VA
4.0×income-to-rent ratio

75% 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.