CostIndexUSA

Panama City, FL vs San Luis Obispo, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableFL
Panama City
97.3
overall index
$1,700/mo rent
CA
San Luis Obispo
108.6
overall index
$3,000/mo rent

Panama City is moderately cheaper than San Luis Obispo — 11.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Panama City, you would need $89,300 in San Luis Obispo. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+49.8%
Panama City
96.4
San Luis Obispo
144.4
🛒 Groceries+9.4%
Panama City
96.2
San Luis Obispo
105.2
🚗 Transportation+1.4%
Panama City
103.8
San Luis Obispo
105.3
🏥 Healthcare+1.5%
Panama City
93.9
San Luis Obispo
95.3
Utilities+67.8%
Panama City
88.1
San Luis Obispo
147.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Panama City 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
$89,300
$9,300 more needed in San Luis Obispo

Formula: salary × (108.6 ÷ 97.3) = salary × 1.1161. 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×

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 49.8% higher housing costs compared to Panama City.

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

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).

Panama City, FL
3.4×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.