CostIndexUSA

Panama City, FL vs Santa Ana, 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
Santa Ana
113.6
overall index
$2,550/mo rent

Panama City is significantly cheaper than Santa Ana — 16.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Panama City, you would need $93,400 in Santa Ana. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+76.8%
Panama City
96.4
Santa Ana
170.4
🛒 Groceries+10.8%
Panama City
96.2
Santa Ana
106.6
🚗 Transportation+5.6%
Panama City
103.8
Santa Ana
109.6
🏥 Healthcare+5.5%
Panama City
93.9
Santa Ana
99.1
Utilities+80.0%
Panama City
88.1
Santa Ana
158.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Santa Ana, CA
$93,400
$13,400 more needed in Santa Ana

Formula: salary × (113.6 ÷ 97.3) = salary × 1.1675. 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×

Santa Ana, CA

Median Home Price
$565,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,550
Housing Index
170.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.5×

Santa Ana has 76.8% 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

Santa Ana, CA

Median Household Income
$92,000
Per Capita Income
$52,400
Unemployment Rate
5.5%
Population
310,227
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingRetailEducationFinance

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)

Santa Ana, CA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

67% 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.