CostIndexUSA

Panama City, FL vs South Bend, IN Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

FL
Panama City
97.3
overall index
$1,700/mo rent
More AffordableIN
South Bend
92.9
overall index
$1,375/mo rent

South Bend is slightly cheaper than Panama City — 4.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Panama City, you would need $76,400 in South Bend. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing22.6%
Panama City
96.4
South Bend
74.6
🛒 Groceries2.1%
Panama City
96.2
South Bend
94.2
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Panama City
103.8
South Bend
104.2
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Panama City
93.9
South Bend
94.3
Utilities≈ Equal
Panama City
88.1
South Bend
87.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in South Bend, IN
$76,400
$3,600 less needed in South Bend

Formula: salary × (92.9 ÷ 97.3) = salary × 0.9548. 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×

South Bend, IN

Median Home Price
$221,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,375
Housing Index
74.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.4×

Panama City has 22.6% lower housing costs compared to South Bend.

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

South Bend, IN

Median Household Income
$65,800
Per Capita Income
$37,500
Unemployment Rate
4.7%
Population
103,453
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingFinanceRetail

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)

South Bend, IN
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.