CostIndexUSA

Panama City, FL vs Wichita, KS Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

FL
Panama City
97.3
overall index
$1,700/mo rent
More AffordableKS
Wichita
88.9
overall index
$1,150/mo rent

Wichita is moderately cheaper than Panama City — 8.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Panama City, you would need $73,100 in Wichita. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing31.3%
Panama City
96.4
Wichita
66.2
🛒 Groceries2.3%
Panama City
96.2
Wichita
94
🚗 Transportation5.1%
Panama City
103.8
Wichita
98.5
🏥 Healthcare5.1%
Panama City
93.9
Wichita
89.1
Utilities≈ Equal
Panama City
88.1
Wichita
88.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Wichita, KS
$73,100
$6,900 less needed in Wichita

Formula: salary × (88.9 ÷ 97.3) = salary × 0.9137. 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×

Wichita, KS

Median Home Price
$213,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,150
Housing Index
66.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.4×

Panama City has 31.3% lower housing costs compared to Wichita.

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

Wichita, KS

Median Household Income
$67,400
Per Capita Income
$38,400
Unemployment Rate
3.5%
Population
397,532
Top Industries
AerospaceManufacturingHealthcareAgricultureEnergy

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)

Wichita, KS
4.9×income-to-rent ratio

80% 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.