CostIndexUSA

Austin, TX vs Panama City, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

TX
Austin
98.1
overall index
$1,550/mo rent
More AffordableFL
Panama City
97.3
overall index
$1,700/mo rent

Panama City is slightly cheaper than Austin — 0.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Austin, you would need $79,300 in Panama City. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing19.9%
Austin
120.4
Panama City
96.4
🛒 Groceries+2.6%
Austin
93.8
Panama City
96.2
🚗 Transportation+2.7%
Austin
101.1
Panama City
103.8
🏥 Healthcare+2.7%
Austin
91.4
Panama City
93.9
Utilities+7.4%
Austin
82
Panama City
88.1

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Panama City, FL
$79,300
$700 less needed in Panama City

Formula: salary × (97.3 ÷ 98.1) = salary × 0.9918. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Austin, TX

Median Home Price
$420,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,550
Housing Index
120.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.6×

Panama City, FL

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

Austin has 19.9% lower housing costs compared to Panama City.

Income & Job Market

Austin, TX

Median Household Income
$98,500
Per Capita Income
$56,100
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
978,908
Top Industries
TechnologyGovernmentHealthcareEducationEntertainment

Panama City, FL

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

Affordability at a Glance

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

Austin, TX
5.3×income-to-rent ratio

81% of income left after rent (median)

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

71% 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.