CostIndexUSA

Chesapeake, VA vs Panama City, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

VA
Chesapeake
97.9
overall index
$1,800/mo rent
More AffordableFL
Panama City
97.3
overall index
$1,700/mo rent

Panama City is slightly cheaper than Chesapeake — 0.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Chesapeake, you would need $79,500 in Panama City. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing3.4%
Chesapeake
99.8
Panama City
96.4
🛒 Groceries0.6%
Chesapeake
96.8
Panama City
96.2
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Chesapeake
103.5
Panama City
103.8
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Chesapeake
93.7
Panama City
93.9
Utilities1.7%
Chesapeake
89.6
Panama City
88.1

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Panama City, FL
$79,500
$500 less needed in Panama City

Formula: salary × (97.3 ÷ 97.9) = salary × 0.9939. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Chesapeake, VA

Median Home Price
$360,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,800
Housing Index
99.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.7×

Panama City, FL

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

Chesapeake has 3.4% lower housing costs compared to Panama City.

Income & Job Market

Chesapeake, VA

Median Household Income
$79,300
Per Capita Income
$45,200
Unemployment Rate
4.3%
Population
249,422
Top Industries
MilitaryHealthcareRetailManufacturingGovernment

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).

Chesapeake, VA
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% 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.