CostIndexUSA

Columbia, MO vs Panama City, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableMO
Columbia
89.4
overall index
$1,350/mo rent
FL
Panama City
97.3
overall index
$1,700/mo rent

Columbia is moderately cheaper than Panama City — 8.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Columbia, you would need $87,100 in Panama City. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+39.3%
Columbia
69.2
Panama City
96.4
🛒 Groceries+2.1%
Columbia
94.2
Panama City
96.2
🚗 Transportation+6.2%
Columbia
97.7
Panama City
103.8
🏥 Healthcare+6.2%
Columbia
88.4
Panama City
93.9
Utilities+2.4%
Columbia
86
Panama City
88.1

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Panama City, FL
$87,100
$7,100 more needed in Panama City

Formula: salary × (97.3 ÷ 89.4) = salary × 1.0884. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Columbia, MO

Median Home Price
$308,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,350
Housing Index
69.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.0×

Panama City, FL

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

Panama City has 39.3% higher housing costs compared to Columbia.

Income & Job Market

Columbia, MO

Median Household Income
$69,400
Per Capita Income
$39,600
Unemployment Rate
2.9%
Population
126,254
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareGovernmentTechnologyFinance

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).

Columbia, MO
4.3×income-to-rent ratio

77% 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.