CostIndexUSA

Durham, NC vs Panama City, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostNC
Durham
97.6
overall index
$1,650/mo rent
FL
Panama City
97.3
overall index
$1,700/mo rent

Durham and Panama City have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing2.5%
Durham
98.9
Panama City
96.4
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Durham
96.6
Panama City
96.2
🚗 Transportation+0.7%
Durham
103.1
Panama City
103.8
🏥 Healthcare+0.6%
Durham
93.3
Panama City
93.9
Utilities1.3%
Durham
89.3
Panama City
88.1

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Panama City, FL
$79,800
$200 less needed in Panama City

Formula: salary × (97.3 ÷ 97.6) = salary × 0.9969. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Durham, NC

Median Home Price
$402,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,650
Housing Index
98.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
20.3×

Panama City, FL

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

Durham has 2.5% lower housing costs compared to Panama City.

Income & Job Market

Durham, NC

Median Household Income
$83,300
Per Capita Income
$47,500
Unemployment Rate
3.2%
Population
278,993
Top Industries
TechnologyHealthcareEducationResearchFinance

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).

Durham, NC
4.2×income-to-rent ratio

76% 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.