CostIndexUSA

Fayetteville, NC vs Panama City, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableNC
Fayetteville
92
overall index
$1,475/mo rent
FL
Panama City
97.3
overall index
$1,700/mo rent

Fayetteville is moderately cheaper than Panama City — 5.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fayetteville, you would need $84,600 in Panama City. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+31.9%
Fayetteville
73.1
Panama City
96.4
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Fayetteville
96.6
Panama City
96.2
🚗 Transportation+0.7%
Fayetteville
103.1
Panama City
103.8
🏥 Healthcare+0.6%
Fayetteville
93.3
Panama City
93.9
Utilities≈ Equal
Fayetteville
87.8
Panama City
88.1

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Panama City, FL
$84,600
$4,600 more needed in Panama City

Formula: salary × (97.3 ÷ 92) = salary × 1.0576. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Fayetteville, NC

Median Home Price
$251,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,475
Housing Index
73.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.2×

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 31.9% higher housing costs compared to Fayetteville.

Income & Job Market

Fayetteville, NC

Median Household Income
$61,200
Per Capita Income
$34,900
Unemployment Rate
6.5%
Population
208,501
Top Industries
MilitaryHealthcareRetailGovernmentManufacturing

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).

Fayetteville, NC
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

71% 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.