CostIndexUSA

Lakeland, FL vs Panama City, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostFL
Lakeland
97.1
overall index
$1,825/mo rent
FL
Panama City
97.3
overall index
$1,700/mo rent

Lakeland and Panama City have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing≈ Equal
Lakeland
95.9
Panama City
96.4
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Lakeland
96.2
Panama City
96.2
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Lakeland
103.8
Panama City
103.8
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Lakeland
93.9
Panama City
93.9
Utilities+1.4%
Lakeland
86.9
Panama City
88.1

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Panama City, FL
$80,200
$200 more needed in Panama City

Formula: salary × (97.3 ÷ 97.1) = salary × 1.0021. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Lakeland, FL

Median Home Price
$295,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,825
Housing Index
95.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.5×

Panama City, FL

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

Income & Job Market

Lakeland, FL

Median Household Income
$66,900
Per Capita Income
$38,100
Unemployment Rate
3.7%
Population
119,428
Top Industries
HealthcareLogisticsManufacturingRetailAgriculture

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).

Lakeland, FL
3.1×income-to-rent ratio

67% 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.