CostIndexUSA

Little Rock, AR vs Panama City, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableAR
Little Rock
89.4
overall index
$1,200/mo rent
FL
Panama City
97.3
overall index
$1,700/mo rent

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

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

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+41.1%
Little Rock
68.3
Panama City
96.4
🛒 Groceries+2.8%
Little Rock
93.6
Panama City
96.2
🚗 Transportation+3.7%
Little Rock
100.1
Panama City
103.8
🏥 Healthcare+3.8%
Little Rock
90.5
Panama City
93.9
Utilities+18.1%
Little Rock
74.6
Panama City
88.1

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Little Rock 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

Little Rock, AR

Median Home Price
$222,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,200
Housing Index
68.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.4×

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 41.1% higher housing costs compared to Little Rock.

Income & Job Market

Little Rock, AR

Median Household Income
$66,200
Per Capita Income
$37,700
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Population
202,591
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareRetailFinanceManufacturing

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).

Little Rock, AR
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% 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.