CostIndexUSA

Panama City, FL vs Rochester, MN Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

FL
Panama City
97.3
overall index
$1,700/mo rent
More AffordableMN
Rochester
90.8
overall index
$1,625/mo rent

Rochester is moderately cheaper than Panama City — 6.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Panama City, you would need $74,700 in Rochester. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing18.5%
Panama City
96.4
Rochester
78.6
🛒 Groceries0.8%
Panama City
96.2
Rochester
95.4
🚗 Transportation6.7%
Panama City
103.8
Rochester
96.8
🏥 Healthcare6.7%
Panama City
93.9
Rochester
87.6
Utilities0.8%
Panama City
88.1
Rochester
87.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Rochester, MN
$74,700
$5,300 less needed in Rochester

Formula: salary × (90.8 ÷ 97.3) = salary × 0.9332. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Panama City, FL

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

Rochester, MN

Median Home Price
$324,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,625
Housing Index
78.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.6×

Panama City has 18.5% lower housing costs compared to Rochester.

Income & Job Market

Panama City, FL

Median Household Income
$69,700
Per Capita Income
$39,700
Unemployment Rate
3%
Population
36,877
Top Industries
MilitaryTourismHealthcareManufacturingRetail

Rochester, MN

Median Household Income
$85,200
Per Capita Income
$48,600
Unemployment Rate
2.8%
Population
121,395
Top Industries
HealthcareTechnologyEducationManufacturingFinance

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Panama City, FL
3.4×income-to-rent ratio

71% of income left after rent (median)

Rochester, MN
4.4×income-to-rent ratio

77% 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.