Panama City, Florida
Living in Panama City, Florida is about 5% more expensive than the national average, with a cost of living index of 105 (US = 100). Typical rent is $1,735 a month, 10% below the national figure of $1,932, and regular gas costs $3.77 a gallon versus $3.98 nationally as of November 11, 2026. Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance take about 49% of the area's $67,517 median household income.
Key Numbers
Gas (Regular)
$3.77
National: $3.98
Avg Rent (All)
$1,735
National: $1,932
Grocery Inflation
1.77%
Year-over-year
Fast Food Avg
$14.49
Combo meal
Electricity
14.99¢
per kWh · ~$135/mo
Car Insurance
$265/mo
$3,183/yr
Median Household Income
$67,517
49.4% goes to essentials
Car Insurance
Avg $3,183 in Panama City. Compare rates:
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Avg rent $1,735/mo in Panama City. Browse listings:
Grocery Prices
Grocery Prices — 2000 to Present
National BLS averages · submit local prices below ↓
Eggs (dozen)
Bird flu volatility
$0.97 in 2000 → $2.32 BLS avg
Milk (gallon)
$2.79 in 2000 → $4.10 BLS avg
Ground Beef (lb)
$1.48 in 2000 → $6.75 BLS avg
Bread (loaf)
$0.91 in 2000 → $1.86 BLS avg
Chicken Breast (lb)
$1.06 in 2000 → $2.03 BLS avg
Butter (lb)
$3.98 BLS avg
Bacon (lb)
$2.75 in 2000 → $6.69 BLS avg
Cheddar Cheese (lb)
$3.84 in 2000 → $6.13 BLS avg
Pasta (lb)
$0.88 in 2000 → $1.38 BLS avg
Rice (5 lb)
$2.50 in 2000 → $5.50 BLS avg
Coffee (12 oz)
$2.65 in 2000 → $6.94 BLS avg
Orange Juice (64 oz)
Citrus shortage
$5.42 estimate
Potatoes (5 lb)
$1.96 in 2000 → $4.95 BLS avg
Apples (3 lb)
$5.20 estimate
Tomatoes (lb)
$1.44 in 2000 → $2.08 BLS avg
Lettuce (head)
$0.75 in 2000 → $1.96 BLS avg
Cooking Oil (48 oz)
$7.76 estimate
Yogurt (32 oz)
$4.94 estimate
Cereal (family size)
$6.20 estimate
Frozen Pizza
$8.65 estimate
| Item | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2020 | 2022 | 2026 | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eggs (dozen)Bird flu volatility | $0.97 | $1.21 | $1.79 | $2.11 | $1.46 | $1.93 | $2.32 | +137.9% |
| Milk (gallon) | $2.79 | $3.30 | $3.24 | $3.76 | $3.25 | $3.79 | $4.10 | +47.3% |
| Ground Beef (lb) | $1.48 | $2.19 | $2.28 | $4.24 | $3.89 | $4.55 | $6.75 | +355.5% |
| Bread (loaf) | $0.91 | $1.00 | $1.36 | $1.48 | $1.35 | $1.55 | $1.86 | +105.2% |
| Chicken Breast (lb) | $1.06 | $1.03 | $1.26 | $1.55 | $1.41 | $1.62 | $2.03 | +91.3% |
| Butter (lb) | — | — | — | — | $3.86 | $3.67 | $3.98 | -4.2% since 2018 |
| Bacon (lb) | $2.75 | $3.37 | $3.63 | $5.59 | $5.50 | $7.22 | $6.69 | +143.1% |
| Cheddar Cheese (lb) | $3.84 | $4.21 | $4.72 | $5.40 | $5.20 | $5.32 | $6.13 | +59.6% |
| Pasta (lb) | $0.88 | $0.94 | $1.15 | $1.26 | $1.23 | $1.12 | $1.38 | +57.1% |
| Rice (5 lb) | $2.50 | $2.98 | $3.77 | $3.46 | $3.58 | $4.16 | $5.50 | +120.6% |
| Coffee (12 oz) | $2.65 | $2.29 | $2.86 | $3.55 | $3.13 | $3.85 | $6.94 | +161.3% |
| Orange Juice (64 oz)Citrus shortageLocal estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $3.72 | $5.42 | +45.7% since 2022 |
| Potatoes (5 lb) | $1.96 | $2.29 | $2.81 | $3.34 | $4.01 | $3.96 | $4.95 | +152.6% |
| Apples (3 lb)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $4.49 | $5.20 | +15.8% since 2022 |
| Tomatoes (lb) | $1.44 | $1.66 | $1.84 | $2.09 | $2.22 | $1.89 | $2.08 | +44.4% |
| Lettuce (head) | $0.75 | $0.82 | $0.90 | $1.17 | $1.34 | — | $1.96 | +162.3% |
| Cooking Oil (48 oz)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $5.54 | $7.76 | +40.1% since 2022 |
| Yogurt (32 oz)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $4.15 | $4.94 | +19.0% since 2022 |
| Cereal (family size)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $4.79 | $6.20 | +29.4% since 2022 |
| Frozen PizzaLocal estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $6.31 | $8.65 | +37.1% since 2022 |
Dining & Restaurants
Fast Food Meal
$14.49
Casual Dining
$26.43
Monthly Spend
$461.46
+5.41% YoYChain Restaurant Meal Prices — 2022 vs. Today
Combo meal / typical order for one
McDonald's
2022: $8.36
$13.49
+61.4%Wendy's
2022: $9.44
$14.57
+54.3%Chipotle
2022: $10.12
$15.11
+49.3%Starbucks
2022: $4.58
$6.36
+38.9%Eating out more? Save on groceries with Ibotta and cook at home more often.
Looking for an Apartment in Panama City?
Average 1BR: $1,423/mo · 2BR: $2,047/mo
Panama City Cost of Living FAQ
Is Panama City, FL expensive to live in?
Panama City has a cost of living index of 105, where 100 is the US average, so it is about 5% more expensive than average. It is the 8th most expensive of the 25 Florida cities we track.
What is the average rent in Panama City, FL?
Typical rent in Panama City is $1,735 a month for all home types as of September 2026, 10% below the national figure of $1,932. One bedroom units average about $1,423 and two bedrooms about $2,047. Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index for the metro area.
Is rent going up in Panama City?
Rent in Panama City rose 1.6% over the past year, slower than the 2.7% change nationally.
How much is gas in Panama City?
Regular unleaded costs about $3.77 a gallon in Panama City as of November 11, 2026, based on the AAA average for Florida. That is 5% below the national average of $3.98.
How much is electricity in Panama City?
Homes in Florida pay an average of 15.0 cents per kWh (EIA), versus 18.4 cents nationally. At 900 kWh a month, a typical bill in Panama City is about $135.
How much is car insurance in Panama City?
Full coverage car insurance averages $3,183 a year in Florida, or about $265 a month (Bankrate and NAIC state average), compared with $2,150 a year nationally.
How much do you need to live in Panama City?
Median household income in the Panama City area is $67,517 (Census ACS 2023, county level). Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance add up to about $33,385 a year, or 49% of that income. Groceries are counted at $5,502 a year, the average household spend on food at home in the region (BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey).
How does Panama City compare with the rest of Florida?
Rent in Panama City is 10% below the $1,929 average across the 25 Florida cities we track, and its cost of living index of 105 compares with a state average of 102.
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