2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Panama City, FL vs Gulf Shores, AL

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Gulf Shores or is it cheaper to live in Panama City?
- Gulf Shores is 0.9% less expensive than Panama City.

Which city has more affordable housing, Gulf Shores or Panama City?
- Gulf Shores housing costs are 66.0% more expensive than Panama City housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Panama City or is Health Care more affordable in Gulf Shores.
- Health related expenses are 16.5% more in Gulf Shores.
 Panama City, FLGulf Shores, ALUnited States
 Overall  Unlock94.5100
 Food & Groceries96.5  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock115.5100
 Housing70.0  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$439,200$338,100
 Utilities106  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock76.9100
 Miscellaneous92.1  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Panama City    20 Reviews

Over 3 years ago

I moved here from Akron, OH back in 2007 and was expecting a huge city (similar to Miami), nope, I was wrong. It ended up being more like a backwards redneck town more  More

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Over 4 years ago

If you love bars, trailers, isolation, and generic shopping while feeling depressed then this is the place for you. Panama City has alot of shallow people, most red  More

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This review is from a 24 year resident moved from Michigan. When I first moved, I missed the bigger city things like a university, large library, electronics stores, and  More

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Reviews for Gulf Shores    6 Reviews

Over 4 years ago

Owned a place there for 20 years and spend a few weeks each season there. Heading back in a few weeks! Lows: Spotty internet for work. Saturday traffic. Hurricanes.  More

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I know that there are a few people out there that would just as soon throw rotten tomatoes at me for saying what I’m about to say, but I hate, hate, HATE living in Gulf  More

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Over 14 years ago

Gulf Shores offers many sunny days, compared to the rest of Baldwin County.  More

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