Bay County, FL at a glance
Median household income
$73,533$6,128 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Bay County, FL?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Bay County, FL? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Panama City, FL HUD Metro FMR Area, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $1,426 | $17,112 | $57,040 | 23.3% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,480 | $17,760 | $59,200 | 24.2% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,682 | $20,184 | $67,280 | 27.4% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $2,169 | $26,028 | $86,760 | 35.4% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $2,689 | $32,268 | $107,560 | 43.9% |
What a typical income covers in Bay County, FL
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $73,533 a year ($6,128 a month before tax).
What $73,533 leaves after Florida taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Florida tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Florida
Living in Bay County, FL: common questions
What is the median household income in Bay County, FL?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Bay County, FL is $73,533 per year (approximately $6,128 per month).
What is the average rent in Bay County, FL?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $1,426 for a studio, $1,480 for one bedroom, $1,682 for two, $2,169 for three and $2,689 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Bay County, FL expensive to live in?
Prices there run 2.7% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 97.3, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Bay County, FL?
To keep a $1,682 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $67,280 a year, or $5,607 a month. That is 91% of what the typical household in Bay County, FL earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Bay County, FL?
On the local median income of $73,533 ($6,128 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $3,064 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,838 for everything else and $1,226 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,682 takes 55% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Bay County, FL?
Homes in Florida paid 15.1¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $136. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.