City Comparison

Odessa vs Palm Bay

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Odessa

Texas
85
Very Affordable
$223,000
Median Home
$1,150/mo
Median Rent
$73,500
Median Income

Palm Bay

Florida
96
Average
$315,000
Median Home
$1,600/mo
Median Rent
$72,600
Median Income

The Verdict

11.5%

Odessa is 11.5% less expensive than Palm Bay overall. A household earning $75,000 in Odessa would need approximately $84,706 in Palm Bay to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
72
Odessa
90
Palm Bay
Groceries
96
Odessa
101
Palm Bay
Utilities
100
Odessa
97
Palm Bay
Transportation
93
Odessa
102
Palm Bay
Healthcare
96
Odessa
93
Palm Bay

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Odessa has the same purchasing power as $84,706 in Palm Bay.

Conversely, $75,000 in Palm Bay equals $66,406 in Odessa.

Living in Odessa vs Palm Bay

Housing Costs

Odessa's housing index of 72 is lower Palm Bay's 90, translating to median home prices of $223,000 vs $315,000. The $92,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,976 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,150/mo in Odessa compared to $1,600/mo in Palm Bay, a monthly difference of $450.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Odessa and 101 in Palm Bay. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Odessa vs $480/month in Palm Bay. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 100 in Odessa and 97 in Palm Bay. Monthly utility bills average approximately $400 in Odessa vs $388 in Palm Bay. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 96 in Odessa and 93 in Palm Bay. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $73,500 in Odessa and $72,600 in Palm Bay. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $86,471 and $75,625 respectively. Odessa residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,715/month to housing in Odessa vs $1,694/month in Palm Bay. In Odessa, median rent of $1,150/mo fits within this budget. In Palm Bay, median rent of $1,600/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 18 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Odessa is 11.5% more affordable overall with an index of 85 vs 96.
A $75,000 salary in Odessa has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $84,706 in Palm Bay, based on the cost of living difference.
Odessa's housing index is 72 with median homes at $223,000, while Palm Bay's is 90 with median homes at $315,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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