Kitchen backsplash cost in Panama City, FL
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $270 – $1,350
- Per sq ft
- $9.05 – $46
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −9%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #188
- 1 = most expensive
Panama City homeowners pay roughly $270 to $1,350 to install a backsplash at 30 sq ft, or $9.05 to $46 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Panama City is 9% lower. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $22.73 an hour in the Panama City area, 15% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Panama City, FL, standard level
$600 to $1,050
About $20 to $35 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 39% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $360 | $650 |
| Labor | $240 | $390 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $600 | $1,050 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Panama City, FL
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $510 | $870 | 61% |
| Labor | $130 | $320 | $510 | 39% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $270 | $820 | $1,350 | 100% |
Why Panama City prices look the way they do
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: tile and stone setters at 90%, carpenters at 10%. Weighted together, Panama City wages are 0.85 times the national level. Labor makes up about 39% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices). BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Florida statewide median.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Panama City metro is 96.2 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 30 sq ft comes to $510, compared with $530 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (97.3) and land at $0 to $0.
Data note: 90% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Panama City. The wage table below marks each row.
Pick a size, pick a tier: kitchen backsplash pricing in Panama City
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Panama City wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$270 to $710
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$600 to $1,050
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$930 to $1,350
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $230 – $590 | $500 – $870 | $780 – $1,150 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $270 – $710 | $600 – $1,050 | $930 – $1,350 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $450 – $1,200 | $1,000 – $1,750 | $1,550 – $2,300 |
Is Panama City cheap or dear? The local comparison
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 30 sq ft range from $800 to $820 across Panama City and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panama City, FLthis page | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | |
| Crestview, FL50 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | level |
| Dothan, AL70 miles | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −2% |
| Tallahassee, FL80 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | level |
| Pensacola, FL95 miles | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −2% |
| Daphne, AL130 miles | $260 – $1,350 | $810 | −2% |
| Florida (statewide) | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | +1% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +9% |
Across 300 US metros, Panama City comes in at #188 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, Panama City is 1% below the Florida figure.
Other Florida metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami, FL | 2,819,940 jobs | $290 – $1,450 | $870 | +6% |
| Tampa, FL | 1,447,120 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −1% |
| Orlando, FL | 1,411,730 jobs | $270 – $1,400 | $820 | level |
| Jacksonville, FL | 765,930 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −1% |
| North Port, FL | 339,940 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −1% |
| Cape Coral, FL | 304,790 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Panama City's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Panama City against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bellingham, WA | 91,390 jobs | $360 – $1,750 | $1,050 | +30% |
| St. George, UT | 90,500 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −2% |
| Bremerton, WA | 93,740 jobs | $390 – $1,850 | $1,150 | +37% |
| Medford, OR | 89,060 jobs | $290 – $1,500 | $890 | +9% |
Related projects, priced for Panama City
Because every project leans on different trades, Panama City's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen remodel runs −7% and shower pan −13%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,300 – $29,500 | −7% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,900 – $12,400 | −11% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,100 – $9,300 | −8% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,200 – $20,700 | −11% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $770 – $2,500 | −13% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Panama City bid
Material
A tile backsplash is $10-$50 per sq ft installed. A stone slab backsplash is $35-$200 and granite slabs are $50-$200.
Labor and minimums
Tile labor is $8-$20 per sq ft and many installers charge minimums for small areas.
Old backsplash removal
Removing the old one adds $2-$5 per sq ft.
Local wages behind the labor line
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 2 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Panama City is 0.85 times the national level.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 90% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Panama City metro, so we used the Florida statewide median: $22.73 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $18.27 and $29.14 an hour.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 10%) the local median is $23.87 an hour, which is 18% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $21.11 and $27.84 an hour. BLS counts 400 of them working in the area, 44.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is about average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the tile and stone setters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($29.14 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $80. At the 25th percentile ($18.27) it shrinks by about $55. The total moves by 9.8% or 6.8%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 90,610 jobs in the Panama City-Panama City Beach area. That makes it the 218th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.06% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $18.27 | $22.73 | $29.14 | $26.77 | 0.85 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $21.11 | $23.87 | $27.84 | $29.12 | 0.82 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.85 | |||||
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Kitchen backsplash in Panama City: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Panama City?
For 30 sq ft, expect $270 to $1,350 in the Panama City area. A standard-spec job lands at $600 to $1,050. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen backsplash in Panama City?
About $9.05 to $46 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $0 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $10 to $50.
+Is kitchen backsplash cheaper in Panama City or Crestview?
Crestview is 50 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $820, which is 0% less than Panama City ($820). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Panama City?
About 39% at the midpoint, or $320 out of $820. Materials are 61% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Panama City?
$270 to $1,350. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Panama City?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $0 for fees in the Panama City area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Panama City expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Florida?
Panama City is 1% below the Florida statewide estimate ($830 at the midpoint). We cover 19 metros in Florida; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Panama City?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $22.73 an hour, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.27 to $29.14.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Panama City?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $270 to $710 and premium work $930 to $1,350. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Panama City
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.
- HomeGuide: 2026 Backsplash Installation Cost (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
Note on derived figures: Materials = installed price minus HomeGuide's $5-$20 per sq ft labor figure, matched low-to-low and high-to-high.