The Western Panhandle is inexpensive that is if you stay away from the beach.
Low property taxes, no sales tax on groceries, and real estate is still pretty low tho it is increasing.
In the last 20 years or so I have noticed an interesting occurence. Driving along, I will see nice, almost mansions, in fact some probably are, sitting maybe a half mile off the road.
Just recently, an area near me was logged, the trees thinned out but not clear cut. Now I can see one of those houses which was hidden before. This one is closer to the highway, maybe 300 yards.
I asked a friend about them and he said he had heard it was Drs. from Panama City building them to get away from everything. I don’t really know tho.