Cost of Living Comparison Between Australia and Panama Cost of Living Comparison Between Australia and Panama

Name: Panama
Address: PA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,185 per month in Australia vs $839 in Panama, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,220 per month in Australia vs $1,204 in Panama, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,254 per month in Australia vs $1,568 in Panama, rent included.

The cost of living in Australia is about 160% higher than in Panama on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Australia sits 64% above the global median, while Panama is 37% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.19 A$23.19

$10.05 PAB 10.05

61.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$77.1 A$111

$49.64 PAB 49.64

55.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.47 A$13.57

$7.37 PAB 7.37

28.49%

Cappuccino

$3.46 A$4.95

$3.53 PAB 3.53

-1.98%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 A$3.85

$1.47 PAB 1.47

82.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 A$3.13

$1.24 PAB 1.24

76.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.61 A$9.47

$2.30 PAB 2.30

187.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.10 A$10.18

$3.69 PAB 3.69

92.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 A$2.22

$1.84 PAB 1.84

-15.76%

White Bread (500g)

$2.47 A$3.55

$2.44 PAB 2.44

1.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.10 A$3.01

$2.36 PAB 2.36

-11.02%

Eggs

$4.24 A$6.08

$2.69 PAB 2.69

57.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.57 A$12.28

$11.25 PAB 11.25

-23.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.60 A$12.32

$7.32 PAB 7.32

17.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.81 A$19.79

$9.24 PAB 9.24

49.46%

Apples (1kg)

$3.17 A$4.55

$4.03 PAB 4.03

-21.34%

Banana (1kg)

$2.72 A$3.90

$1.33 PAB 1.33

104.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.96 A$4.24

$2.89 PAB 2.89

2.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.31 A$6.17

$2.99 PAB 2.99

44.15%

Potato (1kg)

$2.47 A$3.53

$2.18 PAB 2.18

13.30%

Onion (1kg)

$2.10 A$3.00

$2.46 PAB 2.46

-14.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.19 A$3.14

$2.12 PAB 2.12

3.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.53 A$2.19

$1.63 PAB 1.63

-6.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$31.29 A$44.83

$5.77 PAB 5.77

442.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.94 A$19.97

$9.98 PAB 9.98

39.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.46 A$6.39

$1.21 PAB 1.21

268.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.01 A$7.18

$2.17 PAB 2.17

130.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.00 A$4.30

$0.52 PAB 0.52

476.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$96.0 A$138

$25.39 PAB 25.39

277.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.56 A$5.11

$2.01 PAB 2.01

77.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.75 A$2.51

$2.06 PAB 2.06

-15.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$37.88 A$54.3

$20.72 PAB 20.72

82.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 A$1.65

$0.91 PAB 0.91

26.37%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.4K A$42.1K

$22.1K PAB 22.1K

32.95%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.1K A$33.1K

$21.4K PAB 21.4K

7.96%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$174 A$249

$106 PAB 106

63.59%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$26.88 A$38.51

$28.57 PAB 28.57

-5.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.7 A$75.5

$48.55 PAB 48.55

8.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.69 A$68.3

$50.5 PAB 50.5

-5.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.51 A$23.65

$33.26 PAB 33.26

-50.36%

Cinema Ticket

$13.73 A$19.67

$6.96 PAB 6.96

97.27%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,555 A$2,227

$445 PAB 445

249.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.7K A$18.1K

$11.3K PAB 11.3K

12.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.6 A$99.7

$47.40 PAB 47.40

46.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 A$73.4

$40.37 PAB 40.37

26.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 A$146

$83.5 PAB 83.5

21.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 A$161

$116 PAB 116

-3.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,359 A$1,947

$933 PAB 933

45.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,080 A$1,547

$722 PAB 722

49.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,300 A$3,296

$1,721 PAB 1,721

33.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,751 A$2,509

$1,333 PAB 1,333

31.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,618 A$10.9K

$2,974 PAB 2,974

156.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,762 A$8,255

$1,701 PAB 1,701

238.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,023 A$5,764

$813 PAB 813

395.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.35

6.3

0.79%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Australia: July 12, 2026

Last update for Panama: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,231 in Australia vs $371 in Panama. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,549 in Canberra and $1,158 in Panama City.

Average salary: $3,775 in Australia vs $713 in Panama. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 232% higher in Australia.

Dining out costs 185% more in Australia.

Public transport is 1240% more expensive in Australia.

Salaries are 429% higher in Australia, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Australia.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Australia vs Panama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Panama is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 143% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in Australia, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Australia consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Panama, contributing to the overall 143% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Panama, but in Australia it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

Panama is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.