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 $2,547 per month in Australia vs $795 in Panama, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,678 per month in Australia vs $1,195 in Panama, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,808 per month in Australia vs $1,595 in Panama, rent included.

The cost of living in Australia is about 220% higher than in Panama on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Australia sits 85% above the global median, while Panama is 42% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.74 A$24.73

$7.80 PAB 7.80

127.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$86.9 A$121

$44.46 PAB 44.46

95.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.35 A$15.82

$8.20 PAB 8.20

38.41%

Cappuccino

$3.99 A$5.57

$3.96 PAB 3.96

0.76%

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

$2.97 A$4.14

$1.56 PAB 1.56

90.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.51 A$3.50

$1.34 PAB 1.34

87.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.75 A$10.80

$2.52 PAB 2.52

207.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.07 A$11.25

$4.03 PAB 4.03

100.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 A$2.46

$1.85 PAB 1.85

-4.86%

White Bread (500g)

$2.87 A$4.00

$2.30 PAB 2.30

24.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.37 A$3.31

$2.74 PAB 2.74

-13.50%

Eggs

$5.11 A$7.13

$2.48 PAB 2.48

106.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.13 A$14.13

$12.06 PAB 12.06

-16.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.57 A$13.35

$6.89 PAB 6.89

38.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.59 A$21.74

$10.17 PAB 10.17

53.29%

Apples (1kg)

$3.83 A$5.34

$4.30 PAB 4.30

-10.93%

Banana (1kg)

$3.13 A$4.36

$1.45 PAB 1.45

115.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.35 A$4.67

$3.28 PAB 3.28

2.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.88 A$6.80

$3.73 PAB 3.73

30.83%

Potato (1kg)

$2.92 A$4.07

$2.48 PAB 2.48

17.74%

Onion (1kg)

$2.36 A$3.29

$3.15 PAB 3.15

-25.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.46 A$3.43

$2.21 PAB 2.21

11.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 A$2.38

$1.60 PAB 1.60

6.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$39.46 A$55.0

$6.05 PAB 6.05

552.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.69 A$20.48

$10.17 PAB 10.17

44.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.07 A$7.07

$1.34 PAB 1.34

278.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.36 A$7.48

$2.32 PAB 2.32

131.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.84 A$3.96

$0.48 PAB 0.48

491.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.3 A$136

$21.31 PAB 21.31

356.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.56 A$4.96

$2.56 PAB 2.56

39.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.68 A$2.34

$1.83 PAB 1.83

-8.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$40.94 A$57.1

$22.22 PAB 22.22

84.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 A$1.88

$1.13 PAB 1.13

19.47%

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

$29.1K A$40.5K

$21.4K PAB 21.4K

35.55%

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

$29.5K A$41.1K

$22.6K PAB 22.6K

30.39%

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

$207 A$289

$115 PAB 115

79.71%

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

$29.34 A$40.91

$27.31 PAB 27.31

7.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.0 A$83.7

$46.77 PAB 46.77

28.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.3 A$82.6

$49.94 PAB 49.94

18.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.28 A$28.27

$28.82 PAB 28.82

-29.63%

Cinema Ticket

$16.04 A$22.36

$8.21 PAB 8.21

95.37%

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

$2,194 A$3,059

$548 PAB 548

300.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.6K A$26.0K

$7,915 PAB 7,915

135.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$81.1 A$113

$50.3 PAB 50.3

61.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.9 A$79.3

$38.73 PAB 38.73

46.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 A$165

$87.4 PAB 87.4

35.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 A$176

$119 PAB 119

6.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,637 A$2,282

$950 PAB 950

72.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,306 A$1,821

$741 PAB 741

76.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,589 A$3,609

$1,682 PAB 1,682

53.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,963 A$2,737

$1,246 PAB 1,246

57.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,394 A$11.7K

$2,931 PAB 2,931

186.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,140 A$8,560

$1,668 PAB 1,668

268.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,067 A$5,670

$833 PAB 833

388.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.93

6.35

-6.61%

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

Last update for Australia: September 6, 2026

Last update for Panama: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,426 in Australia vs $340 in Panama. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,845 in Canberra and $1,296 in Panama City.

Average salary: $3,945 in Australia vs $719 in Panama. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 319% higher in Australia.

Dining out costs 215% more in Australia.

Public transport is 2567% more expensive in Australia.

Salaries are 449% 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 145% 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 145% 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.