Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Billings, MT and Panama City

For one person, living is cheaper in Panama City: $1,972 a month against $2,390 in Billings, MT, rent and utilities included – about $5,000 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

114

Cost of Living Index in Billings, MT
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Billings, MT Living Index
95

Cost of Living Index in Panama City
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Panama City Living Index

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Billings, MT

🇺🇸 United States

$2,390

/mo nomad

Panama City

🇵🇦 Panama

$1,972

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Billings, MT and in Panama City

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Billings, MT and in Panama City actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,390 per month in Billings, MT vs $1,972 in Panama City, rent included.

Billings, MT $2,390
Panama City $1,972

A couple spends around $3,554 per month in Billings, MT vs $2,930 in Panama City, rent included.

Billings, MT $3,554
Panama City $2,930

A family of three spends $4,718 per month in Billings, MT vs $3,888 in Panama City, rent included.

Billings, MT $4,718
Panama City $3,888

Billings, MT costs about 21% more than Panama City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Billings, MT and Panama City sit above the global median – Billings, MT by 77%, Panama City by 46%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.92 $25.92

$11.37 PAB 11.37

127.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.2 $76.2

$46.69 PAB 46.69

63.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.32 $13.32

$7.98 PAB 7.98

66.92%

Cappuccino

$6.35 $6.35

$4.12 PAB 4.12

54.13%

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

$2.51 $2.51

$2.01 PAB 2.01

24.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.57 PAB 1.57

5.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.21 $4.21

$3.28 PAB 3.28

28.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.02 $5.02

$3.88 PAB 3.88

29.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.82 PAB 1.82

-45.05%

White Bread (500g)

$3.44 $3.44

$2.61 PAB 2.61

31.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$3.45 PAB 3.45

-8.70%

Eggs

$3.15 $3.15

$2.68 PAB 2.68

17.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.83 $11.83

$12.42 PAB 12.42

-4.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.72 $11.72

$6.73 PAB 6.73

74.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.67 $17.67

$10.44 PAB 10.44

69.25%

Apples (1kg)

$3.52 $3.52

$4.21 PAB 4.21

-16.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.95 PAB 1.95

-26.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$4.07 PAB 4.07

-29.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.69 $4.69

$4.02 PAB 4.02

16.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 $1.18

$3.46 PAB 3.46

-65.90%

Onion (1kg)

$1.97 $1.97

$4.42 PAB 4.42

-55.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.39 $2.39

$2.43 PAB 2.43

-1.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.72 PAB 1.72

-14.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.82 $9.82

$6.04 PAB 6.04

62.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.70 $10.70

$11.68 PAB 11.68

-8.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 $2.26

$1.41 PAB 1.41

60.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.18 $5.18

$2.74 PAB 2.74

89.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.02 $2.02

$0.33 PAB 0.33

512.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.45 $28.45

$20.65 PAB 20.65

37.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.45 PAB 2.45

-0.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.40 $1.40

$1.76 PAB 1.76

-20.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$60.9 $60.9

$21.86 PAB 21.86

178.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.20 PAB 1.20

-15.00%

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

$29.2K $29.2K

$24.6K PAB 24.6K

18.83%

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

$23.9K $23.9K

$20.9K PAB 20.9K

14.46%

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

$175 $175

$132 PAB 132

32.78%

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

$49.70 $49.70

$27.89 PAB 27.89

78.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$82.9 $82.9

$49.10 PAB 49.10

68.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.56 $41.56

$44.53 PAB 44.53

-6.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.97 $14.97

$34.01 PAB 34.01

-55.98%

Cinema Ticket

$14.02 $14.02

$8.70 PAB 8.70

61.15%

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

$1,066 $1,066

$537 PAB 537

98.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,517 $8,517

$20.5K PAB 20.5K

-58.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.0 $59.0

$65.8 PAB 65.8

-10.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$66.9 $66.9

$48.45 PAB 48.45

37.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.3 $99.3

$95.4 PAB 95.4

4.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 $120

$114 PAB 114

5.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,198 $1,198

$1,405 PAB 1,405

-14.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,085 $1,085

$994 PAB 994

9.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,860 $1,860

$2,221 PAB 2,221

-16.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,804 $1,804

$1,714 PAB 1,714

5.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,525 $2,525

$3,139 PAB 3,139

-19.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,047 $2,047

$1,724 PAB 1,724

18.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,874 $3,874

$936 PAB 936

313.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.4

6.39

0.16%

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

Last update for Billings, MT: November 1, 2026

Last update for Panama City: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Billings, MT

$1.1K 45.4%

Panama City

$994 50.4% 8.4% $91

Eating Out

Billings, MT

$371 15.5%

Panama City

$203 10.3% 45.4% $168

Groceries & Markets

Billings, MT

$356 14.9%

Panama City

$326 16.5% 8.4% $30

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Billings, MT

$308 12.9%

Panama City

$209 10.6% 32.1% $99

Clothing & Footwear

Billings, MT

$155 6.5%

Panama City

$145 7.4% 6.4% $9.9

Sport & Entertainment

Billings, MT

$70 2.9%

Panama City

$62 3.1% 11% $7.7

Getting Around

Billings, MT

$46 1.9%

Panama City

$33 1.7% 27.7% $13

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,198 in Billings, MT versus $1,405 in Panama City. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Billings, MT are about 4.1 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $76 in Billings, MT versus $47 in Panama City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $356 vs $326 – making Panama City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Billings, MT

🇵🇦 Panama City

🕒 Local time

06:44 6:44 AM

08:44 8:44 AM

2 h ahead of Billings, MT

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

117,116

1,086,990 Capital

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

Panamanian Balboa PAB B/.

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

1 PAB = 1 USD

1 PAB = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

PAB, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

🇵🇦 Panamanian Balboa (B/.)

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Panamanian Balboa exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 1 PAB (1 PAB = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.12 PAB (1 PAB = 0.89 EUR).

PAB to USD in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Billings, MT Panama City 4,940 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight

From you

Billings, MT
Panama City

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Billings, MT vs Panama City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Billings, MT costs about 21% more than Panama City, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,586 per month in Billings, MT and $2,958 in Panama City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Billings, MT, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,198 there versus $1,405 in Panama City.

Public transport costs about 27% less in Panama City. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $1,066 per month in Billings, MT and $537 in Panama City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

It depends on your priorities. Panama City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,972 in Panama City to $2,390 in Billings, MT. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Panama City. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Billings, MT makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.