Cost of Living Comparison Between China and Panama Cost of Living Comparison Between China and Panama

🙂 Solo nomad: China is 38.6% cheaper than Panama without rent, and 49% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: China is 37.9% cheaper than Panama without rent, and 45.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
China
Panama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.85 ¥20.46
$10.18 PAB 10.18
-72.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.97 ¥172
$50.5 PAB 50.5
-52.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.96 ¥35.61
$7.58 PAB 7.58
-34.56%
Cappuccino
$3.13 ¥22.47
$3.55 PAB 3.55
-11.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ¥3.18
$1.51 PAB 1.51
-70.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 ¥2.1
$1.23 PAB 1.23
-76.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.95 ¥6.83
$2.23 PAB 2.23
-57.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 ¥15.32
$3.73 PAB 3.73
-42.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
Panama
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.85 ¥13.23
$1.83 PAB 1.83
1.09%
White Bread (500g)
$1.68 ¥12.06
$2.41 PAB 2.41
-30.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.95 ¥6.81
$2.27 PAB 2.27
-58.15%
Eggs
$1.55 ¥11.11
$2.7 PAB 2.7
-42.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.25 ¥95.1
$11.54 PAB 11.54
14.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.28 ¥23.52
$7.39 PAB 7.39
-55.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.85 ¥77.8
$9.36 PAB 9.36
15.92%
Apples (1kg)
$1.77 ¥12.66
$3.89 PAB 3.89
-54.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.26 ¥9.01
$1.37 PAB 1.37
-8.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.5 ¥10.73
$2.89 PAB 2.89
-48.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.19 ¥8.5
$3.05 PAB 3.05
-60.98%
Potato (1kg)
$0.75 ¥5.4
$2.1 PAB 2.1
-64.29%
Onion (1kg)
$0.86 ¥6.15
$2.46 PAB 2.46
-65.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.61 ¥4.37
$2.14 PAB 2.14
-71.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 ¥4.14
$1.6 PAB 1.6
-63.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.45 ¥24.74
$5.88 PAB 5.88
-41.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.3 ¥81.1
$10.17 PAB 10.17
11.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 ¥6
$1.24 PAB 1.24
-32.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 ¥12.05
$2.22 PAB 2.22
-24.32%
🚌 Getting Around
China
Panama
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.4 ¥2.86
$0.52 PAB 0.52
-23.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.83 ¥149
$25.45 PAB 25.45
-18.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ¥9.74
$2.05 PAB 2.05
-33.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.55
$1.99 PAB 1.99
-82.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.8 ¥48.75
$20.72 PAB 20.72
-67.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 ¥8.05
$0.96 PAB 0.96
16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2K ¥137.7K
$21.3K PAB 21.3K
-10.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.7K ¥119.8K
$20.9K PAB 20.9K
-20.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
Panama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.4 ¥369
$108 PAB 108
-52.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.77 ¥70.1
$29.43 PAB 29.43
-66.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.34 ¥81.3
$47.41 PAB 47.41
-76.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
Panama
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.55 ¥284
$49.24 PAB 49.24
-19.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.89 ¥107
$33.72 PAB 33.72
-55.84%
Cinema Ticket
$6.23 ¥44.71
$7.11 PAB 7.11
-12.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
Panama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$417 ¥2,989
$439 PAB 439
-5.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.7K ¥126.8K
$11.6K PAB 11.6K
52.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
Panama
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.65 ¥327
$47.07 PAB 47.07
-3.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.49 ¥240
$40.77 PAB 40.77
-17.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.8 ¥515
$85 PAB 85
-15.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.9 ¥523
$116 PAB 116
-37.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
Panama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$445 ¥3,194
$923 PAB 923
-51.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$255 ¥1,830
$711 PAB 711
-64.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$915 ¥6,566
$1,745 PAB 1,745
-47.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$543 ¥3,895
$1,378 PAB 1,378
-60.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,142 ¥44.1K
$1,884 PAB 1,884
225.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,860 ¥20.5K
$1,502 PAB 1,502
90.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
Panama
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$942 ¥6,755
$807 PAB 807
16.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.06
6.3
-35.56%

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

Last update for China: October 29, 2025

Last update for Panama: October 28, 2025

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