Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between China and Panama

Name: Panama
Address: PA

For one person, living is cheaper in China: $791 a month against $1,619 in Panama, rent and utilities included – about $9,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

38

Cost of Living Index in China
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China Living Index
78

Cost of Living Index in Panama
Learn more

Panama Living Index

Jump to prices

🇨🇳 China

$791

/mo nomad

🇵🇦 Panama

$1,619

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in China and in Panama

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $791 in China versus $1,619 in Panama.

China $791
Panama $1,619

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,251 in China versus $2,502 in Panama.

China $1,251
Panama $2,502

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,711 in China versus $3,384 in Panama.

China $1,711
Panama $3,384

Internal cost variation is higher in Panama: monthly costs span $174 to $1,932, compared to $465–$1,222 in China. City choice carries more weight in Panama.

Living in China costs about 51% less than in Panama on average.

China (42% below) and Panama (19% above) straddle the global median.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.98 ¥19.81

$8.22 PAB 8.22

-63.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.09 ¥147

$44.37 PAB 44.37

-50.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.20 ¥34.60

$8.18 PAB 8.18

-36.43%

Cappuccino

$2.97 ¥19.74

$4.02 PAB 4.02

-26.12%

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

$0.48 ¥3.19

$1.63 PAB 1.63

-70.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ¥2.01

$1.35 PAB 1.35

-77.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.08 ¥7.18

$2.20 PAB 2.20

-50.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 ¥15.15

$4.06 PAB 4.06

-43.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 ¥11.96

$1.87 PAB 1.87

-3.74%

White Bread (500g)

$1.68 ¥11.15

$2.43 PAB 2.43

-30.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.92 ¥6.13

$3.04 PAB 3.04

-69.74%

Eggs

$1.61 ¥10.73

$2.47 PAB 2.47

-34.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.38 ¥89.0

$12.09 PAB 12.09

10.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.35 ¥22.28

$7.24 PAB 7.24

-53.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.35 ¥75.5

$10.09 PAB 10.09

12.49%

Apples (1kg)

$1.82 ¥12.12

$4.13 PAB 4.13

-55.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.31 ¥8.69

$1.50 PAB 1.50

-12.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.49 ¥9.89

$3.61 PAB 3.61

-58.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.27 ¥8.47

$3.84 PAB 3.84

-66.93%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 ¥4.73

$2.63 PAB 2.63

-73.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.93 ¥6.21

$3.26 PAB 3.26

-71.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.62 ¥4.12

$2.21 PAB 2.21

-71.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ¥3.74

$1.59 PAB 1.59

-64.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.78 ¥25.15

$5.96 PAB 5.96

-36.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.13 ¥80.7

$9.88 PAB 9.88

22.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 ¥5.54

$1.39 PAB 1.39

-40.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 ¥11.21

$2.40 PAB 2.40

-30.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 ¥1.91

$0.41 PAB 0.41

-29.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.83 ¥119

$21.33 PAB 21.33

-16.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 ¥9.89

$2.56 PAB 2.56

-41.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 ¥2.49

$1.84 PAB 1.84

-79.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.10 ¥47.23

$21.97 PAB 21.97

-67.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 ¥8.37

$1.17 PAB 1.17

7.69%

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

$19.4K ¥129.4K

$26.0K PAB 26.0K

-25.20%

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

$17.5K ¥116.7K

$22.9K PAB 22.9K

-23.28%

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

$54.6 ¥363

$116 PAB 116

-53.09%

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

$8.73 ¥58.1

$26.53 PAB 26.53

-67.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.07 ¥73.6

$46.36 PAB 46.36

-76.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.77 ¥271

$47.47 PAB 47.47

-14.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.48 ¥96.4

$30.48 PAB 30.48

-52.49%

Cinema Ticket

$6.78 ¥45.12

$7.77 PAB 7.77

-12.74%

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

$517 ¥3,437

$541 PAB 541

-4.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.8K ¥131.8K

$7,955 PAB 7,955

149.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.53 ¥310

$55.3 PAB 55.3

-15.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.66 ¥237

$44.64 PAB 44.64

-20.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.0 ¥512

$88.1 PAB 88.1

-12.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.3 ¥534

$102 PAB 102

-21.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$386 ¥2,567

$994 PAB 994

-61.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$235 ¥1,561

$727 PAB 727

-67.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ¥5,469

$1,830 PAB 1,830

-55.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$453 ¥3,015

$1,390 PAB 1,390

-67.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,697 ¥31.3K

$3,036 PAB 3,036

54.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,372 ¥15.8K

$1,764 PAB 1,764

34.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,093 ¥7,274

$821 PAB 821

33.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.46

6.37

-45.68%

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

Last update for China: October 24, 2026

Last update for Panama: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

China

$235 29.6%

Panama

$727 44.9% 210% $493

Groceries & Markets

China

$210 26.5%

Panama

$305 18.8% 45.1% $95

Clothing & Footwear

China

$108 13.6%

Panama

$131 8.1% 21.3% $23

Eating Out

China

$88 11.1%

Panama

$170 10.5% 92.5% $81

Monthly Utilities & Internet

China

$74 9.4%

Panama

$189 11.7% 154% $115

Sport & Entertainment

China

$54 6.9%

Panama

$63 3.9% 16% $8.7

Getting Around

China

$22 2.8%

Panama

$35 2.2% 55.5% $12

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $298 in China, $735 in Panama. Capital cities: $933 in Beijing (Pekin) vs $1,407 in Panama City.

National salary averages: $873 in China, $692 in Panama. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 147% higher in Panama.

Dining out costs 95% more in Panama.

Public transport is 28% more expensive in Panama.

Salaries are 26% higher in China, and purchasing power comes out stronger in China.

Good to know

🇨🇳 China

🇵🇦 Panama

🕒 Local time

01:26 1:26 AM

12:26 12:26 PM

13 h behind China

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,442,965,000

4,098,587

💱 Currency

Chinese Yuan CNY ¥

Panamanian Balboa PAB B/.

📈 Exchange rate

1 CNY = 0.15 USD

1 CNY = 0.135 EUR

1 PAB = 1 USD

1 PAB = 0.896 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

PAB, USD, EUR to CNY – Chinese Yuan Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇨🇳 Chinese Yuan (¥)

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 6.65 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.43 CNY (1 CNY = 0.135 EUR).

Panamanian Balboa exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 1 PAB (1 PAB = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.12 PAB (1 PAB = 0.896 EUR).

USD to CNY in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

China Panama 14,340 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight

From you

China
Panama

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

China vs Panama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

At $791 per month in China and $1,619 in Panama, China comes out about 51% cheaper. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.

Day-to-day life is cheaper in China: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.

Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $735 in Panama and $298 in China. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.

It depends on what you’re after: China wins on affordability, while salaries, visas, language, and lifestyle can tip the balance either way.