Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Rica and Panama Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Rica and Panama

Name: Panama
Address: PA

😐 Solo nomad: Costa Rica is 19.5% more expensive than Panama without rent, and 3.1% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Costa Rica is 20.7% more expensive than Panama without rent, and 1.3% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.65 ₡4,833

$10.18 PAB 10.18

-5.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.6 ₡29.3K

$50.5 PAB 50.5

16.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.9 ₡4,957

$7.58 PAB 7.58

30.61%

Cappuccino

$3.9 ₡1,954

$3.55 PAB 3.55

9.86%

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

$2.2 ₡1,100

$1.51 PAB 1.51

45.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 ₡827

$1.23 PAB 1.23

34.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 ₡1,517

$2.23 PAB 2.23

35.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.55 ₡2,278

$3.73 PAB 3.73

21.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.06 ₡1,033

$1.83 PAB 1.83

12.57%

White Bread (500g)

$3.06 ₡1,530

$2.41 PAB 2.41

26.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.52 ₡1,261

$2.27 PAB 2.27

11.01%

Eggs

$3.29 ₡1,646

$2.7 PAB 2.7

21.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.29 ₡4,650

$11.54 PAB 11.54

-19.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.54 ₡4,775

$7.39 PAB 7.39

29.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.6 ₡6,808

$9.36 PAB 9.36

45.30%

Apples (1kg)

$4.67 ₡2,337

$3.89 PAB 3.89

20.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 ₡782

$1.37 PAB 1.37

13.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.34 ₡1,672

$2.89 PAB 2.89

15.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.01 ₡1,507

$3.05 PAB 3.05

-1.31%

Potato (1kg)

$3.04 ₡1,524

$2.1 PAB 2.1

44.76%

Onion (1kg)

$2.85 ₡1,426

$2.46 PAB 2.46

15.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ₡506

$2.14 PAB 2.14

-52.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 ₡1,273

$1.6 PAB 1.6

58.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.86 ₡2,434

$5.88 PAB 5.88

-17.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.87 ₡7,442

$10.17 PAB 10.17

46.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.27 ₡1,137

$1.24 PAB 1.24

83.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₡1,366

$2.22 PAB 2.22

22.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.95 ₡476

$0.52 PAB 0.52

82.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.46 ₡24.8K

$25.45 PAB 25.45

94.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.81 ₡904

$2.05 PAB 2.05

-11.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.93 ₡969

$1.99 PAB 1.99

-3.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.69 ₡3,850

$20.72 PAB 20.72

-62.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ₡735

$0.96 PAB 0.96

53.13%

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

$37.4K ₡18.7M

$21.3K PAB 21.3K

75.21%

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

$34.8K ₡17.4M

$20.9K PAB 20.9K

66.55%

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

$86.9 ₡43.5K

$108 PAB 108

-19.64%

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

$25.46 ₡12.7K

$29.43 PAB 29.43

-13.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.7 ₡27.4K

$47.41 PAB 47.41

15.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.8 ₡28.9K

$49.24 PAB 49.24

17.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.42 ₡14.2K

$33.72 PAB 33.72

-15.72%

Cinema Ticket

$9.08 ₡4,546

$7.11 PAB 7.11

27.71%

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

$551 ₡275.9K

$439 PAB 439

25.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,816 ₡4.9M

$11.6K PAB 11.6K

-15.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.3 ₡36.2K

$47.07 PAB 47.07

53.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.2 ₡27.6K

$40.77 PAB 40.77

35.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₡59.3K

$85 PAB 85

39.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 ₡52.1K

$116 PAB 116

-10.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ₡408.8K

$923 PAB 923

-11.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$539 ₡269.6K

$711 PAB 711

-24.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,495 ₡748.3K

$1,745 PAB 1,745

-14.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,019 ₡510.2K

$1,378 PAB 1,378

-26.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,511 ₡1.3M

$1,884 PAB 1,884

33.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,384 ₡693K

$1,502 PAB 1,502

-7.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$996 ₡498.8K

$807 PAB 807

23.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.53

6.3

67.14%

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

Last update for Costa Rica: October 28, 2025

Last update for Panama: October 28, 2025

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