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

Name: Panama
Address: PA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,535 per month in Costa Rica vs $839 in Panama, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,322 per month in Costa Rica vs $1,204 in Panama, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,108 per month in Costa Rica vs $1,568 in Panama, rent included.

The cost of living in Costa Rica is about 83% higher than in Panama on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Costa Rica sits 15% above the global median, while Panama is 37% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.10 ₡4,518

$10.05 PAB 10.05

0.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.1 ₡26.9K

$49.64 PAB 49.64

21.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.12 ₡4,529

$7.37 PAB 7.37

37.31%

Cappuccino

$3.90 ₡1,743

$3.53 PAB 3.53

10.48%

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

$2.20 ₡985

$1.47 PAB 1.47

49.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 ₡745

$1.24 PAB 1.24

34.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.06 ₡1,371

$2.30 PAB 2.30

33.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 ₡1,975

$3.69 PAB 3.69

19.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.10 ₡939

$1.84 PAB 1.84

14.13%

White Bread (500g)

$3.22 ₡1,441

$2.44 PAB 2.44

31.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.50 ₡1,118

$2.36 PAB 2.36

5.93%

Eggs

$3.37 ₡1,509

$2.69 PAB 2.69

25.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.57 ₡4,279

$11.25 PAB 11.25

-14.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.44 ₡4,224

$7.32 PAB 7.32

28.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.43 ₡6,009

$9.24 PAB 9.24

45.35%

Apples (1kg)

$4.67 ₡2,090

$4.03 PAB 4.03

15.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 ₡701

$1.33 PAB 1.33

18.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.20 ₡1,432

$2.89 PAB 2.89

10.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.98 ₡1,334

$2.99 PAB 2.99

-0.33%

Potato (1kg)

$2.98 ₡1,332

$2.18 PAB 2.18

36.70%

Onion (1kg)

$2.83 ₡1,268

$2.46 PAB 2.46

15.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ₡453

$2.12 PAB 2.12

-52.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.50 ₡1,121

$1.63 PAB 1.63

53.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.09 ₡2,277

$5.77 PAB 5.77

-11.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.14 ₡7,219

$9.98 PAB 9.98

61.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 ₡1,050

$1.21 PAB 1.21

94.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 ₡1,258

$2.17 PAB 2.17

29.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.01 ₡453

$0.52 PAB 0.52

94.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.99 ₡22.4K

$25.39 PAB 25.39

96.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₡835

$2.01 PAB 2.01

-6.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.97 ₡880

$2.06 PAB 2.06

-4.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.61 ₡3,406

$20.72 PAB 20.72

-63.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 ₡646

$0.91 PAB 0.91

58.24%

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

$36.5K ₡16.3M

$22.1K PAB 22.1K

65.20%

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

$35.4K ₡15.8M

$21.4K PAB 21.4K

65.61%

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

$87.3 ₡39.1K

$106 PAB 106

-17.69%

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

$25.16 ₡11.3K

$28.57 PAB 28.57

-11.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.0 ₡23.7K

$48.55 PAB 48.55

9.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.4 ₡25.7K

$50.5 PAB 50.5

13.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.74 ₡12.9K

$33.26 PAB 33.26

-13.59%

Cinema Ticket

$9.04 ₡4,046

$6.96 PAB 6.96

29.89%

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

$553 ₡247.4K

$445 PAB 445

24.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,994 ₡4.5M

$11.3K PAB 11.3K

-11.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.6 ₡32.0K

$47.40 PAB 47.40

51.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.2 ₡23.8K

$40.37 PAB 40.37

31.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 ₡53.1K

$83.5 PAB 83.5

42.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 ₡45.7K

$116 PAB 116

-12.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$809 ₡361.7K

$933 PAB 933

-13.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$544 ₡243.1K

$722 PAB 722

-24.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,466 ₡656.0K

$1,721 PAB 1,721

-14.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,018 ₡455.3K

$1,333 PAB 1,333

-23.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,398 ₡1.1M

$2,974 PAB 2,974

-19.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,638 ₡732.9K

$1,701 PAB 1,701

-3.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,067 ₡477.4K

$813 PAB 813

31.33%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Panama: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $750 in Costa Rica vs $371 in Panama. For reference, capital cities sit at $860 in San Jose and $1,158 in Panama City.

Average salary: $1,096 in Costa Rica vs $713 in Panama. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 102% higher in Costa Rica.

Dining out costs 89% more in Costa Rica.

Public transport is 160% more expensive in Costa Rica.

Salaries are 54% higher in Costa Rica, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Panama.

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

Costa Rica vs Panama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Panama is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 77% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in Costa Rica, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Costa Rica consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Panama, contributing to the overall 77% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Panama, but in Costa Rica 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.