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 $1,660 per month in Costa Rica vs $795 in Panama, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,621 per month in Costa Rica vs $1,195 in Panama, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,581 per month in Costa Rica vs $1,595 in Panama, rent included.

The cost of living in Costa Rica is about 109% higher than in Panama on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Costa Rica sits 20% above the global median, while Panama is 42% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.89 ₡4,874

$7.80 PAB 7.80

39.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$55.8 ₡25.0K

$44.46 PAB 44.46

25.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.81 ₡4,839

$8.20 PAB 8.20

31.83%

Cappuccino

$4.52 ₡2,021

$3.96 PAB 3.96

14.14%

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

$2.45 ₡1,095

$1.56 PAB 1.56

57.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 ₡844

$1.34 PAB 1.34

41.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.30 ₡1,476

$2.52 PAB 2.52

30.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.61 ₡2,064

$4.03 PAB 4.03

14.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.42 ₡1,085

$1.85 PAB 1.85

30.81%

White Bread (500g)

$3.60 ₡1,613

$2.30 PAB 2.30

56.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.70 ₡1,207

$2.74 PAB 2.74

-1.46%

Eggs

$4.01 ₡1,796

$2.48 PAB 2.48

61.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.21 ₡4,568

$12.06 PAB 12.06

-15.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.38 ₡4,647

$6.89 PAB 6.89

50.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.83 ₡6,190

$10.17 PAB 10.17

35.99%

Apples (1kg)

$5.08 ₡2,272

$4.30 PAB 4.30

18.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 ₡782

$1.45 PAB 1.45

20.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.52 ₡1,575

$3.28 PAB 3.28

7.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.23 ₡1,446

$3.73 PAB 3.73

-13.40%

Potato (1kg)

$3.34 ₡1,496

$2.48 PAB 2.48

34.68%

Onion (1kg)

$3.18 ₡1,422

$3.15 PAB 3.15

0.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 ₡483

$2.21 PAB 2.21

-51.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.68 ₡1,200

$1.60 PAB 1.60

67.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.57 ₡2,495

$6.05 PAB 6.05

-7.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.23 ₡6,817

$10.17 PAB 10.17

49.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 ₡1,196

$1.34 PAB 1.34

99.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.33 ₡1,490

$2.32 PAB 2.32

43.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 ₡486

$0.48 PAB 0.48

127.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.4 ₡29.3K

$21.31 PAB 21.31

206.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.20 ₡983

$2.56 PAB 2.56

-14.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.94 ₡870

$1.83 PAB 1.83

6.01%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.87 ₡3,969

$22.22 PAB 22.22

-60.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.60 ₡718

$1.13 PAB 1.13

41.59%

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

$32.7K ₡14.6M

$21.4K PAB 21.4K

52.30%

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

$36.3K ₡16.3M

$22.6K PAB 22.6K

60.74%

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

$95.2 ₡42.6K

$115 PAB 115

-17.56%

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

$31.50 ₡14.1K

$27.31 PAB 27.31

15.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.7 ₡26.7K

$46.77 PAB 46.77

27.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.3 ₡29.7K

$49.94 PAB 49.94

32.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.60 ₡10.6K

$28.82 PAB 28.82

-18.11%

Cinema Ticket

$8.21 ₡3,676

$8.21 PAB 8.21

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

$726 ₡324.9K

$548 PAB 548

32.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K ₡5.7M

$7,915 PAB 7,915

61.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.6 ₡33.4K

$50.3 PAB 50.3

48.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.6 ₡24.0K

$38.73 PAB 38.73

38.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 ₡56.0K

$87.4 PAB 87.4

43.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 ₡47.7K

$119 PAB 119

-10.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$884 ₡395.5K

$950 PAB 950

-6.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$641 ₡286.7K

$741 PAB 741

-13.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,743 ₡779.9K

$1,682 PAB 1,682

3.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,168 ₡522.7K

$1,246 PAB 1,246

-6.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,400 ₡1.1M

$2,931 PAB 2,931

-18.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,671 ₡748.0K

$1,668 PAB 1,668

0.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,083 ₡484.5K

$833 PAB 833

29.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.56

6.35

50.55%

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

Last update for Costa Rica: September 7, 2026

Last update for Panama: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $816 in Costa Rica vs $340 in Panama. For reference, capital cities sit at $960 in San Jose and $1,296 in Panama City.

Average salary: $1,106 in Costa Rica vs $719 in Panama. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 140% higher in Costa Rica.

Dining out costs 96% more in Costa Rica.

Public transport is 367% 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 69% 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 69% 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.