Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ellensburg, WA and Panama City

For one person, living is cheaper in Panama City: $1,855 a month against $2,373 in Ellensburg, WA, rent and utilities included – about $6,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

115

Cost of Living Index in Ellensburg, WA
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Ellensburg, WA Living Index
90

Cost of Living Index in Panama City
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Panama City Living Index

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Ellensburg, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,373

/mo nomad

Panama City

🇵🇦 Panama

$1,855

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ellensburg, WA and in Panama City

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

A single person spends $2,373 per month in Ellensburg, WA vs $1,855 in Panama City, rent included.

Ellensburg, WA $2,373
Panama City $1,855

A couple spends around $3,450 per month in Ellensburg, WA vs $2,804 in Panama City, rent included.

Ellensburg, WA $3,450
Panama City $2,804

A family of three spends $4,527 per month in Ellensburg, WA vs $3,753 in Panama City, rent included.

Ellensburg, WA $4,527
Panama City $3,753

Ellensburg, WA costs about 28% more than Panama City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Ellensburg, WA and Panama City sit above the global median – Ellensburg, WA by 76%, Panama City by 37%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.04 $15.04

$11.63 PAB 11.63

29.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.9 $73.9

$47.92 PAB 47.92

54.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.93 $11.93

$7.96 PAB 7.96

49.87%

Cappuccino

$5.23 $5.23

$4.22 PAB 4.22

23.93%

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

$1.53 $1.53

$2.01 PAB 2.01

-23.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.56 PAB 1.56

-22.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.96 $4.96

$3.39 PAB 3.39

46.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.96 $5.96

$3.94 PAB 3.94

51.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.85 PAB 1.85

-46.49%

White Bread (500g)

$2.79 $2.79

$2.56 PAB 2.56

8.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.67 $4.67

$3.48 PAB 3.48

34.20%

Eggs

$4.23 $4.23

$2.69 PAB 2.69

57.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.58 $15.58

$12.57 PAB 12.57

23.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.53 $6.53

$6.83 PAB 6.83

-4.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.85 $13.85

$10.58 PAB 10.58

30.91%

Apples (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$4.18 PAB 4.18

15.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 $1.44

$1.83 PAB 1.83

-21.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.26 $4.26

$4.20 PAB 4.20

1.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.97 $3.97

$4.03 PAB 4.03

-1.49%

Potato (1kg)

$1.50 $1.50

$3.48 PAB 3.48

-56.90%

Onion (1kg)

$2.21 $2.21

$4.22 PAB 4.22

-47.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.41 PAB 2.41

-15.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.69 PAB 1.69

7.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.83 $9.83

$6.14 PAB 6.14

60.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.86 $13.86

$11.30 PAB 11.30

22.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.42 PAB 1.42

27.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.96 $4.96

$2.73 PAB 2.73

81.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.02 $2.02

$0.33 PAB 0.33

512.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.23 PAB 21.23

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.07 $5.07

$2.52 PAB 2.52

101.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.75 $1.75

$1.86 PAB 1.86

-5.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$40.36 $40.36

$21.78 PAB 21.78

85.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.25 PAB 1.25

-13.60%

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

$32.0K $32.0K

$21.2K PAB 21.2K

50.66%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$21.0K PAB 21.0K

24.62%

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

$152 $152

$130 PAB 130

17.03%

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

$39.44 $39.44

$28.13 PAB 28.13

40.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.3 $69.3

$48.21 PAB 48.21

43.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.32 $42.32

$45.78 PAB 45.78

-7.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.92 PAB 34.92

Cinema Ticket

$15.73 $15.73

$8.67 PAB 8.67

81.43%

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

$1,360 $1,360

$544 PAB 544

149.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.8K $21.8K

$9,697 PAB 9,697

124.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$34.99 $34.99

$66.8 PAB 66.8

-47.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.67 $34.67

$49.14 PAB 49.14

-29.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 $108

$93.9 PAB 93.9

15.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.70 $40.70

$112 PAB 112

-63.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,571 $1,571

$1,257 PAB 1,257

24.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,302 $1,302

$875 PAB 875

48.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,528 $2,528

$2,155 PAB 2,155

17.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,111 $2,111

$1,564 PAB 1,564

35.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,525 $4,525

$3,122 PAB 3,122

44.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,445 $4,445

$1,709 PAB 1,709

160.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,770 $1,770

$916 PAB 916

93.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

6.39

1.72%

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

Last update for Ellensburg, WA: October 11, 2026

Last update for Panama City: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Ellensburg, WA

$1.3K 54.9%

Panama City

$875 47.2% 32.8% $427

Groceries & Markets

Ellensburg, WA

$350 14.7%

Panama City

$325 17.5% 7% $24

Eating Out

Ellensburg, WA

$267 11.2%

Panama City

$207 11.1% 22.4% $60

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Ellensburg, WA

$261 11%

Panama City

$206 11.1% 20.9% $55

Clothing & Footwear

Ellensburg, WA

$98 4.1%

Panama City

$145 7.8% 47.1% $46

Sport & Entertainment

Ellensburg, WA

$74 3.1%

Panama City

$63 3.4% 14.5% $11

Getting Around

Ellensburg, WA

$22 * 0.9%

Panama City

$34 1.9% 56.9% $12

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,571 in Ellensburg, WA versus $1,257 in Panama City. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 93% higher in Ellensburg, WA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $74.0 in Ellensburg, WA versus $48.00 in Panama City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $350 vs $325 – making Panama City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Ellensburg, WA

🇵🇦 Panama City

🕒 Local time

00:34 12:34 AM

02:34 2:34 AM

2 h ahead of Ellensburg, WA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

18,666

1,086,990 Capital

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

Panamanian Balboa PAB B/.

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

1 PAB = 1 USD

1 PAB = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

PAB, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

🇵🇦 Panamanian Balboa (B/.)

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Panamanian Balboa exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 1 PAB (1 PAB = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.12 PAB (1 PAB = 0.89 EUR).

PAB to USD in detail →

On the map

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Ellensburg, WA Panama City 5,730 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight

From you

Ellensburg, WA
Panama City

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

Ellensburg, WA vs Panama City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ellensburg, WA costs about 28% more than Panama City, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,559 per month in Ellensburg, WA and $2,783 in Panama City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Panama City, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $74.0 in Ellensburg, WA and $48.00 in Panama City. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 8% more in Ellensburg, WA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Panama City, where all-in costs run around $1,855, than in Ellensburg, WA at $2,373. In Panama City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ellensburg, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Panama City costs $1,855 versus $2,373 in Ellensburg, WA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Panama City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ellensburg, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.