Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Highlands Ranch, CO and Panama City

For one person, living is cheaper in Panama City: $1,972 a month against $3,464 in Highlands Ranch, CO, rent and utilities included – about $17,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

165

Cost of Living Index in Highlands Ranch, CO
Learn more

Highlands Ranch, CO Living Index
95

Cost of Living Index in Panama City
Learn more

Panama City Living Index

Jump to prices

Highlands Ranch, CO

🇺🇸 United States

$3,464

/mo nomad

Panama City

🇵🇦 Panama

$1,972

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Highlands Ranch, CO 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 Highlands Ranch, CO and in Panama City actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,464 per month in Highlands Ranch, CO vs $1,972 in Panama City, rent included.

Highlands Ranch, CO $3,464
Panama City $1,972

A couple spends around $4,105 per month in Highlands Ranch, CO vs $2,930 in Panama City, rent included.

Highlands Ranch, CO $4,105
Panama City $2,930

A family of three spends $4,746 per month in Highlands Ranch, CO vs $3,888 in Panama City, rent included.

Highlands Ranch, CO $4,746
Panama City $3,888

Highlands Ranch, CO costs about 76% more than Panama City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Highlands Ranch, CO and Panama City sit above the global median – Highlands Ranch, CO by 156%, Panama City by 46%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.27 $15.27

$11.37 PAB 11.37

34.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.9 $80.9

$46.69 PAB 46.69

73.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.80 $9.80

$7.98 PAB 7.98

22.81%

Cappuccino

$6.20 $6.20

$4.12 PAB 4.12

50.49%

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

$2.55 $2.55

$2.01 PAB 2.01

26.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 $2.08

$1.57 PAB 1.57

32.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.88 $4.88

$3.28 PAB 3.28

48.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.82 $5.82

$3.88 PAB 3.88

50.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.82 PAB 1.82

-46.15%

White Bread (500g)

$2.97 $2.97

$2.61 PAB 2.61

13.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.45 PAB 3.45

-20.58%

Eggs

$4.33 $4.33

$2.68 PAB 2.68

61.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.89 $10.89

$12.42 PAB 12.42

-12.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.14 $9.14

$6.73 PAB 6.73

35.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.48 $19.48

$10.44 PAB 10.44

86.59%

Apples (1kg)

$4.97 $4.97

$4.21 PAB 4.21

18.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.95 PAB 1.95

-18.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.88 $4.88

$4.07 PAB 4.07

19.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.02 PAB 4.02

28.61%

Potato (1kg)

$3.46 $3.46

$3.46 PAB 3.46

Onion (1kg)

$4.65 $4.65

$4.42 PAB 4.42

5.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.32 $2.32

$2.43 PAB 2.43

-4.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.72 PAB 1.72

-1.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.24 $10.24

$6.04 PAB 6.04

69.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.25 $16.25

$11.68 PAB 11.68

39.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.59 $2.59

$1.41 PAB 1.41

83.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.74 PAB 2.74

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.01 $2.01

$0.33 PAB 0.33

509.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.5 $52.5

$20.65 PAB 20.65

154.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.45 PAB 2.45

3.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.76 PAB 1.76

3.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.64 $24.64

$21.86 PAB 21.86

12.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 $1.12

$1.20 PAB 1.20

-6.67%

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

$28.2K $28.2K

$24.6K PAB 24.6K

15.06%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$20.9K PAB 20.9K

25.84%

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

$211 $211

$132 PAB 132

59.95%

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

$55.8 $55.8

$27.89 PAB 27.89

99.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.1 $70.1

$49.10 PAB 49.10

42.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.53 $45.53

$44.53 PAB 44.53

2.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.01 PAB 34.01

Cinema Ticket

$12.24 $12.24

$8.70 PAB 8.70

40.69%

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

$1,334 $1,334

$537 PAB 537

148.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K $11.5K

$20.5K PAB 20.5K

-43.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.3 $60.3

$65.8 PAB 65.8

-8.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$69.2 $69.2

$48.45 PAB 48.45

42.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.2 $80.2

$95.4 PAB 95.4

-15.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 $117

$114 PAB 114

3.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,574 $1,574

$1,405 PAB 1,405

12.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,173 $2,173

$994 PAB 994

118.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,791 $2,791

$2,221 PAB 2,221

25.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,882 $1,882

$1,714 PAB 1,714

9.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,806 $2,806

$3,139 PAB 3,139

-10.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,287 $2,287

$1,724 PAB 1,724

32.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,126 $7,126

$936 PAB 936

661.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.7

6.39

4.85%

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

Last update for Highlands Ranch, CO: November 1, 2026

Last update for Panama City: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Highlands Ranch, CO

$2.2K 62.7%

Panama City

$994 50.4% 54.2% $1.2K

Groceries & Markets

Highlands Ranch, CO

$385 11.1%

Panama City

$326 16.5% 15.3% $59

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Highlands Ranch, CO

$337 9.7%

Panama City

$209 10.6% 38% $128

Eating Out

Highlands Ranch, CO

$281 8.1%

Panama City

$203 10.3% 27.7% $78

Clothing & Footwear

Highlands Ranch, CO

$147 4.3%

Panama City

$145 7.4% 1.2% $1.7

Getting Around

Highlands Ranch, CO

$72 2.1%

Panama City

$33 1.7% 53.9% $39

Sport & Entertainment

Highlands Ranch, CO

$70 2%

Panama City

$62 3.1% 11.5% $8.1

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,574 in Highlands Ranch, CO versus $1,405 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 in Highlands Ranch, CO are about 7.6 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $81 in Highlands Ranch, CO versus $47 in Panama City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $385 vs $326 – making Panama City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Highlands Ranch, CO

🇵🇦 Panama City

🕒 Local time

13:37 1:37 PM

15:37 3:37 PM

2 h ahead of Highlands Ranch, CO

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,086,990 Capital

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

Panamanian Balboa PAB B/.

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.895 EUR

1 PAB = 1 USD

1 PAB = 0.895 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 November 6, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.895 EUR).

Panamanian Balboa exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 1 PAB (1 PAB = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.12 PAB (1 PAB = 0.895 EUR).

PAB to USD in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Highlands Ranch, CO Panama City 4,240 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight

From you

Highlands Ranch, CO
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

Highlands Ranch, CO vs Panama City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,464 in Highlands Ranch, CO, $1,972 in Panama City – Panama City comes out roughly 43% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,196 per month in Highlands Ranch, CO and $2,958 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,405 there versus $1,574 in Highlands Ranch, CO.

Groceries cost about 18% more in Highlands Ranch, CO, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $81 in Highlands Ranch, CO and $47 in Panama City. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Panama City, where all-in costs run around $1,972, than in Highlands Ranch, CO at $3,464. In Panama City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Highlands Ranch, CO it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Panama City – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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