Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Hillsboro, OR and Panama City

For one person, living is cheaper in Panama City: $1,855 a month against $2,859 in Hillsboro, OR, rent and utilities included – about $12,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Hillsboro, OR
🇺🇸 United States
$2,859
/mo nomad
Panama City
🇵🇦 Panama
$1,855
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,859 per month in Hillsboro, OR vs $1,855 in Panama City, rent included.

  • Hillsboro, OR $2,859
  • Panama City $1,855

A couple spends around $3,884 per month in Hillsboro, OR vs $2,804 in Panama City, rent included.

  • Hillsboro, OR $3,884
  • Panama City $2,804

A family of three spends $4,908 per month in Hillsboro, OR vs $3,753 in Panama City, rent included.

  • Hillsboro, OR $4,908
  • Panama City $3,753

Hillsboro, OR costs about 54% more than Panama City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Hillsboro, OR and Panama City sit above the global median – Hillsboro, OR by 112%, Panama City by 37%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hillsboro, OR
Panama City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.13 $22.13
$11.63 PAB 11.63
90.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.1 $59.1
$47.92 PAB 47.92
23.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.79 $7.79
$7.96 PAB 7.96
-2.14%
Cappuccino
$4.64 $4.64
$4.22 PAB 4.22
9.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70 $2.70
$2.01 PAB 2.01
34.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 $2.13
$1.56 PAB 1.56
36.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.06 $5.06
$3.39 PAB 3.39
49.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.95 $5.95
$3.94 PAB 3.94
51.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hillsboro, OR
Panama City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 $1.06
$1.85 PAB 1.85
-42.70%
White Bread (500g)
$3.72 $3.72
$2.56 PAB 2.56
45.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.34 $5.34
$3.48 PAB 3.48
53.45%
Eggs
$3.67 $3.67
$2.69 PAB 2.69
36.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.07 $10.07
$12.57 PAB 12.57
-19.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.91 $13.91
$6.83 PAB 6.83
103.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.94 $19.94
$10.58 PAB 10.58
88.47%
Apples (1kg)
$3.70 $3.70
$4.18 PAB 4.18
-11.48%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 $1.69
$1.83 PAB 1.83
-7.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.90 $3.90
$4.20 PAB 4.20
-7.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.33 $3.33
$4.03 PAB 4.03
-17.37%
Potato (1kg)
$2.08 $2.08
$3.48 PAB 3.48
-40.23%
Onion (1kg)
$2.20 $2.20
$4.22 PAB 4.22
-47.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.94 $1.94
$2.41 PAB 2.41
-19.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.93 $1.93
$1.69 PAB 1.69
14.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.16 $10.16
$6.14 PAB 6.14
65.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.62 $13.62
$11.30 PAB 11.30
20.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 $1.76
$1.42 PAB 1.42
23.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49 $3.49
$2.73 PAB 2.73
27.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Hillsboro, OR
Panama City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.84 $2.84
$0.33 PAB 0.33
760.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$99.5 $99.5
$21.23 PAB 21.23
368.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.91 $4.91
$2.52 PAB 2.52
94.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 $1.34
$1.86 PAB 1.86
-27.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.85 $29.85
$21.78 PAB 21.78
37.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.20 $1.20
$1.25 PAB 1.25
-4.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.4K $18.4K
$21.2K PAB 21.2K
-13.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3K $22.3K
$21.0K PAB 21.0K
6.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hillsboro, OR
Panama City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$149 $149
$130 PAB 130
14.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.21 $40.21
$28.13 PAB 28.13
42.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.37 $47.37
$48.21 PAB 48.21
-1.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hillsboro, OR
Panama City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.5 $52.5
$45.78 PAB 45.78
14.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.88 $11.88
$34.92 PAB 34.92
-65.98%
Cinema Ticket
$13.74 $13.74
$8.67 PAB 8.67
58.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hillsboro, OR
Panama City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,225 $1,225
$544 PAB 544
125.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.1K $12.1K
$9,697 PAB 9,697
24.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hillsboro, OR
Panama City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.14 $37.14
$66.8 PAB 66.8
-44.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.11 $38.11
$49.14 PAB 49.14
-22.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.0 $95.0
$93.9 PAB 93.9
1.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.1 $85.1
$112 PAB 112
-23.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hillsboro, OR
Panama City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,921 $1,921
$1,257 PAB 1,257
52.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,604 $1,604
$875 PAB 875
83.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,835 $2,835
$2,155 PAB 2,155
31.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,124 $2,124
$1,564 PAB 1,564
35.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,299 $3,299
$3,122 PAB 3,122
5.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,407 $3,407
$1,709 PAB 1,709
99.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hillsboro, OR
Panama City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,745 $4,745
$916 PAB 916
418.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.22
6.39
-2.66%

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

Last update for Hillsboro, OR: 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
Hillsboro, OR
$1.6K
Panama City
$875 45.4% $729
Groceries & Markets
Hillsboro, OR
$389
Panama City
$325 16.4% $64
Eating Out
Hillsboro, OR
$313
Panama City
$207 33.9% $106
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hillsboro, OR
$237
Panama City
$206 12.9% $31
Getting Around
Hillsboro, OR
$123
Panama City
$34 71.9% $88
Clothing & Footwear
Hillsboro, OR
$115
Panama City
$145 25.8% $30
Sport & Entertainment
Hillsboro, OR
$80
Panama City
$63 21.1% $17

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,921 in Hillsboro, OR 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 418% higher in Hillsboro, OR, 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 $59.0 in Hillsboro, OR versus $48.00 in Panama City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $389 vs $325 – making Panama City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Hillsboro, OR
🇵🇦 Panama City
🕒 Local time
00:18 12:18 AM
02:18 2:18 AM
2 h ahead of Hillsboro, OR
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
106,447
1,086,990 Capital
Exchange rates and currency converter

PAB, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Panamanian Balboa exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 1 PAB (1 PAB = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.12 PAB (1 PAB = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Hillsboro, OR Panama City 5,800 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Hillsboro, OR
  • 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
Hillsboro, OR vs Panama City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Hillsboro, OR or Panama City?
Hillsboro, OR costs about 54% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Hillsboro, OR and in Panama City?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,289 per month in Hillsboro, OR and $2,783 in Panama City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Hillsboro, OR or Panama City?
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.
How much does it cost to live in Hillsboro, OR compared to Panama City?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,859 in Hillsboro, OR and $1,855 in Panama City. That's a gap of about 54%.
How expensive is transport in Hillsboro, OR compared to Panama City?
Public transport costs about 369% less in Panama City. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Hillsboro, OR or in Panama City?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Panama City, where all-in costs run around $1,855, than in Hillsboro, OR at $2,859. In Panama City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hillsboro, OR it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Hillsboro, OR or Panama City?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Panama City costs $1,855 versus $2,859 in Hillsboro, OR. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Hillsboro, OR or to Panama City?
If budget matters most, go with Panama City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hillsboro, OR makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Hillsboro, OR vs other spots: cost of living compared

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