Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Issaquah, WA and Panama City

For one person, living is cheaper in Panama City: $1,855 a month against $3,121 in Issaquah, WA, rent and utilities included – about $15,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Issaquah, WA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,121
/mo nomad
Panama City
🇵🇦 Panama
$1,855
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $3,121 per month in Issaquah, WA vs $1,855 in Panama City, rent included.

  • Issaquah, WA $3,121
  • Panama City $1,855

A couple spends around $4,471 per month in Issaquah, WA vs $2,804 in Panama City, rent included.

  • Issaquah, WA $4,471
  • Panama City $2,804

A family of three spends $5,820 per month in Issaquah, WA vs $3,753 in Panama City, rent included.

  • Issaquah, WA $5,820
  • Panama City $3,753

Issaquah, WA costs about 68% more than Panama City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Issaquah, WA and Panama City sit above the global median – Issaquah, WA by 131%, Panama City by 37%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Issaquah, WA
Panama City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.87 $24.87
$11.63 PAB 11.63
113.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.6 $81.6
$47.92 PAB 47.92
70.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.33 $11.33
$7.96 PAB 7.96
42.34%
Cappuccino
$4.90 $4.90
$4.22 PAB 4.22
16.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19 $3.19
$2.01 PAB 2.01
58.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 $2.14
$1.56 PAB 1.56
37.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.21 $7.21
$3.39 PAB 3.39
112.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.15 $7.15
$3.94 PAB 3.94
81.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Issaquah, WA
Panama City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.40 $1.40
$1.85 PAB 1.85
-24.32%
White Bread (500g)
$5.50 $5.50
$2.56 PAB 2.56
114.84%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.75 $5.75
$3.48 PAB 3.48
65.23%
Eggs
$5.45 $5.45
$2.69 PAB 2.69
102.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.48 $16.48
$12.57 PAB 12.57
31.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.22 $15.22
$6.83 PAB 6.83
122.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.44 $17.44
$10.58 PAB 10.58
64.84%
Apples (1kg)
$5.98 $5.98
$4.18 PAB 4.18
43.06%
Banana (1kg)
$2.17 $2.17
$1.83 PAB 1.83
18.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.16 $4.16
$4.20 PAB 4.20
-0.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.55 $4.55
$4.03 PAB 4.03
12.90%
Potato (1kg)
$2.32 $2.32
$3.48 PAB 3.48
-33.33%
Onion (1kg)
$2.40 $2.40
$4.22 PAB 4.22
-43.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.79 $1.79
$2.41 PAB 2.41
-25.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.08 $3.08
$1.69 PAB 1.69
82.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.23 $12.23
$6.14 PAB 6.14
99.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.22 $18.22
$11.30 PAB 11.30
61.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 $1.75
$1.42 PAB 1.42
23.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.78 $4.78
$2.73 PAB 2.73
75.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Issaquah, WA
Panama City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.67 $2.67
$0.33 PAB 0.33
709.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$21.23 PAB 21.23
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.58 $2.58
$2.52 PAB 2.52
2.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 $1.66
$1.86 PAB 1.86
-10.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.25 $30.25
$21.78 PAB 21.78
38.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.39 $1.39
$1.25 PAB 1.25
11.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4K $36.4K
$21.2K PAB 21.2K
71.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$21.0K PAB 21.0K
21.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Issaquah, WA
Panama City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$230 $230
$130 PAB 130
77.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.3 $61.3
$28.13 PAB 28.13
117.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$84.2 $84.2
$48.21 PAB 48.21
74.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Issaquah, WA
Panama City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$45.78 PAB 45.78
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$34.92 PAB 34.92
-
Cinema Ticket
$16.93 $16.93
$8.67 PAB 8.67
95.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Issaquah, WA
Panama City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,094 $2,094
$544 PAB 544
284.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.9K $31.9K
$9,697 PAB 9,697
228.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Issaquah, WA
Panama City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.8 $61.8
$66.8 PAB 66.8
-7.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.18 $45.18
$49.14 PAB 49.14
-8.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.9 $85.9
$93.9 PAB 93.9
-8.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.6 $74.6
$112 PAB 112
-33.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Issaquah, WA
Panama City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,092 $2,092
$1,257 PAB 1,257
66.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,722 $1,722
$875 PAB 875
96.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,248 $3,248
$2,155 PAB 2,155
50.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,746 $2,746
$1,564 PAB 1,564
75.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,201 $4,201
$3,122 PAB 3,122
34.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,709 PAB 1,709
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Issaquah, WA
Panama City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,293 $6,293
$916 PAB 916
587.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.64
6.39
3.91%

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

Last update for Issaquah, 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
Issaquah, WA
$1.7K
Panama City
$875 49.2% $847
Groceries & Markets
Issaquah, WA
$484
Panama City
$325 32.9% $159
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Issaquah, WA
$376
Panama City
$206 45.1% $170
Eating Out
Issaquah, WA
$363
Panama City
$207 43.1% $157
Clothing & Footwear
Issaquah, WA
$120
Panama City
$145 20.1% $24
Sport & Entertainment
Issaquah, WA
$34 *
Panama City
$63 86.3% $29
Getting Around
Issaquah, WA
$22 *
Panama City
$34 59.4% $13

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,092 in Issaquah, 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 587% higher in Issaquah, 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 $82.0 in Issaquah, WA versus $48.00 in Panama City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $484 vs $325 – making Panama City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Issaquah, WA
🇵🇦 Panama City
🕒 Local time
17:26 5:26 PM
19:26 7:26 PM
2 h ahead of Issaquah, WA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
40,051
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 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).

On the map
Between locations
  • Issaquah, WA Panama City 5,850 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Issaquah, 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
Issaquah, WA vs Panama City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Panama City cheaper than Issaquah, WA?
Yes – Issaquah, WA is pricier by about 68%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,682 per month in Issaquah, WA and $2,783 in Panama City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
What are total monthly expenses in Issaquah, WA and in Panama City?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,121 in Issaquah, WA and $1,855 in Panama City. That's a gap of about 68%.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $2,094 per month in Issaquah, WA and $544 in Panama City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Issaquah, WA or in Panama City?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Panama City, where all-in costs run around $1,855, than in Issaquah, WA at $3,121. In Panama City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Issaquah, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Issaquah, WA or Panama City more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Panama City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Issaquah, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Issaquah, WA vs other spots: cost of living compared

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