Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Las Tablas

For one person, living is cheaper in Las Tablas: $458 a month against $4,950 in New York, NY, rent and utilities included – about $53,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

New York, NY
🇺🇸 United States
$4,950
/mo nomad
Las Tablas
🇵🇦 Panama
$458
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in New York, NY and in Las Tablas

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in New York, NY and in Las Tablas actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $4,950 per month in New York, NY vs $458 in Las Tablas, rent included.

  • New York, NY $4,950
  • Las Tablas $458

A couple spends around $7,265 per month in New York, NY vs $680 in Las Tablas, rent included.

  • New York, NY $7,265
  • Las Tablas $680

A family of three spends $9,581 per month in New York, NY vs $902 in Las Tablas, rent included.

  • New York, NY $9,581
  • Las Tablas $902

New York, NY costs about 981% more than Las Tablas, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

New York, NY sits 267% above the global median, while Las Tablas is 66% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
New York, NY
Las Tablas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.65 $24.65
$9.99 PAB 9.99
146.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$122 $122
$29.72 PAB 29.72
308.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.91 $13.91
$8.34 PAB 8.34
66.79%
Cappuccino
$6.59 $6.59
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.84 $3.84
$0.99 PAB 0.99
287.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 $2.87
$1.03 PAB 1.03
178.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.79 $7.79
$1.24 PAB 1.24
528.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.85 $9.85
$2.69 PAB 2.69
266.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
Las Tablas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 $1.38
-
-
White Bread (500g)
$4.68 $4.68
$1.93 PAB 1.93
142.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$7.54 $7.54
-
-
Eggs
$5.93 $5.93
$2.11 PAB 2.11
181.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.83 $18.83
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$17.36 $17.36
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.51 $18.51
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$6.74 $6.74
$4.34 PAB 4.34
55.30%
Banana (1kg)
$2.09 $2.09
$1.26 PAB 1.26
65.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.07 $6.07
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$6.74 $6.74
$1.55 PAB 1.55
334.84%
Potato (1kg)
$4.05 $4.05
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$4.37 $4.37
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.89 $2.89
$1.24 PAB 1.24
133.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.60 $2.60
$1.03 PAB 1.03
152.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$18.72 $18.72
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$20.06 $20.06
$5.68 PAB 5.68
253.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.25 $3.25
$1.31 PAB 1.31
148.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 $3.73
$1.72 PAB 1.72
116.86%
🚌 Getting Around
New York, NY
Las Tablas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.06 $3.06
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$140 $140
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.04 $3.04
$0.99 PAB 0.99
207.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.15 $2.15
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.82 $41.82
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$0.89 PAB 0.89
25.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.5K $35.5K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K $26.0K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
Las Tablas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$219 $219
$149 PAB 149
47.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$73.2 $73.2
$22.86 PAB 22.86
220.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.0 $72.0
$37.04 PAB 37.04
94.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
Las Tablas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$123 $123
$19.94 PAB 19.94
515.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$67.7 $67.7
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$22.85 $22.85
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
New York, NY
Las Tablas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,333 $3,333
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$60.0K $60.0K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
Las Tablas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.2 $75.2
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$122 $122
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133 $133
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
Las Tablas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,389 $4,389
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,130 $3,130
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$8,918 $8,918
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,354 $5,354
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$19.4K $19.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,806 $6,806
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
New York, NY
Las Tablas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,343 $5,343
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.82
0
-

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

Last update for New York, NY: October 13, 2026

Last update for Las Tablas: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
$3.1K
Las Tablas
–
Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
$545
Las Tablas
–
Eating Out
New York, NY
$404
Las Tablas
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
$364
Las Tablas
–
Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
$172
Las Tablas
–
Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
$168
Las Tablas
–
Getting Around
New York, NY
$167
Las Tablas
–

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $122 in New York, NY versus $30.00 in Las Tablas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $545 vs $103 – making Las Tablas the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 New York, NY
🇵🇦 Las Tablas
🕒 Local time
09:29 9:29 AM
08:29 8:29 AM
1 h behind New York, NY
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
8,804,190
8,939
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
  • New York, NY Las Tablas 3,700 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • New York, NY
  • Las Tablas

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
New York, NY vs Las Tablas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, New York, NY or Las Tablas?
New York, NY costs about 981% more than Las Tablas, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 New York, NY and in Las Tablas?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $7,424 per month in New York, NY and $687 in Las Tablas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does it cost to live in New York, NY compared to Las Tablas?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $4,950 in New York, NY and $458 in Las Tablas. That's a gap of about 981%.
Are groceries more expensive in New York, NY or in Las Tablas?
Groceries cost about 427% more in New York, NY, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in New York, NY or in Las Tablas?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Las Tablas, where all-in costs run around $458, than in New York, NY at $4,950. In Las Tablas it covers expenses comfortably, while in New York, NY it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, New York, NY or Las Tablas?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Las Tablas costs $458 versus $4,950 in New York, NY. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is New York, NY compared to Las Tablas?
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.
Should I move to New York, NY or to Las Tablas?
If budget matters most, go with Las Tablas. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, New York, NY makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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