Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Panama

For one person, living is cheaper in Panama: $1,604 a month against $5,142 in New York, NY, rent and utilities included – about $42,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

New York, NY
🇺🇸 United States
$5,142
/mo nomad
🇵🇦 Panama
$1,604
/mo nomad
😐 Solo nomad: New York, NY is 112.5% more expensive than Panama without rent, and 220.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: New York, NY is 112.9% more expensive than Panama without rent, and 195.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
New York, NY
Panama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$26.46 $26.46
$7.86 PAB 7.86
236.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$119 $119
$44.75 PAB 44.75
165.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.43 $14.43
$7.89 PAB 7.89
82.89%
Cappuccino
$6.55 $6.55
$3.84 PAB 3.84
70.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.84 $3.84
$1.59 PAB 1.59
141.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 $3.00
$1.41 PAB 1.41
112.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.27 $8.27
$2.19 PAB 2.19
277.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.05 $10.05
$4.04 PAB 4.04
148.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
Panama
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.31 $1.31
$1.85 PAB 1.85
-29.19%
White Bread (500g)
$4.90 $4.90
$2.32 PAB 2.32
111.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$7.16 $7.16
$2.99 PAB 2.99
139.46%
Eggs
$5.92 $5.92
$2.48 PAB 2.48
138.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.06 $19.06
$12.28 PAB 12.28
55.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$17.38 $17.38
$6.94 PAB 6.94
150.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.94 $18.94
$10.11 PAB 10.11
87.34%
Apples (1kg)
$6.96 $6.96
$4.18 PAB 4.18
66.51%
Banana (1kg)
$2.08 $2.08
$1.48 PAB 1.48
40.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.10 $6.10
$3.65 PAB 3.65
67.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.95 $6.95
$3.73 PAB 3.73
86.33%
Potato (1kg)
$3.98 $3.98
$2.50 PAB 2.50
59.20%
Onion (1kg)
$4.44 $4.44
$3.29 PAB 3.29
34.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.81 $2.81
$2.34 PAB 2.34
20.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.51 $2.51
$1.57 PAB 1.57
59.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$19.27 $19.27
$6.08 PAB 6.08
216.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.67 $19.67
$9.88 PAB 9.88
99.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.08 $3.08
$1.39 PAB 1.39
121.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 $3.68
$2.42 PAB 2.42
52.07%
🚌 Getting Around
New York, NY
Panama
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.02 $3.02
$0.43 PAB 0.43
602.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$140 $140
$20.96 PAB 20.96
565.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.07 $3.07
$2.43 PAB 2.43
26.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.13 $2.13
$1.82 PAB 1.82
17.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.21 $41.21
$21.79 PAB 21.79
89.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.11 $1.11
$1.18 PAB 1.18
-5.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K $35.0K
$21.5K PAB 21.5K
62.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K $25.4K
$22.2K PAB 22.2K
14.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
Panama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$217 $217
$119 PAB 119
82.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$74.0 $74.0
$27.03 PAB 27.03
173.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.5 $72.5
$47.70 PAB 47.70
51.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
Panama
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$120 $120
$48.94 PAB 48.94
146.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$66.9 $66.9
$30.16 PAB 30.16
121.78%
Cinema Ticket
$22.32 $22.32
$7.84 PAB 7.84
184.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
New York, NY
Panama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,425 $3,425
$536 PAB 536
539.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$61.2K $61.2K
$8,069 PAB 8,069
658.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
Panama
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.3 $76.3
$53.5 PAB 53.5
42.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.5 $55.5
$42.77 PAB 42.77
29.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$119 $119
$87.4 PAB 87.4
36.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131 $131
$103 PAB 103
26.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
Panama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,506 $4,506
$944 PAB 944
377.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,155 $3,155
$697 PAB 697
352.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$8,817 $8,817
$1,728 PAB 1,728
410.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,532 $5,532
$1,262 PAB 1,262
338.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$19.4K $19.4K
$2,941 PAB 2,941
559.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,754 $6,754
$1,673 PAB 1,673
303.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
New York, NY
Panama
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,290 $5,290
$826 PAB 826
540.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.82
6.37
7.06%

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

Last update for New York, NY: October 3, 2026

Last update for Panama: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
$3.2K
Panama
$697 77.9% $2.5K
Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
$546
Panama
$302 44.7% $244
Eating Out
New York, NY
$422
Panama
$164 61.3% $259
Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
$364
Panama
$194 46.8% $170
Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
$172
Panama
$129 24.8% $43
Getting Around
New York, NY
$165
Panama
$34 79.3% $131
Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
$165
Panama
$65 60.8% $100
Good to know
🇺🇸 New York, NY
🇵🇦 Panama
🕒 Local time
03:46 3:46 AM
02:46 2:46 AM
1 h behind New York, NY
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
8,804,190
4,098,587
Exchange rates and currency converter

PAB, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

Panamanian Balboa exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1 PAB (1 PAB = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.12 PAB (1 PAB = 0.892 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • New York, NY Panama 3,560 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • New York, NY
  • Panama

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 other spots: cost of living compared

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