Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Oxnard, CA and Panama City

For one person, living is cheaper in Panama City: $1,855 a month against $3,186 in Oxnard, CA, rent and utilities included – about $16,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Oxnard, CA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,186
/mo nomad
Panama City
🇵🇦 Panama
$1,855
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,186 in Oxnard, CA versus $1,855 in Panama City.

  • Oxnard, CA $3,186
  • Panama City $1,855

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,226 in Oxnard, CA versus $2,804 in Panama City.

  • Oxnard, CA $4,226
  • Panama City $2,804

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,265 in Oxnard, CA versus $3,753 in Panama City.

  • Oxnard, CA $5,265
  • Panama City $3,753

Living in Oxnard, CA is roughly 72% more expensive than in Panama City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Oxnard, CA 136% above, Panama City 37% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Oxnard, CA
Panama City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.32 $20.32
$11.63 PAB 11.63
74.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.1 $65.1
$47.92 PAB 47.92
35.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.71 $11.71
$7.96 PAB 7.96
47.11%
Cappuccino
$5.76 $5.76
$4.22 PAB 4.22
36.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69 $2.69
$2.01 PAB 2.01
33.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 $2.03
$1.56 PAB 1.56
30.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.07 $8.07
$3.39 PAB 3.39
138.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.48 $9.48
$3.94 PAB 3.94
140.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oxnard, CA
Panama City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.19 $1.19
$1.85 PAB 1.85
-35.68%
White Bread (500g)
$5.71 $5.71
$2.56 PAB 2.56
123.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.30 $4.30
$3.48 PAB 3.48
23.56%
Eggs
$4.98 $4.98
$2.69 PAB 2.69
85.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.34 $12.34
$12.57 PAB 12.57
-1.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$20.32 $20.32
$6.83 PAB 6.83
197.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.99 $13.99
$10.58 PAB 10.58
32.23%
Apples (1kg)
$4.39 $4.39
$4.18 PAB 4.18
5.02%
Banana (1kg)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.83 PAB 1.83
-2.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.20 PAB 4.20
-1.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.60 $6.60
$4.03 PAB 4.03
63.77%
Potato (1kg)
$3.58 $3.58
$3.48 PAB 3.48
2.87%
Onion (1kg)
$1.96 $1.96
$4.22 PAB 4.22
-53.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.39 $2.39
$2.41 PAB 2.41
-0.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.19 $2.19
$1.69 PAB 1.69
29.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.88 $9.88
$6.14 PAB 6.14
60.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.85 $14.85
$11.30 PAB 11.30
31.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 $1.78
$1.42 PAB 1.42
25.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25 $3.25
$2.73 PAB 2.73
19.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Oxnard, CA
Panama City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.48 $1.48
$0.33 PAB 0.33
348.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$21.23 PAB 21.23
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.38 $4.38
$2.52 PAB 2.52
73.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.82 $1.82
$1.86 PAB 1.86
-2.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.90 $35.90
$21.78 PAB 21.78
64.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 $1.29
$1.25 PAB 1.25
3.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.6K $37.6K
$21.2K PAB 21.2K
77.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K $25.7K
$21.0K PAB 21.0K
22.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oxnard, CA
Panama City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$129 $129
$130 PAB 130
-0.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.2 $53.2
$28.13 PAB 28.13
89.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.4 $69.4
$48.21 PAB 48.21
43.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oxnard, CA
Panama City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.6 $61.6
$45.78 PAB 45.78
34.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$34.92 PAB 34.92
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.77 $11.77
$8.67 PAB 8.67
35.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oxnard, CA
Panama City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,187 $1,187
$544 PAB 544
118.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$42.6K $42.6K
$9,697 PAB 9,697
339.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oxnard, CA
Panama City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.90 $37.90
$66.8 PAB 66.8
-43.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.18 $41.18
$49.14 PAB 49.14
-16.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$59.1 $59.1
$93.9 PAB 93.9
-37.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.0 $81.0
$112 PAB 112
-27.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oxnard, CA
Panama City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,995 $1,995
$1,257 PAB 1,257
58.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,922 $1,922
$875 PAB 875
119.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,359 $3,359
$2,155 PAB 2,155
55.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,445 $2,445
$1,564 PAB 1,564
56.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,838 $5,838
$3,122 PAB 3,122
86.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,922 $5,922
$1,709 PAB 1,709
246.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oxnard, CA
Panama City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,379 $3,379
$916 PAB 916
268.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.1
6.39
-4.54%

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

Last update for Oxnard, CA: 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
Oxnard, CA
$1.9K
Panama City
$875 54.5% $1K
Groceries & Markets
Oxnard, CA
$465
Panama City
$325 30% $139
Eating Out
Oxnard, CA
$345
Panama City
$207 40.1% $138
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oxnard, CA
$251
Panama City
$206 18% $45
Clothing & Footwear
Oxnard, CA
$99
Panama City
$145 46.6% $46
Sport & Entertainment
Oxnard, CA
$85
Panama City
$63 25.9% $22
Getting Around
Oxnard, CA
$19 *
Panama City
$34 77.4% $15

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,995 in Oxnard, CA and $1,257 in Panama City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Oxnard, CA pays 269% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $65.0 in Oxnard, CA vs $48.00 in Panama City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $465 vs $325 per month, with Panama City cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Oxnard, CA
🇵🇦 Panama City
🕒 Local time
18:24 6:24 PM
20:24 8:24 PM
2 h ahead of Oxnard, CA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
207,254
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
  • Oxnard, CA Panama City 4,920 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Oxnard, CA
  • 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
Oxnard, CA vs Panama City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Panama City cheaper than Oxnard, CA?
Panama City is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and utilities. The 72% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Oxnard, CA or Panama City?
Average pay runs 269% higher in Oxnard, CA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Oxnard, CA and Panama City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,995 in Oxnard, CA versus $1,257 in Panama City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Oxnard, CA and in Panama City?
Supermarket bills run roughly 43% higher in Oxnard, CA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Oxnard, CA and in Panama City?
All in, you'll spend $3,186 per month in Oxnard, CA versus $1,855 in Panama City – a 72% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Oxnard, CA or in Panama City?
At $1,855 in Panama City versus $3,186 in Oxnard, CA, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Panama City but tight or insufficient in Oxnard, CA. The gap between the two cities makes Panama City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Oxnard, CA or Panama City more family-friendly?
For families, Panama City is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Oxnard, CA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Panama City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 72% less than in Oxnard, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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