Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City, FL and Austin, TX

For one person, living costs are similar in Panama City, FL and in Austin, TX: $2,615 and $2,663 a month, rent and utilities included.

Panama City, FL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,615
/mo nomad
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,663
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Panama City, FL and in Austin, TX

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Panama City, FL and in Austin, TX actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,615 in Panama City, FL versus $2,663 in Austin, TX.

  • Panama City, FL $2,615
  • Austin, TX $2,663

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,488 in Panama City, FL versus $4,133 in Austin, TX.

  • Panama City, FL $3,488
  • Austin, TX $4,133

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,361 in Panama City, FL versus $5,603 in Austin, TX.

  • Panama City, FL $4,361
  • Austin, TX $5,603

Living in Panama City, FL costs roughly 2% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Panama City, FL 94% above, Austin, TX 97% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Panama City, FL
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.56 $18.56
$20.77 $20.77
-10.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.7 $54.7
$84.6 $84.6
-35.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.88 $11.88
$12.32 $12.32
-3.57%
Cappuccino
$5.41 $5.41
$5.63 $5.63
-3.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96 $2.96
$3.72 $3.72
-20.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 $1.69
$2.50 $2.50
-32.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.01 $5.01
$8.05 $8.05
-37.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.97 $6.97
$9.01 $9.01
-22.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Panama City, FL
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.90 $0.90
$1.12 $1.12
-19.64%
White Bread (500g)
$3.52 $3.52
$3.75 $3.75
-6.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.62 $2.62
$3.26 $3.26
-19.63%
Eggs
$3.27 $3.27
$4.17 $4.17
-21.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.52 $10.52
$12.90 $12.90
-18.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.58 $11.58
$14.16 $14.16
-18.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.24 $14.24
$16.22 $16.22
-12.21%
Apples (1kg)
$3.92 $3.92
$4.33 $4.33
-9.47%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 $1.52
$1.46 $1.46
4.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.65 $2.65
$4.51 $4.51
-41.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.15 $4.15
$4.34 $4.34
-4.38%
Potato (1kg)
$3.23 $3.23
$2.58 $2.58
25.19%
Onion (1kg)
$2.87 $2.87
$2.35 $2.35
22.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.10 $2.10
$1.78 $1.78
17.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.11 $2.11
$2.22 $2.22
-4.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.03 $9.03
$9.88 $9.88
-8.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.09 $12.09
$15.08 $15.08
-19.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$2.92 $2.92
-39.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.89 $3.89
$3.46 $3.46
12.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Panama City, FL
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.46 $1.46
$1.49 $1.49
-2.01%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$41.72 $41.72
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.57 $2.57
$2.73 $2.73
-5.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 $1.57
$1.66 $1.66
-5.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$26.33 $26.33
$35.30 $35.30
-25.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.92 $0.92
$0.95 $0.95
-3.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.3K $37.3K
$36.0K $36.0K
3.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K $26.4K
$27.1K $27.1K
-2.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Panama City, FL
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$173 $173
$229 $229
-24.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.39 $43.39
$59.4 $59.4
-26.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.7 $59.7
$69.9 $69.9
-14.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Panama City, FL
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.65 $39.65
$57.2 $57.2
-30.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.33 $16.33
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.11 $13.11
$14.28 $14.28
-8.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Panama City, FL
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$610 $610
$1,506 $1,506
-59.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.8K $13.8K
$21.5K $21.5K
-35.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Panama City, FL
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.39 $48.39
$52.8 $52.8
-8.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.80 $39.80
$43.82 $43.82
-9.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.1 $86.1
$84.8 $84.8
1.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.7 $94.7
$103 $103
-8.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Panama City, FL
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,703 $1,703
$1,907 $1,907
-10.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,479 $1,479
$1,274 $1,274
16.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,754 $2,754
$3,664 $3,664
-24.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,911 $1,911
$2,538 $2,538
-24.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,611 $3,611
$7,614 $7,614
-52.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,677 $3,677
$3,157 $3,157
16.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Panama City, FL
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,001 $4,001
$5,121 $5,121
-21.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.54
6.79
-3.68%

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

Last update for Panama City, FL: October 12, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Panama City, FL
$1.5K
Austin, TX
$1.3K 13.9% $205
Groceries & Markets
Panama City, FL
$350
Austin, TX
$405 15.6% $55
Eating Out
Panama City, FL
$307
Austin, TX
$354 15.4% $47
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Panama City, FL
$276
Austin, TX
$358 29.7% $82
Clothing & Footwear
Panama City, FL
$121
Austin, TX
$128 5.7% $6.9
Sport & Entertainment
Panama City, FL
$66
Austin, TX
$86 30.2% $20
Getting Around
Panama City, FL
$16 *
Austin, TX
$59 262% $42

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 $1,703 in Panama City, FL and $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 28% 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: $55.0 in Panama City, FL vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $350 vs $405 per month, with Panama City, FL cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Panama City, FL
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🕒 Local time
08:09 8:09 AM
08:09 8:09 AM
Same time as Panama City, FL
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
36,484
974,447
Exchange rates and currency converter

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).

On the map
Between locations
  • Panama City, FL Austin, TX 1,160 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Panama City, FL
  • Austin, TX

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
Panama City, FL vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Panama City, FL or Austin, TX?
Panama City, FL wins on cost – living expenses run 2% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Panama City, FL the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Panama City, FL or in Austin, TX?
On paper, salaries run 28% lower in Austin, TX. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Panama City, FL compared to Austin, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,703 in Panama City, FL versus $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Panama City, FL and in Austin, TX?
Childcare runs $610 in Panama City, FL versus $1,506 in Austin, TX. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Panama City, FL and in Austin, TX?
Dining out is cheaper in Panama City, FL – a meal for two runs $55.0 versus $85.0 in Austin, TX. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Panama City, FL or in Austin, TX?
Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Panama City, FL is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Panama City, FL or Austin, TX?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Panama City, FL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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