Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and Apple Valley, CA

For one person, living is cheaper in Apple Valley, CA: $1,252 a month against $1,857 in Panama City, rent and utilities included – about $7,300 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Panama City outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

90

Cost of Living Index in Panama City
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Panama City Living Index
61

Cost of Living Index in Apple Valley, CA
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Apple Valley, CA Living Index

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Panama City

🇵🇦 Panama

$1,857

/mo nomad

Apple Valley, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$1,252

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Panama City and in Apple Valley, CA

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,857 in Panama City versus $1,252 in Apple Valley, CA.

Panama City $1,857
Apple Valley, CA $1,252

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,815 in Panama City versus $1,916 in Apple Valley, CA.

Panama City $2,815
Apple Valley, CA $1,916

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,773 in Panama City versus $2,580 in Apple Valley, CA.

Panama City $3,773
Apple Valley, CA $2,580

Living in Panama City is roughly 48% more expensive than in Apple Valley, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Panama City is 37% above, Apple Valley, CA is 8% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.68 PAB 11.68

$19.67 $19.67

-40.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.76 PAB 47.76

$47.18 $47.18

1.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.12 PAB 8.12

$9.95 $9.95

-18.39%

Cappuccino

$4.23 PAB 4.23

$5.05 $5.05

-16.24%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 PAB 1.92

$2.43 $2.43

-20.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 PAB 1.58

$1.54 $1.54

2.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.31 PAB 3.31

$4.93 $4.93

-32.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 PAB 3.98

$5.89 $5.89

-32.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.92 PAB 1.92

$0.89 $0.89

115.73%

White Bread (500g)

$2.63 PAB 2.63

$3.89 $3.89

-32.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.39 PAB 3.39

$2.92 $2.92

16.10%

Eggs

$2.67 PAB 2.67

$2.04 $2.04

30.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.21 PAB 12.21

$14.08 $14.08

-13.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.91 PAB 6.91

$13.93 $13.93

-50.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.58 PAB 10.58

$12.27 $12.27

-13.77%

Apples (1kg)

$4.16 PAB 4.16

$4.83 $4.83

-13.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 PAB 1.97

$2.17 $2.17

-9.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 PAB 4.06

$4.50 $4.50

-9.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.18 PAB 4.18

$4.85 $4.85

-13.81%

Potato (1kg)

$3.47 PAB 3.47

$4.63 $4.63

-25.05%

Onion (1kg)

$4.26 PAB 4.26

$4.21 $4.21

1.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.44 PAB 2.44

$2.08 $2.08

17.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 PAB 1.69

$2.22 $2.22

-23.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.83 PAB 5.83

$11.02 $11.02

-47.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.43 PAB 11.43

$13.36 $13.36

-14.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 PAB 1.38

$1.64 $1.64

-15.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 PAB 2.76

$2.68 $2.68

2.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 PAB 0.33

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.63 PAB 20.63

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.55 PAB 2.55

$3.50 $3.50

-27.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 PAB 1.78

$1.90 $1.90

-6.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.17 PAB 22.17

$23.66 $23.66

-6.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 PAB 1.24

$1.38 $1.38

-10.14%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.4K PAB 24.4K

$29.4K $29.4K

-16.98%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$21.3K PAB 21.3K

$26.2K $26.2K

-18.62%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$131 PAB 131

$250 $250

-47.57%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$27.83 PAB 27.83

$80.8 $80.8

-65.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.32 PAB 49.32

$66.1 $66.1

-25.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.69 PAB 45.69

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.10 PAB 34.10

Cinema Ticket

$8.47 PAB 8.47

$12.15 $12.15

-30.29%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$553 PAB 553

$548 $548

1.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,719 PAB 9,719

$8,552 $8,552

13.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.4 PAB 66.4

$31.64 $31.64

109.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.39 PAB 47.39

$34.39 $34.39

37.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.7 PAB 95.7

$70.6 $70.6

35.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 PAB 113

$140 $140

-19.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,322 PAB 1,322

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$874 PAB 874

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,153 PAB 2,153

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,580 PAB 1,580

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,097 PAB 3,097

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,698 PAB 1,698

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$914 PAB 914

$5,239 $5,239

-82.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.39

2.25

184.00%

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

Last update for Panama City: October 20, 2026

Last update for Apple Valley, CA: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Panama City

$874 47.1%

Apple Valley, CA

- * 0% 100%

Groceries & Markets

Panama City

$327 17.6%

Apple Valley, CA

$393 31.4% 20.4% $67

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Panama City

$208 11.2%

Apple Valley, CA

$397 31.7% 90.6% $189

Eating Out

Panama City

$207 11.2%

Apple Valley, CA

$300 24% 45% $93

Clothing & Footwear

Panama City

$145 7.8%

Apple Valley, CA

$124 9.9% 14.2% $21

Sport & Entertainment

Panama City

$63 3.4%

Apple Valley, CA

$24 * 1.9% 61.2% $38

Getting Around

Panama City

$33 1.8%

Apple Valley, CA

$13 * 1% 61.1% $20

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

Cost Breakdown

Apple Valley, CA pays 473% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $48.00 in Panama City vs $47.00 in Apple Valley, CA. Groceries flip the comparison at $327 vs $393, with Panama City cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know

🇵🇦 Panama City

🇺🇸 Apple Valley, CA

🕒 Local time

15:28 3:28 PM

13:28 1:28 PM

2 h behind Panama City

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,086,990 Capital

50,109

💱 Currency

Panamanian Balboa PAB B/.

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 PAB = 1 USD

1 PAB = 0.89 EUR

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to PAB – Panamanian Balboa Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇵🇦 Panamanian Balboa (B/.)

Panamanian Balboa exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 1 PAB (1 PAB = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.12 PAB (1 PAB = 0.89 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

USD to PAB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Panama City Apple Valley, CA 4,770 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight

From you

Panama City
Apple Valley, CA

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 vs Apple Valley, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Apple Valley, CA is cheaper overall, especially in clothing, leisure, and transport. The 48% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 473% lower in Apple Valley, CA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Childcare runs $553 in Panama City versus $548 in Apple Valley, CA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Apple Valley, CA – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $48.00 in Panama City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,252 in Apple Valley, CA versus $1,857 in Panama City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Apple Valley, CA but tight or insufficient in Panama City. The gap between the two cities makes Apple Valley, CA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Apple Valley, CA is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Panama City, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Apple Valley, CA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 48% less than in Panama City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.