Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and Bella Vista

For one person, living is cheaper in Bella Vista: $189 a month against $1,855 in Panama City, rent and utilities included – about $20,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Panama City
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Panama City Living Index

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Panama City

🇵🇦 Panama

$1,855

/mo nomad

Bella Vista

🇵🇾 Paraguay

$189

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Panama City and in Bella Vista

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 Bella Vista actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,855 per month in Panama City vs $189 in Bella Vista, rent included.

Panama City $1,855
Bella Vista $189

A couple spends around $2,804 per month in Panama City vs $307 in Bella Vista, rent included.

Panama City $2,804
Bella Vista $307

A family of three spends $3,753 per month in Panama City vs $425 in Bella Vista, rent included.

Panama City $3,753
Bella Vista $425

Panama City costs about 882% more than Bella Vista, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Panama City sits 37% above the global median, while Bella Vista is 86% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.63 PAB 11.63

$1.97 ₲11.2K

490.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.92 PAB 47.92

$13.31 ₲75.7K

260.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.96 PAB 7.96

Cappuccino

$4.22 PAB 4.22

$1.94 ₲11.0K

117.53%

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

$2.01 PAB 2.01

$0.99 ₲5,611

103.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 PAB 1.56

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.39 PAB 3.39

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 PAB 3.94

$1.51 ₲8,613

160.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 PAB 1.85

$0.83 ₲4,737

122.89%

White Bread (500g)

$2.56 PAB 2.56

$0.49 ₲2,760

422.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.48 PAB 3.48

$0.99 ₲5,611

251.52%

Eggs

$2.69 PAB 2.69

$2.14 ₲12.2K

25.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.57 PAB 12.57

$5.99 ₲34.0K

109.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.83 PAB 6.83

$2.98 ₲16.9K

129.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.58 PAB 10.58

Apples (1kg)

$4.18 PAB 4.18

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 PAB 1.83

$0.72 ₲4,087

154.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.20 PAB 4.20

Tomato (1kg)

$4.03 PAB 4.03

Potato (1kg)

$3.48 PAB 3.48

Onion (1kg)

$4.22 PAB 4.22

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 PAB 2.41

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 PAB 1.69

$1.02 ₲5,775

65.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.14 PAB 6.14

$1.02 ₲5,801

501.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.30 PAB 11.30

$4.90 ₲27.8K

130.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 PAB 1.42

$0.78 ₲4,423

82.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 PAB 2.73

$1.75 ₲9,962

56.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 PAB 0.33

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.23 PAB 21.23

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.52 PAB 2.52

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.86 PAB 1.86

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.78 PAB 21.78

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 PAB 1.25

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

$21.2K PAB 21.2K

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

$21.0K PAB 21.0K

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

$130 PAB 130

$18.27 ₲103.9K

610.67%

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

$28.13 PAB 28.13

$12.15 ₲69.1K

131.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.21 PAB 48.21

$20.19 ₲114.8K

138.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.78 PAB 45.78

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.92 PAB 34.92

Cinema Ticket

$8.67 PAB 8.67

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

$544 PAB 544

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,697 PAB 9,697

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.8 PAB 66.8

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.14 PAB 49.14

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.9 PAB 93.9

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 PAB 112

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,257 PAB 1,257

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$875 PAB 875

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,155 PAB 2,155

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,564 PAB 1,564

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,122 PAB 3,122

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,709 PAB 1,709

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$916 PAB 916

$375 ₲2.1M

144.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.39

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

Last update for Panama City: October 10, 2026

Last update for Bella Vista: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Panama City

$875 47.2%

Bella Vista

–

Groceries & Markets

Panama City

$325 17.5%

Bella Vista

–

Eating Out

Panama City

$207 11.1%

Bella Vista

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Panama City

$206 11.1%

Bella Vista

–

Clothing & Footwear

Panama City

$145 7.8%

Bella Vista

–

Sport & Entertainment

Panama City

$63 3.4%

Bella Vista

–

Getting Around

Panama City

$34 1.9%

Bella Vista

–

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 145% higher in Panama City, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Panama City versus $13.00 in Bella Vista. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $325 vs $92.0 – making Bella Vista the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇵🇦 Panama City

🇵🇾 Bella Vista

🕒 Local time

01:08 1:08 AM

03:08 3:08 AM

2 h ahead of Panama City

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,086,990 Capital

5,653

💱 Currency

Panamanian Balboa PAB B/.

Paraguayan Guarani PYG ₲

📈 Exchange rate

1 PAB = 1 USD

1 PAB = 0.89 EUR

10,000 PYG = 1.76 USD

10,000 PYG = 1.56 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

PYG, USD, EUR to PAB – Panamanian Balboa Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇵🇦 Panamanian Balboa (B/.)

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).

Paraguayan Guarani exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 5,686 PYG (10,000 PYG = 1.76 USD). 1 EUR = 6,393 PYG (10,000 PYG = 1.56 EUR).

USD to PAB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Panama City Bella Vista 4,270 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight

From you

Panama City
Bella Vista

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 Bella Vista: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Panama City costs about 882% more than Bella Vista, 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,783 per month in Panama City and $283 in Bella Vista. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,855 in Panama City and $189 in Bella Vista. That's a gap of about 882%.

Groceries cost about 252% more in Panama City, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bella Vista, where all-in costs run around $189, than in Panama City at $1,855. In Bella Vista it covers expenses comfortably, while in Panama City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bella Vista costs $189 versus $1,855 in Panama City. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Bella Vista. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Panama City makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.