Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and Bethel, AK

For one person, living is cheaper in Panama City: $1,857 a month against $2,380 in Bethel, AK, rent and utilities included – about $6,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

90

Cost of Living Index in Panama City
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Panama City Living Index
124

Cost of Living Index in Bethel, AK
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Bethel, AK Living Index

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Panama City

🇵🇦 Panama

$1,857

/mo nomad

Bethel, AK

🇺🇸 United States

$2,380

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Panama City and in Bethel, AK

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 Bethel, AK actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,857 in Panama City versus $2,380 in Bethel, AK.

Panama City $1,857
Bethel, AK $2,380

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,815 in Panama City versus $3,720 in Bethel, AK.

Panama City $2,815
Bethel, AK $3,720

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,773 in Panama City versus $5,060 in Bethel, AK.

Panama City $3,773
Bethel, AK $5,060

Living in Panama City costs roughly 22% less than in Bethel, AK, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Panama City 37% above, Bethel, AK 76% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.68 PAB 11.68

$19.36 $19.36

-39.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.76 PAB 47.76

$70.7 $70.7

-32.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.12 PAB 8.12

$11.78 $11.78

-31.07%

Cappuccino

$4.23 PAB 4.23

$4.91 $4.91

-13.85%

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

$1.92 PAB 1.92

$2.49 $2.49

-22.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 PAB 1.58

$2.16 $2.16

-26.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.31 PAB 3.31

$6.60 $6.60

-49.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 PAB 3.98

$6.31 $6.31

-36.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.92 PAB 1.92

$0.97 $0.97

97.94%

White Bread (500g)

$2.63 PAB 2.63

$3.94 $3.94

-33.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.39 PAB 3.39

$4.74 $4.74

-28.48%

Eggs

$2.67 PAB 2.67

$4.35 $4.35

-38.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.21 PAB 12.21

$11.54 $11.54

5.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.91 PAB 6.91

$13.23 $13.23

-47.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.58 PAB 10.58

$18.29 $18.29

-42.15%

Apples (1kg)

$4.16 PAB 4.16

$5.62 $5.62

-25.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 PAB 1.97

$1.42 $1.42

38.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 PAB 4.06

$4.08 $4.08

-0.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.18 PAB 4.18

$5.14 $5.14

-18.68%

Potato (1kg)

$3.47 PAB 3.47

$3.14 $3.14

10.51%

Onion (1kg)

$4.26 PAB 4.26

$2.64 $2.64

61.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.44 PAB 2.44

$2.45 $2.45

-0.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 PAB 1.69

$1.95 $1.95

-13.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.83 PAB 5.83

$8.64 $8.64

-32.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.43 PAB 11.43

$13.68 $13.68

-16.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 PAB 1.38

$2.06 $2.06

-33.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 PAB 2.76

$3.48 $3.48

-20.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 PAB 0.33

$1.83 $1.83

-81.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.63 PAB 20.63

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.55 PAB 2.55

$2.82 $2.82

-9.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 PAB 1.78

$1.99 $1.99

-10.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.17 PAB 22.17

$28.49 $28.49

-22.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 PAB 1.24

$1.00 $1.00

24.00%

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

$24.4K PAB 24.4K

$26.0K $26.0K

-6.08%

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

$21.3K PAB 21.3K

$27.2K $27.2K

-21.78%

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

$131 PAB 131

$175 $175

-24.94%

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

$27.83 PAB 27.83

$53.8 $53.8

-48.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.32 PAB 49.32

$72.5 $72.5

-32.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.69 PAB 45.69

$43.66 $43.66

4.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.10 PAB 34.10

Cinema Ticket

$8.47 PAB 8.47

$15.58 $15.58

-45.64%

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

$553 PAB 553

$1,600 $1,600

-65.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,719 PAB 9,719

$21.0K $21.0K

-53.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.4 PAB 66.4

$53.8 $53.8

23.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.39 PAB 47.39

$41.07 $41.07

15.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.7 PAB 95.7

$95.3 $95.3

0.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 PAB 113

$123 $123

-8.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,322 PAB 1,322

$1,742 $1,742

-24.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$874 PAB 874

$1,117 $1,117

-21.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,153 PAB 2,153

$2,259 $2,259

-4.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,580 PAB 1,580

$2,265 $2,265

-30.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,097 PAB 3,097

$3,049 $3,049

1.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,698 PAB 1,698

$2,332 $2,332

-27.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$914 PAB 914

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.39

6.57

-2.74%

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

Last update for Panama City: October 20, 2026

Last update for Bethel, AK: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Panama City

$874 47.1%

Bethel, AK

$1.1K 46.9% 27.8% $243

Groceries & Markets

Panama City

$327 17.6%

Bethel, AK

$412 17.3% 26.2% $86

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Panama City

$208 11.2%

Bethel, AK

$301 12.7% 44.5% $93

Eating Out

Panama City

$207 11.2%

Bethel, AK

$313 13.2% 51.4% $106

Clothing & Footwear

Panama City

$145 7.8%

Bethel, AK

$141 5.9% 2.7% $3.9

Sport & Entertainment

Panama City

$63 3.4%

Bethel, AK

$75 3.1% 19.4% $12

Getting Around

Panama City

$33 1.8%

Bethel, AK

$20 * 0.8% 39.9% $13

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 $1,322 in Panama City and $1,742 in Bethel, AK. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $48.00 in Panama City vs $71.0 in Bethel, AK for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $327 vs $412 per month, with Panama City cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇵🇦 Panama City

🇺🇸 Bethel, AK

🕒 Local time

11:19 11:19 AM

08:19 8:19 AM

3 h behind Panama City

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,086,990 Capital

6,300

💱 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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Highest

Between locations

Panama City Bethel, AK 8,720 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight

From you

Panama City
Bethel, AK

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 Bethel, AK: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Panama City and Bethel, AK differ by about 28% in total monthly costs ($1,857 vs $2,380 including rent). Panama City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $2,786 in Panama City and $3,570 in Bethel, AK to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,322 in Panama City versus $1,742 in Bethel, AK. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 26% higher in Bethel, AK. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,857 per month in Panama City versus $2,380 in Bethel, AK – a 28% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,857 in Panama City versus $2,380 in Bethel, AK, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Panama City but tight or insufficient in Bethel, AK. The gap between the two cities makes Panama City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Expats usually find Panama City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Bethel, AK. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.