Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Panama City: $1,857 a month against $3,363 in Castro Valley, CA, rent and utilities included – about $18,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

90

Cost of Living Index in Panama City
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Panama City Living Index
162

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

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Panama City

🇵🇦 Panama

$1,857

/mo nomad

Castro Valley, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,363

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,857 in Panama City versus $3,363 in Castro Valley, CA.

Panama City $1,857
Castro Valley, CA $3,363

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,815 in Panama City versus $4,211 in Castro Valley, CA.

Panama City $2,815
Castro Valley, CA $4,211

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

Panama City $3,773
Castro Valley, CA $5,060

Living in Panama City costs roughly 45% less than in Castro Valley, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Panama City 37% above, Castro Valley, CA 148% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.68 PAB 11.68

$21.70 $21.70

-46.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.76 PAB 47.76

$79.9 $79.9

-40.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.12 PAB 8.12

$12.06 $12.06

-32.67%

Cappuccino

$4.23 PAB 4.23

$5.62 $5.62

-24.73%

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

$1.92 PAB 1.92

$3.00 $3.00

-36.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 PAB 1.58

$2.80 $2.80

-43.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.31 PAB 3.31

$6.12 $6.12

-45.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 PAB 3.98

$7.31 $7.31

-45.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.92 PAB 1.92

$1.46 $1.46

31.51%

White Bread (500g)

$2.63 PAB 2.63

$4.43 $4.43

-40.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.39 PAB 3.39

$5.77 $5.77

-41.25%

Eggs

$2.67 PAB 2.67

$6.29 $6.29

-57.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.21 PAB 12.21

$15.15 $15.15

-19.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.91 PAB 6.91

$13.05 $13.05

-47.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.58 PAB 10.58

$22.13 $22.13

-52.19%

Apples (1kg)

$4.16 PAB 4.16

$5.58 $5.58

-25.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 PAB 1.97

$2.62 $2.62

-24.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 PAB 4.06

$4.51 $4.51

-9.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.18 PAB 4.18

$4.61 $4.61

-9.33%

Potato (1kg)

$3.47 PAB 3.47

$3.57 $3.57

-2.80%

Onion (1kg)

$4.26 PAB 4.26

$4.68 $4.68

-8.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.44 PAB 2.44

$2.46 $2.46

-0.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 PAB 1.69

$1.02 $1.02

65.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.83 PAB 5.83

$11.56 $11.56

-49.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.43 PAB 11.43

$17.41 $17.41

-34.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 PAB 1.38

$1.68 $1.68

-17.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 PAB 2.76

$2.81 $2.81

-1.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 PAB 0.33

$3.19 $3.19

-89.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.63 PAB 20.63

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.55 PAB 2.55

$3.47 $3.47

-26.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 PAB 1.78

$1.89 $1.89

-5.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.17 PAB 22.17

$40.52 $40.52

-45.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 PAB 1.24

$1.54 $1.54

-19.48%

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

$24.4K PAB 24.4K

$27.8K $27.8K

-12.10%

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

$21.3K PAB 21.3K

$26.3K $26.3K

-19.00%

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

$131 PAB 131

$185 $185

-29.05%

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

$27.83 PAB 27.83

$62.9 $62.9

-55.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.32 PAB 49.32

$60.8 $60.8

-18.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.69 PAB 45.69

$40.85 $40.85

11.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.10 PAB 34.10

Cinema Ticket

$8.47 PAB 8.47

$14.95 $14.95

-43.34%

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

$553 PAB 553

$2,500 $2,500

-77.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,719 PAB 9,719

$35.1K $35.1K

-72.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.4 PAB 66.4

$40.38 $40.38

64.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.39 PAB 47.39

$35.54 $35.54

33.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.7 PAB 95.7

$76.4 $76.4

25.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 PAB 113

$50.9 $50.9

121.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,322 PAB 1,322

$2,260 $2,260

-41.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$874 PAB 874

$2,061 $2,061

-57.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,153 PAB 2,153

$2,469 $2,469

-12.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,580 PAB 1,580

$2,112 $2,112

-25.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,097 PAB 3,097

$2,712 $2,712

14.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,698 PAB 1,698

$2,368 $2,368

-28.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$914 PAB 914

$5,708 $5,708

-83.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.39

6.62

-3.47%

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

Last update for Panama City: October 20, 2026

Last update for Castro Valley, CA: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Panama City

$874 47.1%

Castro Valley, CA

$2.1K 61.3% 136% $1.2K

Groceries & Markets

Panama City

$327 17.6%

Castro Valley, CA

$460 13.7% 40.8% $133

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Panama City

$208 11.2%

Castro Valley, CA

$309 9.2% 48.1% $100

Eating Out

Panama City

$207 11.2%

Castro Valley, CA

$346 10.3% 66.9% $139

Clothing & Footwear

Panama City

$145 7.8%

Castro Valley, CA

$91 2.7% 36.9% $54

Sport & Entertainment

Panama City

$63 3.4%

Castro Valley, CA

$71 2.1% 13% $8.1

Getting Around

Panama City

$33 1.8%

Castro Valley, CA

$26 * 0.8% 23.2% $7.8

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 $2,260 in Castro Valley, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Castro Valley, CA pays 525% 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: $48.00 in Panama City vs $80.0 in Castro Valley, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $327 vs $460 per month, with Panama City cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇵🇦 Panama City

🇺🇸 Castro Valley, CA

🕒 Local time

09:47 9:47 AM

07:47 7:47 AM

2 h behind Panama City

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,086,990 Capital

61,388

💱 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 22, 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 22, 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 Castro Valley, CA 5,320 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight

From you

Panama City
Castro 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 Castro Valley, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Panama City and Castro Valley, CA differ by about 81% in total monthly costs ($1,857 vs $3,363 including rent). Panama City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 525% lower in Castro Valley, CA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,322 in Panama City versus $2,260 in Castro Valley, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 41% higher in Castro Valley, CA. 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 $3,363 in Castro Valley, CA – a 81% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,857 in Panama City versus $3,363 in Castro Valley, CA, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Panama City but tight or insufficient in Castro Valley, CA. 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.

Safety-wise, Panama City and Castro Valley, CA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Panama City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 81% less than in Castro Valley, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.