Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and Chelan, WA

For one person, living is cheaper in Panama City: $1,857 a month against $2,685 in Chelan, WA, rent and utilities included – about $9,900 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
129

Cost of Living Index in Chelan, WA
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Chelan, WA Living Index

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Panama City

🇵🇦 Panama

$1,857

/mo nomad

Chelan, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,685

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Panama City and in Chelan, WA

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 Chelan, WA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,857 per month in Panama City vs $2,685 in Chelan, WA, rent included.

Panama City $1,857
Chelan, WA $2,685

A couple spends around $2,815 per month in Panama City vs $3,965 in Chelan, WA, rent included.

Panama City $2,815
Chelan, WA $3,965

A family of three spends $3,773 per month in Panama City vs $5,245 in Chelan, WA, rent included.

Panama City $3,773
Chelan, WA $5,245

Panama City is about 31% cheaper than Chelan, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Panama City and Chelan, WA sit above the global median – Panama City by 37%, Chelan, WA by 98%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.68 PAB 11.68

$25.39 $25.39

-54.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.76 PAB 47.76

$101 $101

-52.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.12 PAB 8.12

$14.72 $14.72

-44.84%

Cappuccino

$4.23 PAB 4.23

$6.52 $6.52

-35.12%

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

$1.92 PAB 1.92

$3.21 $3.21

-40.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 PAB 1.58

$3.00 $3.00

-47.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.31 PAB 3.31

$7.99 $7.99

-58.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 PAB 3.98

$7.84 $7.84

-49.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.92 PAB 1.92

$1.08 $1.08

77.78%

White Bread (500g)

$2.63 PAB 2.63

$3.37 $3.37

-21.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.39 PAB 3.39

$4.43 $4.43

-23.48%

Eggs

$2.67 PAB 2.67

$4.95 $4.95

-46.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.21 PAB 12.21

$10.92 $10.92

11.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.91 PAB 6.91

$6.57 $6.57

5.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.58 PAB 10.58

$11.16 $11.16

-5.20%

Apples (1kg)

$4.16 PAB 4.16

$4.27 $4.27

-2.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 PAB 1.97

$1.86 $1.86

5.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 PAB 4.06

$4.33 $4.33

-6.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.18 PAB 4.18

$4.33 $4.33

-3.46%

Potato (1kg)

$3.47 PAB 3.47

$2.16 $2.16

60.65%

Onion (1kg)

$4.26 PAB 4.26

$2.26 $2.26

88.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.44 PAB 2.44

$1.97 $1.97

23.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 PAB 1.69

$2.51 $2.51

-32.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.83 PAB 5.83

$9.25 $9.25

-36.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.43 PAB 11.43

$10.07 $10.07

13.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 PAB 1.38

$4.27 $4.27

-67.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 PAB 2.76

$5.10 $5.10

-45.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 PAB 0.33

$2.06 $2.06

-83.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.63 PAB 20.63

$60.2 $60.2

-65.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.55 PAB 2.55

$2.66 $2.66

-4.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 PAB 1.78

$1.64 $1.64

8.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.17 PAB 22.17

$30.33 $30.33

-26.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 PAB 1.24

$1.37 $1.37

-9.49%

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

$24.4K PAB 24.4K

$34.5K $34.5K

-29.23%

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

$21.3K PAB 21.3K

$26.1K $26.1K

-18.49%

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

$131 PAB 131

$254 $254

-48.32%

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

$27.83 PAB 27.83

$70.6 $70.6

-60.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.32 PAB 49.32

$50.4 $50.4

-2.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.69 PAB 45.69

$46.44 $46.44

-1.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.10 PAB 34.10

$9.92 $9.92

243.75%

Cinema Ticket

$8.47 PAB 8.47

$12.22 $12.22

-30.69%

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

$553 PAB 553

$3,059 $3,059

-81.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,719 PAB 9,719

$31.3K $31.3K

-68.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.4 PAB 66.4

$40.62 $40.62

63.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.39 PAB 47.39

$25.47 $25.47

86.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.7 PAB 95.7

$60.0 $60.0

59.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 PAB 113

$99.6 $99.6

13.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,322 PAB 1,322

$1,568 $1,568

-15.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$874 PAB 874

$1,299 $1,299

-32.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,153 PAB 2,153

$2,478 $2,478

-13.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,580 PAB 1,580

$2,141 $2,141

-26.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,097 PAB 3,097

$2,972 $2,972

4.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,698 PAB 1,698

$2,492 $2,492

-31.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$914 PAB 914

$4,061 $4,061

-77.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.39

6.50%

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

Last update for Panama City: October 20, 2026

Last update for Chelan, WA: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Panama City

$874 47.1%

Chelan, WA

$1.3K 48.4% 48.6% $425

Groceries & Markets

Panama City

$327 17.6%

Chelan, WA

$353 13.2% 8.2% $27

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Panama City

$208 11.2%

Chelan, WA

$375 14% 79.9% $167

Eating Out

Panama City

$207 11.2%

Chelan, WA

$406 15.1% 96.1% $199

Clothing & Footwear

Panama City

$145 7.8%

Chelan, WA

$102 3.8% 29.9% $43

Sport & Entertainment

Panama City

$63 3.4%

Chelan, WA

$71 2.6% 13.2% $8.3

Getting Around

Panama City

$33 1.8%

Chelan, WA

$79 3% 137% $46

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,322 in Panama City versus $1,568 in Chelan, WA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Chelan, WA are about 4.4 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48 in Panama City versus $101 in Chelan, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $327 vs $353 – making Panama City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇵🇦 Panama City

🇺🇸 Chelan, WA

🕒 Local time

19:56 7:56 PM

17:56 5:56 PM

2 h behind Panama City

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,086,990 Capital

4,200

💱 Currency

Panamanian Balboa PAB B/.

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 PAB = 1 USD

1 PAB = 0.893 EUR

1 USD = 0.893 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 26, 2026: 1 USD = 1 PAB (1 PAB = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.12 PAB (1 PAB = 0.893 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 26, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.893 EUR).

USD to PAB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Panama City Chelan, WA 5,750 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight

From you

Panama City
Chelan, WA

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 Chelan, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chelan, WA costs about 45% more than Panama City, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,786 per month in Panama City and $4,028 in Chelan, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Panama City, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,322 there versus $1,568 in Chelan, WA.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48 in Panama City and $101 in Chelan, WA. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,857 in Panama City and $2,685 in Chelan, WA. That’s a gap of about 45%.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Panama City, where all-in costs run around $1,857, than in Chelan, WA at $2,685. In Panama City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chelan, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Panama City – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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