Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and Coronado Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and Coronado

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,875 in Panama City versus $1,431 in Coronado.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,722 in Panama City versus $2,323 in Coronado.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,569 in Panama City versus $3,216 in Coronado.

Living in Panama City is roughly 31% more expensive than in Coronado, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Panama City 36% above, Coronado 4% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.05 PAB 10.05

$11.83 PAB 11.83

-15.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.07 PAB 45.07

$55.6 PAB 55.6

-18.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.91 PAB 7.91

$8.99 PAB 8.99

-12.01%

Cappuccino

$4.12 PAB 4.12

$4.56 PAB 4.56

-9.65%

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

$1.93 PAB 1.93

$0.90 PAB 0.90

114.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 PAB 1.56

$0.94 PAB 0.94

65.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 PAB 2.95

$0.98 PAB 0.98

201.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.07 PAB 4.07

$3.06 PAB 3.06

33.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 PAB 1.91

$1.95 PAB 1.95

-2.05%

White Bread (500g)

$2.44 PAB 2.44

$1.55 PAB 1.55

57.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.12 PAB 3.12

$2.93 PAB 2.93

6.48%

Eggs

$2.81 PAB 2.81

$2.35 PAB 2.35

19.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.63 PAB 12.63

$11.86 PAB 11.86

6.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.49 PAB 6.49

$6.72 PAB 6.72

-3.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.25 PAB 10.25

$9.04 PAB 9.04

13.38%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 PAB 4.49

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 PAB 1.69

$0.98 PAB 0.98

72.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.99 PAB 3.99

$3.03 PAB 3.03

31.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.94 PAB 3.94

$2.91 PAB 2.91

35.40%

Potato (1kg)

$3.24 PAB 3.24

$1.80 PAB 1.80

80.00%

Onion (1kg)

$4.27 PAB 4.27

$1.86 PAB 1.86

129.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.17 PAB 2.17

$2.18 PAB 2.18

-0.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 PAB 1.69

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.98 PAB 5.98

$5.90 PAB 5.90

1.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.78 PAB 10.78

$10.18 PAB 10.18

5.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 PAB 1.42

$0.73 PAB 0.73

94.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 PAB 2.71

$0.68 PAB 0.68

298.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 PAB 0.37

$0.99 PAB 0.99

-62.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.77 PAB 20.77

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.53 PAB 2.53

$1.53 PAB 1.53

65.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.85 PAB 1.85

$1.47 PAB 1.47

25.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.85 PAB 21.85

$10.02 PAB 10.02

118.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 PAB 1.16

$0.94 PAB 0.94

23.40%

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

$21.7K PAB 21.7K

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

$21.4K PAB 21.4K

$34.3K PAB 34.3K

-37.64%

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

$132 PAB 132

$141 PAB 141

-5.72%

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

$28.93 PAB 28.93

$20.92 PAB 20.92

38.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.52 PAB 49.52

$58.8 PAB 58.8

-15.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.25 PAB 47.25

$58.8 PAB 58.8

-19.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$33.24 PAB 33.24

Cinema Ticket

$7.88 PAB 7.88

$3.34 PAB 3.34

135.93%

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

$546 PAB 546

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,732 PAB 9,732

$5,910 PAB 5,910

64.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 PAB 59.5

$45.89 PAB 45.89

29.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.26 PAB 46.26

$30.06 PAB 30.06

53.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.3 PAB 92.3

$99.1 PAB 99.1

-6.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 PAB 116

$130 PAB 130

-11.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,276 PAB 1,276

$772 PAB 772

65.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$904 PAB 904

$561 PAB 561

60.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,126 PAB 2,126

$1,248 PAB 1,248

70.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,469 PAB 1,469

$1,290 PAB 1,290

13.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,086 PAB 3,086

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,697 PAB 1,697

$2,024 PAB 2,024

-16.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$925 PAB 925

$608 PAB 608

52.00%

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: August 31, 2026

Last update for Coronado: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,276 in Panama City and $772 in Coronado. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Panama City pays 52% 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: $45.00 in Panama City vs $56.0 in Coronado. Groceries flip the comparison at $318 vs $228, with Coronado cheaper for home cooking.

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 Coronado: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Coronado wins on cost – living expenses run 31% lower than in Panama City. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Coronado the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 52% higher in Panama City, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,276 in Panama City versus $772 in Coronado. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,875 per month in Panama City versus $1,431 in Coronado – a 31% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 39% higher in Panama City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $1,431 in Coronado versus $1,875 in Panama City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Coronado but tight or insufficient in Panama City. The gap between the two cities makes Coronado the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Coronado delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,431 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Coronado hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Panama City and Coronado 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 Coronado gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Panama City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.