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: $1,763 in Panama City versus $1,347 in Coronado.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,717 in Panama City versus $2,168 in Coronado.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,671 in Panama City versus $2,989 in Coronado.

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

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Panama City 32% above, Coronado 1% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Panama City
Coronado
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.08 PAB 10.08
$11.86 PAB 11.86
-15.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.4 PAB 50.4
$35.29 PAB 35.29
42.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.80 PAB 7.80
$9.52 PAB 9.52
-18.07%
Cappuccino
$3.69 PAB 3.69
$3.04 PAB 3.04
21.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 PAB 1.70
$1.08 PAB 1.08
57.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 PAB 1.35
$0.86 PAB 0.86
56.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.06 PAB 3.06
$1.51 PAB 1.51
102.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 PAB 3.91
$2.96 PAB 2.96
32.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Panama City
Coronado
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.82 PAB 1.82
$1.86 PAB 1.86
-2.15%
White Bread (500g)
$2.56 PAB 2.56
$1.55 PAB 1.55
65.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.49 PAB 2.49
$3.09 PAB 3.09
-19.42%
Eggs
$2.96 PAB 2.96
$2.24 PAB 2.24
32.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.25 PAB 11.25
$14.68 PAB 14.68
-23.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.22 PAB 7.22
$6.31 PAB 6.31
14.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.19 PAB 10.19
$9.31 PAB 9.31
9.45%
Apples (1kg)
$3.43 PAB 3.43
$2.72 PAB 2.72
26.10%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 PAB 1.50
$0.95 PAB 0.95
57.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.85 PAB 2.85
$3.07 PAB 3.07
-7.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.19 PAB 3.19
$2.94 PAB 2.94
8.50%
Potato (1kg)
$2.21 PAB 2.21
$2.08 PAB 2.08
6.25%
Onion (1kg)
$2.77 PAB 2.77
$1.93 PAB 1.93
43.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.25 PAB 2.25
$2.11 PAB 2.11
6.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 PAB 1.58
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.91 PAB 5.91
$6.13 PAB 6.13
-3.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.11 PAB 11.11
$10.17 PAB 10.17
9.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 PAB 1.28
$0.84 PAB 0.84
52.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32 PAB 2.32
$0.88 PAB 0.88
163.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Panama City
Coronado
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.40 PAB 0.40
$1.03 PAB 1.03
-61.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.08 PAB 22.08
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.57 PAB 2.57
$1.54 PAB 1.54
66.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.78 PAB 1.78
$1.49 PAB 1.49
19.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.73 PAB 21.73
$10.18 PAB 10.18
113.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.93 PAB 0.93
$0.92 PAB 0.92
1.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.7K PAB 19.7K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.9K PAB 20.9K
$34.4K PAB 34.4K
-39.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Panama City
Coronado
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$121 PAB 121
$109 PAB 109
11.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.44 PAB 29.44
$21.60 PAB 21.60
36.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.27 PAB 49.27
$59.0 PAB 59.0
-16.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Panama City
Coronado
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.92 PAB 45.92
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$32.32 PAB 32.32
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.11 PAB 8.11
$3.34 PAB 3.34
142.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Panama City
Coronado
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$484 PAB 484
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K PAB 15.8K
$6,576 PAB 6,576
140.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Panama City
Coronado
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.2 PAB 51.2
$44.60 PAB 44.60
14.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.98 PAB 45.98
$29.51 PAB 29.51
55.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.0 PAB 89.0
$98.2 PAB 98.2
-9.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 PAB 122
$133 PAB 133
-8.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Panama City
Coronado
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,157 PAB 1,157
$753 PAB 753
53.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$893 PAB 893
$570 PAB 570
56.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,996 PAB 1,996
$1,236 PAB 1,236
61.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,580 PAB 1,580
$1,309 PAB 1,309
20.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,069 PAB 3,069
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,730 PAB 1,730
$2,029 PAB 2,029
-14.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Panama City
Coronado
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$962 PAB 962
$595 PAB 595
61.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.23
6
3.83%

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

Last update for Panama City: May 30, 2026

Last update for Coronado: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,157 in Panama City and $753 in Coronado. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Panama City pays 62% 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: $50.0 in Panama City vs $35.00 in Coronado for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $250 per month, with Coronado cheaper across the board.

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
Which city is more expensive, Panama City or Coronado?
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.
Are salaries higher in Panama City or Coronado?
Panama City pays 62% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Panama City vs Coronado?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,157 in Panama City versus $753 in Coronado. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Panama City compared to Coronado?
All in, you'll spend $1,763 per month in Panama City versus $1,347 in Coronado – a 31% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Are groceries more expensive in Panama City or Coronado?
Supermarket bills run roughly 17% higher in Panama City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Panama City or Coronado?
At $1,347 in Coronado versus $1,763 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.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Panama City or Coronado?
Both work as nomad bases, but Coronado delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,347 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Coronado hard to pass up.
How safe is Panama City compared to Coronado?
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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
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.

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