Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and El Centro, CA

For one person, living is cheaper in Panama City: $1,932 a month against $2,700 in El Centro, CA, rent and utilities included – about $9,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

94

Cost of Living Index in Panama City
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Panama City Living Index
129

Cost of Living Index in El Centro, CA
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El Centro, CA Living Index

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Panama City

🇵🇦 Panama

$1,932

/mo nomad

El Centro, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$2,700

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,932 per month in Panama City vs $2,700 in El Centro, CA, rent included.

Panama City $1,932
El Centro, CA $2,700

A couple spends around $2,887 per month in Panama City vs $3,848 in El Centro, CA, rent included.

Panama City $2,887
El Centro, CA $3,848

A family of three spends $3,841 per month in Panama City vs $4,996 in El Centro, CA, rent included.

Panama City $3,841
El Centro, CA $4,996

Panama City is about 28% cheaper than El Centro, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Panama City and El Centro, CA sit above the global median – Panama City by 42%, El Centro, CA by 98%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.72 PAB 11.72

$13.62 $13.62

-13.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.74 PAB 46.74

$44.97 $44.97

3.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.98 PAB 7.98

$11.39 $11.39

-29.94%

Cappuccino

$4.18 PAB 4.18

$4.89 $4.89

-14.52%

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

$1.95 PAB 1.95

$2.54 $2.54

-23.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 PAB 1.64

$1.96 $1.96

-16.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.26 PAB 3.26

$4.90 $4.90

-33.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.90 PAB 3.90

$7.95 $7.95

-50.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 PAB 1.91

$1.16 $1.16

64.66%

White Bread (500g)

$2.54 PAB 2.54

$5.88 $5.88

-56.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.37 PAB 3.37

$4.37 $4.37

-22.88%

Eggs

$2.82 PAB 2.82

$4.91 $4.91

-42.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.60 PAB 12.60

$12.67 $12.67

-0.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.71 PAB 6.71

$20.39 $20.39

-67.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.53 PAB 10.53

$13.90 $13.90

-24.24%

Apples (1kg)

$4.04 PAB 4.04

$5.50 $5.50

-26.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.94 PAB 1.94

$1.70 $1.70

14.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.25 PAB 4.25

$4.28 $4.28

-0.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.18 PAB 4.18

$6.72 $6.72

-37.80%

Potato (1kg)

$3.32 PAB 3.32

$3.64 $3.64

-8.79%

Onion (1kg)

$4.34 PAB 4.34

$3.47 $3.47

25.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.40 PAB 2.40

$2.28 $2.28

5.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 PAB 1.71

$2.31 $2.31

-25.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.05 PAB 6.05

$11.64 $11.64

-48.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.38 PAB 11.38

$14.85 $14.85

-23.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 PAB 1.36

$1.70 $1.70

-20.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 PAB 2.80

$3.26 $3.26

-14.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 PAB 0.34

$2.26 $2.26

-84.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.28 PAB 21.28

$58.6 $58.6

-63.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.43 PAB 2.43

$4.46 $4.46

-45.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.85 PAB 1.85

$1.88 $1.88

-1.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.77 PAB 21.77

$35.36 $35.36

-38.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 PAB 1.20

$1.53 $1.53

-21.57%

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

$24.8K PAB 24.8K

$27.4K $27.4K

-9.60%

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

$21.2K PAB 21.2K

$26.0K $26.0K

-18.40%

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

$132 PAB 132

$216 $216

-38.61%

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

$28.34 PAB 28.34

$72.1 $72.1

-60.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.88 PAB 48.88

$70.5 $70.5

-30.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.02 PAB 43.02

$34.32 $34.32

25.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.94 PAB 34.94

Cinema Ticket

$8.43 PAB 8.43

$11.90 $11.90

-29.16%

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

$545 PAB 545

$1,895 $1,895

-71.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,648 PAB 9,648

$42.8K $42.8K

-77.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.8 PAB 65.8

$72.7 $72.7

-9.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.25 PAB 47.25

$40.38 $40.38

17.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.6 PAB 94.6

$79.1 $79.1

19.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 PAB 110

$173 $173

-36.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,407 PAB 1,407

$1,401 $1,401

0.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$954 PAB 954

$1,300 $1,300

-26.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,272 PAB 2,272

$2,246 $2,246

1.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,662 PAB 1,662

$2,076 $2,076

-19.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,057 PAB 3,057

$2,709 $2,709

12.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,729 PAB 1,729

$2,661 $2,661

-35.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$916 PAB 916

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.39

6.64

-3.77%

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

Last update for Panama City: October 27, 2026

Last update for El Centro, CA: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Panama City

$954 49.3%

El Centro, CA

$1.3K 48.2% 36.4% $347

Groceries & Markets

Panama City

$326 16.9%

El Centro, CA

$477 17.7% 46.4% $151

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Panama City

$210 10.9%

El Centro, CA

$358 13.3% 70.9% $149

Eating Out

Panama City

$206 10.7%

El Centro, CA

$260 9.6% 26% $54

Clothing & Footwear

Panama City

$143 7.4%

El Centro, CA

$164 6.1% 15% $21

Sport & Entertainment

Panama City

$60 3.1%

El Centro, CA

$58 2.2% 3% $1.8

Getting Around

Panama City

$34 1.8%

El Centro, CA

$81 3% 137% $47

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,407 in Panama City versus $1,401 in El Centro, CA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Panama City versus $45 in El Centro, CA. Groceries tell a different story – $326 in Panama City vs $477 in El Centro, CA – so Panama City wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇵🇦 Panama City

🇺🇸 El Centro, CA

🕒 Local time

08:55 8:55 AM

06:55 6:55 AM

2 h behind Panama City

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,086,990 Capital

44,322

💱 Currency

Panamanian Balboa PAB B/.

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 PAB = 1 USD

1 PAB = 0.899 EUR

1 USD = 0.899 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 28, 2026: 1 USD = 1 PAB (1 PAB = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.11 PAB (1 PAB = 0.899 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.899 EUR).

USD to PAB in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Panama City El Centro, CA 4,550 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight

From you

Panama City
El Centro, 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 El Centro, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,932 in Panama City, $2,700 in El Centro, CA – roughly 40% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,899 per month in Panama City and $4,049 in El Centro, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A central 1-bedroom goes for about $1,407 in Panama City and $1,401 in El Centro, CA. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.

Public transport costs about 64% less in Panama City. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $545 per month in Panama City and $1,895 in El Centro, CA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Panama City, where all-in costs run around $1,932, than in El Centro, CA at $2,700. In Panama City it covers expenses comfortably, while in El Centro, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Panama City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,932 in Panama City to $2,700 in El Centro, CA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.