Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Panama City: $1,837 a month against $3,142 in El Cerrito, CA, rent and utilities included – about $15,700 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
150

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

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Panama City

🇵🇦 Panama

$1,837

/mo nomad

El Cerrito, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,142

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,837 in Panama City versus $3,142 in El Cerrito, CA.

Panama City $1,837
El Cerrito, CA $3,142

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,825 in Panama City versus $4,603 in El Cerrito, CA.

Panama City $2,825
El Cerrito, CA $4,603

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,812 in Panama City versus $6,064 in El Cerrito, CA.

Panama City $3,812
El Cerrito, CA $6,064

Living in Panama City costs roughly 42% less than in El Cerrito, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Panama City 37% above, El Cerrito, CA 134% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.34 PAB 11.34

$24.70 $24.70

-54.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.85 PAB 47.85

$108 $108

-55.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.07 PAB 8.07

$14.96 $14.96

-46.06%

Cappuccino

$4.02 PAB 4.02

$5.85 $5.85

-31.28%

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

$1.94 PAB 1.94

$3.03 $3.03

-35.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 PAB 1.62

$2.48 $2.48

-34.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.26 PAB 3.26

$8.21 $8.21

-60.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.99 PAB 3.99

$8.07 $8.07

-50.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 PAB 1.83

$1.42 $1.42

28.87%

White Bread (500g)

$2.57 PAB 2.57

$4.35 $4.35

-40.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.33 PAB 3.33

$4.90 $4.90

-32.04%

Eggs

$2.69 PAB 2.69

$4.94 $4.94

-45.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.33 PAB 12.33

$16.51 $16.51

-25.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.69 PAB 6.69

$11.90 $11.90

-43.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.40 PAB 10.40

$13.16 $13.16

-20.97%

Apples (1kg)

$4.16 PAB 4.16

$5.37 $5.37

-22.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 PAB 1.84

$2.91 $2.91

-36.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.18 PAB 4.18

$4.47 $4.47

-6.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.08 PAB 4.08

$5.93 $5.93

-31.20%

Potato (1kg)

$3.50 PAB 3.50

$3.30 $3.30

6.06%

Onion (1kg)

$4.37 PAB 4.37

$3.62 $3.62

20.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.34 PAB 2.34

$2.88 $2.88

-18.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 PAB 1.75

$2.65 $2.65

-33.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.06 PAB 6.06

$9.96 $9.96

-39.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.72 PAB 11.72

$12.74 $12.74

-8.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 PAB 1.37

$2.07 $2.07

-33.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 PAB 2.84

$2.45 $2.45

15.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 PAB 0.36

$2.02 $2.02

-82.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.96 PAB 20.96

$81.5 $81.5

-74.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.52 PAB 2.52

$4.01 $4.01

-37.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.79 PAB 1.79

$1.98 $1.98

-9.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.01 PAB 22.01

$39.28 $39.28

-43.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 PAB 1.25

$1.51 $1.51

-17.22%

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

$21.5K PAB 21.5K

$29.8K $29.8K

-27.78%

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

$21.2K PAB 21.2K

$25.9K $25.9K

-18.03%

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

$131 PAB 131

$142 $142

-7.53%

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

$27.68 PAB 27.68

$54.8 $54.8

-49.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.59 PAB 48.59

$74.9 $74.9

-35.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.11 PAB 46.11

$36.89 $36.89

24.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.01 PAB 35.01

Cinema Ticket

$8.73 PAB 8.73

$17.96 $17.96

-51.39%

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

$551 PAB 551

$2,270 $2,270

-75.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,560 PAB 9,560

$24.1K $24.1K

-60.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.6 PAB 67.6

$51.8 $51.8

30.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.03 PAB 48.03

$39.36 $39.36

22.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.9 PAB 94.9

$35.27 $35.27

169.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 PAB 113

$61.1 $61.1

84.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,238 PAB 1,238

$1,838 $1,838

-32.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$873 PAB 873

$1,734 $1,734

-49.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,197 PAB 2,197

$3,240 $3,240

-32.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,538 PAB 1,538

$2,824 $2,824

-45.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,116 PAB 3,116

$2,925 $2,925

6.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,725 PAB 1,725

$2,767 $2,767

-37.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$934 PAB 934

$5,706 $5,706

-83.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.39

6.69

-4.48%

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

Last update for Panama City: October 3, 2026

Last update for El Cerrito, CA: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Panama City

$873 47.2%

El Cerrito, CA

$1.7K 56% 98.6% $861

Groceries & Markets

Panama City

$324 17.5%

El Cerrito, CA

$439 14.2% 35.2% $114

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Panama City

$207 11.2%

El Cerrito, CA

$272 8.8% 30.9% $64

Eating Out

Panama City

$202 10.9%

El Cerrito, CA

$392 12.7% 94.3% $190

Clothing & Footwear

Panama City

$146 7.9%

El Cerrito, CA

$84 2.7% 42% $61

Sport & Entertainment

Panama City

$64 3.4%

El Cerrito, CA

$73 2.4% 14.6% $9.2

Getting Around

Panama City

$34 1.8%

El Cerrito, CA

$103 3.3% 205% $70

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,238 in Panama City and $1,838 in El Cerrito, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

El Cerrito, CA pays 511% 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 $108 in El Cerrito, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $324 vs $439 per month, with Panama City cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇵🇦 Panama City

🇺🇸 El Cerrito, CA

🕒 Local time

19:58 7:58 PM

17:58 5:58 PM

2 h behind Panama City

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,086,990 Capital

25,508

💱 Currency

Panamanian Balboa PAB B/.

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 PAB = 1 USD

1 PAB = 0.892 EUR

1 USD = 0.892 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 11, 2026: 1 USD = 1 PAB (1 PAB = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.12 PAB (1 PAB = 0.892 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 11, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

USD to PAB in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Panama City El Cerrito, CA 5,350 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight

From you

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

Panama City wins on cost – living expenses run 71% lower than in El Cerrito, CA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Panama City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 511% lower in El Cerrito, 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: $1,238 in Panama City versus $1,838 in El Cerrito, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Panama City – a meal for two runs $48.00 versus $108 in El Cerrito, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,837 per month in Panama City versus $3,142 in El Cerrito, CA – a 71% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,837 in Panama City versus $3,142 in El Cerrito, CA, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Panama City but tight or insufficient in El Cerrito, CA. The gap between the two cities makes Panama City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Panama City delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,837 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Panama City hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Panama City and El Cerrito, 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 71% less than in El Cerrito, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.