Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and El Valle de Anton Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and El Valle de Anton

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,814 in Panama City versus $826 in El Valle de Anton.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,728 in Panama City versus $1,359 in El Valle de Anton.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,643 in Panama City versus $1,891 in El Valle de Anton.

Living in Panama City is roughly 119% more expensive than in El Valle de Anton, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Panama City is 36% above, El Valle de Anton is 38% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.13 PAB 10.13

$10.04 PAB 10.04

0.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.65 PAB 49.65

$49.60 PAB 49.60

0.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.06 PAB 8.06

$7.87 PAB 7.87

2.41%

Cappuccino

$3.60 PAB 3.60

$3.69 PAB 3.69

-2.44%

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

$1.72 PAB 1.72

$1.68 PAB 1.68

2.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.36 PAB 1.36

$1.34 PAB 1.34

1.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 PAB 2.95

$3.07 PAB 3.07

-3.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 PAB 4.03

$4.09 PAB 4.09

-1.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 PAB 1.81

$1.80 PAB 1.80

0.56%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 PAB 2.46

$2.59 PAB 2.59

-5.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.41 PAB 2.41

$2.52 PAB 2.52

-4.37%

Eggs

$2.93 PAB 2.93

$2.92 PAB 2.92

0.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.38 PAB 11.38

$11.24 PAB 11.24

1.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.06 PAB 7.06

$7.33 PAB 7.33

-3.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.85 PAB 9.85

$9.66 PAB 9.66

1.97%

Apples (1kg)

$3.37 PAB 3.37

$3.30 PAB 3.30

2.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 PAB 1.51

$1.54 PAB 1.54

-1.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.86 PAB 2.86

$2.74 PAB 2.74

4.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.12 PAB 3.12

$3.18 PAB 3.18

-1.89%

Potato (1kg)

$2.23 PAB 2.23

$2.20 PAB 2.20

1.36%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 PAB 2.76

$2.82 PAB 2.82

-2.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.18 PAB 2.18

$2.24 PAB 2.24

-2.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.53 PAB 1.53

$1.59 PAB 1.59

-3.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.09 PAB 6.09

Wine (Bottle)

$10.78 PAB 10.78

$10.87 PAB 10.87

-0.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 PAB 1.28

$1.25 PAB 1.25

2.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 PAB 2.36

$2.41 PAB 2.41

-2.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 PAB 0.44

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.10 PAB 22.10

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.44 PAB 2.44

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.77 PAB 1.77

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.61 PAB 21.61

$21.62 PAB 21.62

-0.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 PAB 0.95

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

$19.6K PAB 19.6K

$20.0K PAB 20.0K

-1.79%

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

$20.6K PAB 20.6K

$20.2K PAB 20.2K

1.91%

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

$122 PAB 122

$123 PAB 123

-0.97%

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

$29.88 PAB 29.88

$29.27 PAB 29.27

2.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.49 PAB 49.49

$49.74 PAB 49.74

-0.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.36 PAB 45.36

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$32.73 PAB 32.73

Cinema Ticket

$7.85 PAB 7.85

$7.76 PAB 7.76

1.16%

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

$484 PAB 484

$480 PAB 480

0.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K PAB 15.8K

$15.9K PAB 15.9K

-0.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.6 PAB 51.6

$51.8 PAB 51.8

-0.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.50 PAB 46.50

$46.80 PAB 46.80

-0.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 PAB 88.6

$89.4 PAB 89.4

-0.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 PAB 121

$123 PAB 123

-1.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,158 PAB 1,158

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$894 PAB 894

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,037 PAB 2,037

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 PAB 1,578

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,124 PAB 3,124

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,693 PAB 1,693

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$926 PAB 926

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.23

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

Last update for Panama City: July 12, 2026

Last update for El Valle de Anton: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $50.0 in Panama City vs $50.0 in El Valle de Anton for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $291 per month, with Panama City 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 El Valle de Anton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

El Valle de Anton wins on cost – living expenses run 119% lower than in Panama City. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making El Valle de Anton the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $2,720 in Panama City and $1,239 in El Valle de Anton to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Shoppers in Panama City pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,814 per month in Panama City versus $826 in El Valle de Anton – a 119% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $826 in El Valle de Anton versus $1,814 in Panama City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in El Valle de Anton but tight or insufficient in Panama City. The gap between the two cities makes El Valle de Anton the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but El Valle de Anton delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $826 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes El Valle de Anton hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Panama City and El Valle de Anton 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 El Valle de Anton gentler on the wallet – expenses run 119% less than in Panama City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.