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: $1,862 in Panama City versus $1,331 in El Valle de Anton.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,727 in Panama City versus $2,063 in El Valle de Anton.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,591 in Panama City versus $2,794 in El Valle de Anton.

Living in Panama City is roughly 40% more expensive than in El Valle de Anton, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Panama City is 35% above, El Valle de Anton is 3% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.08 PAB 10.08

$10.07 PAB 10.07

0.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.52 PAB 44.52

$44.14 PAB 44.14

0.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.79 PAB 7.79

$8.11 PAB 8.11

-3.95%

Cappuccino

$3.98 PAB 3.98

$4.12 PAB 4.12

-3.40%

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

$1.94 PAB 1.94

$1.99 PAB 1.99

-2.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 PAB 1.58

$1.49 PAB 1.49

6.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 PAB 3.03

$3.09 PAB 3.09

-1.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.02 PAB 4.02

$4.06 PAB 4.06

-0.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.84 PAB 1.84

$1.86 PAB 1.86

-1.08%

White Bread (500g)

$2.43 PAB 2.43

$2.46 PAB 2.46

-1.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.10 PAB 3.10

$3.12 PAB 3.12

-0.64%

Eggs

$2.81 PAB 2.81

$2.67 PAB 2.67

5.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.54 PAB 12.54

$12.42 PAB 12.42

0.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.55 PAB 6.55

$6.36 PAB 6.36

2.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.25 PAB 10.25

$10.44 PAB 10.44

-1.82%

Apples (1kg)

$4.29 PAB 4.29

$4.48 PAB 4.48

-4.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 PAB 1.75

$1.68 PAB 1.68

4.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.02 PAB 4.02

$3.90 PAB 3.90

3.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.06 PAB 4.06

$4.00 PAB 4.00

1.50%

Potato (1kg)

$3.10 PAB 3.10

$3.13 PAB 3.13

-0.96%

Onion (1kg)

$4.45 PAB 4.45

$4.50 PAB 4.50

-1.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.25 PAB 2.25

$2.16 PAB 2.16

4.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 PAB 1.73

$1.70 PAB 1.70

1.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.06 PAB 6.06

$5.97 PAB 5.97

1.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.95 PAB 10.95

$11.03 PAB 11.03

-0.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 PAB 1.37

$1.43 PAB 1.43

-4.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 PAB 2.76

$2.70 PAB 2.70

2.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 PAB 0.34

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.16 PAB 21.16

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.47 PAB 2.47

$2.56 PAB 2.56

-3.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.77 PAB 1.77

$1.76 PAB 1.76

0.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.29 PAB 22.29

$21.78 PAB 21.78

2.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 PAB 1.16

$1.21 PAB 1.21

-4.13%

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

$21.0K PAB 21.0K

$20.9K PAB 20.9K

0.70%

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

$21.0K PAB 21.0K

$21.2K PAB 21.2K

-0.96%

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

$129 PAB 129

$132 PAB 132

-2.43%

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

$29.00 PAB 29.00

$28.38 PAB 28.38

2.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.99 PAB 47.99

$47.83 PAB 47.83

0.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.57 PAB 47.57

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$33.90 PAB 33.90

Cinema Ticket

$7.93 PAB 7.93

$7.80 PAB 7.80

1.67%

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

$553 PAB 553

$538 PAB 538

2.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,520 PAB 9,520

$9,452 PAB 9,452

0.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.9 PAB 60.9

$59.6 PAB 59.6

2.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.58 PAB 46.58

$46.39 PAB 46.39

0.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.6 PAB 92.6

$92.0 PAB 92.0

0.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 PAB 119

$117 PAB 117

1.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,296 PAB 1,296

$571 PAB 571

127.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$931 PAB 931

$442 PAB 442

110.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,077 PAB 2,077

$1,012 PAB 1,012

105.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,468 PAB 1,468

$869 PAB 869

68.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,129 PAB 3,129

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,680 PAB 1,680

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$931 PAB 931

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.39

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

Last update for Panama City: September 5, 2026

Last update for El Valle de Anton: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,296 in Panama City and $571 in El Valle de Anton. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $45.00 in Panama City vs $44.00 in El Valle de Anton for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $318 vs $317 per month, with El Valle de Anton 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 40% 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 $2,793 in Panama City and $1,996 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,296 in Panama City versus $571 in El Valle de Anton. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 0% higher in Panama City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,862 per month in Panama City versus $1,331 in El Valle de Anton – a 40% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,331 in El Valle de Anton versus $1,862 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 $1,331 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 40% less than in Panama City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.