Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and Foz do Iguaçu

For one person, living is cheaper in Foz do Iguaçu: $910 a month against $1,855 in Panama City, rent and utilities included – about $11,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Panama City
🇵🇦 Panama
$1,855
/mo nomad
Foz do Iguaçu
🇧🇷 Brazil
$910
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Panama City and in Foz do Iguaçu

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 Foz do Iguaçu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,855 per month in Panama City vs $910 in Foz do Iguaçu, rent included.

  • Panama City $1,855
  • Foz do Iguaçu $910

A couple spends around $2,804 per month in Panama City vs $1,390 in Foz do Iguaçu, rent included.

  • Panama City $2,804
  • Foz do Iguaçu $1,390

A family of three spends $3,753 per month in Panama City vs $1,870 in Foz do Iguaçu, rent included.

  • Panama City $3,753
  • Foz do Iguaçu $1,870

Panama City costs about 104% more than Foz do Iguaçu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Panama City sits 37% above the global median, while Foz do Iguaçu is 33% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Panama City
Foz do Iguaçu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.63 PAB 11.63
$6.08 R$30.80
91.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.92 PAB 47.92
$40.68 R$206
17.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.96 PAB 7.96
$7.11 R$36.04
11.95%
Cappuccino
$4.22 PAB 4.22
$1.90 R$9.65
122.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 PAB 2.01
$1.38 R$6.98
45.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 PAB 1.56
$0.58 R$2.94
168.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.39 PAB 3.39
$1.64 R$8.32
106.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.94 PAB 3.94
$2.99 R$15.15
31.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Panama City
Foz do Iguaçu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.85 PAB 1.85
$0.95 R$4.81
94.74%
White Bread (500g)
$2.56 PAB 2.56
$1.51 R$7.64
69.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.48 PAB 3.48
$1.70 R$8.62
104.71%
Eggs
$2.69 PAB 2.69
$2.69 R$13.66
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.57 PAB 12.57
$8.04 R$40.74
56.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.83 PAB 6.83
$4.11 R$20.85
66.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.58 PAB 10.58
$8.43 R$42.72
25.50%
Apples (1kg)
$4.18 PAB 4.18
$2.15 R$10.90
94.42%
Banana (1kg)
$1.83 PAB 1.83
$1.19 R$6.02
53.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.20 PAB 4.20
$0.97 R$4.92
332.99%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.03 PAB 4.03
$1.17 R$5.91
244.44%
Potato (1kg)
$3.48 PAB 3.48
$0.97 R$4.94
258.76%
Onion (1kg)
$4.22 PAB 4.22
$1.09 R$5.51
287.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.41 PAB 2.41
$0.88 R$4.47
173.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 PAB 1.69
$0.88 R$4.47
92.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.14 PAB 6.14
$2.95 R$14.94
108.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.30 PAB 11.30
$8.03 R$40.72
40.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42 PAB 1.42
$1.89 R$9.56
-24.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 PAB 2.73
$2.99 R$15.18
-8.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Panama City
Foz do Iguaçu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.33 PAB 0.33
$0.97 R$4.92
-65.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.23 PAB 21.23
$52.4 R$266
-59.48%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.52 PAB 2.52
$1.02 R$5.16
147.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.86 PAB 1.86
$1.44 R$7.28
29.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.78 PAB 21.78
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 PAB 1.25
$1.24 R$6.30
0.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K PAB 21.2K
$20.3K R$103.1K
4.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.0K PAB 21.0K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Panama City
Foz do Iguaçu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$130 PAB 130
$72.2 R$366
79.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.13 PAB 28.13
$19.15 R$97.1
46.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.21 PAB 48.21
$20.40 R$103
136.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Panama City
Foz do Iguaçu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.78 PAB 45.78
$19.97 R$101
129.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.92 PAB 34.92
$5.98 R$30.33
483.95%
Cinema Ticket
$8.67 PAB 8.67
$9.29 R$47.09
-6.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Panama City
Foz do Iguaçu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$544 PAB 544
$242 R$1,227
124.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,697 PAB 9,697
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Panama City
Foz do Iguaçu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.8 PAB 66.8
$47.64 R$242
40.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.14 PAB 49.14
$17.75 R$90.0
176.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.9 PAB 93.9
$50.3 R$255
86.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 PAB 112
$39.21 R$199
184.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Panama City
Foz do Iguaçu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,257 PAB 1,257
$377 R$1,912
233.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$875 PAB 875
$320 R$1,622
173.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,155 PAB 2,155
$711 R$3,603
203.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,564 PAB 1,564
$508 R$2,573
208.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,122 PAB 3,122
$1,279 R$6,485
144.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,709 PAB 1,709
$897 R$4,547
90.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Panama City
Foz do Iguaçu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$916 PAB 916
$397 R$2,015
130.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.39
8.16
-21.69%

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

Last update for Panama City: October 10, 2026

Last update for Foz do Iguaçu: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Panama City
$875
Foz do Iguaçu
$320 63.4% $555
Groceries & Markets
Panama City
$325
Foz do Iguaçu
$190 41.5% $135
Eating Out
Panama City
$207
Foz do Iguaçu
$115 44.5% $92
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Panama City
$206
Foz do Iguaçu
$112 45.8% $94
Clothing & Footwear
Panama City
$145
Foz do Iguaçu
$70 51.8% $75
Sport & Entertainment
Panama City
$63
Foz do Iguaçu
$39 38.9% $25
Getting Around
Panama City
$34
Foz do Iguaçu
$64 87.4% $30

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,257 in Panama City versus $377 in Foz do Iguaçu. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 130% higher in Panama City, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Panama City versus $41.00 in Foz do Iguaçu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $325 vs $190 – making Foz do Iguaçu the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇦 Panama City
🇧🇷 Foz do Iguaçu
🕒 Local time
21:54 9:54 PM
23:54 11:54 PM
2 h ahead of Panama City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,086,990 Capital
285,415
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, USD, EUR to PAB – Panamanian Balboa Converter

Panamanian Balboa exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 1 PAB (1 PAB = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.12 PAB (1 PAB = 0.89 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 5.07 BRL (1 BRL = 0.197 USD). 1 EUR = 5.7 BRL (1 BRL = 0.175 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Panama City Foz do Iguaçu 4,690 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Panama City
  • Foz do Iguaçu

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 Foz do Iguaçu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Panama City and in Foz do Iguaçu compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,855 in Panama City, $910 in Foz do Iguaçu – roughly 104% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Panama City compared to Foz do Iguaçu?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,783 per month in Panama City and $1,364 in Foz do Iguaçu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Panama City and Foz do Iguaçu?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Foz do Iguaçu, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Panama City and Foz do Iguaçu?
Kindergarten costs $544 per month in Panama City and $242 in Foz do Iguaçu. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 71% more in Panama City, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Foz do Iguaçu, where all-in costs run around $910, than in Panama City at $1,855. In Foz do Iguaçu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Panama City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Panama City and Foz do Iguaçu?
It depends on your priorities. Panama City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $910 in Foz do Iguaçu to $1,855 in Panama City. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Panama City and Foz do Iguaçu?
If budget matters most, go with Foz do Iguaçu. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Panama City makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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