Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and Fukuoka Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and Fukuoka

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,821 per month in Panama City vs $1,291 in Fukuoka, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,744 per month in Panama City vs $2,023 in Fukuoka, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,667 per month in Panama City vs $2,754 in Fukuoka, rent included.

Panama City costs about 41% more than Fukuoka, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Panama City sits 37% above the global median, while Fukuoka is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.16 PAB 10.16

$8.55 ¥1,396

18.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.35 PAB 49.35

$42.07 ¥6,870

17.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.17 PAB 8.17

$6.08 ¥993

34.38%

Cappuccino

$3.57 PAB 3.57

$3.15 ¥514

13.33%

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

$1.71 PAB 1.71

$1.09 ¥178

56.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 PAB 1.35

$0.76 ¥125

77.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.07 PAB 3.07

$1.64 ¥267

87.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.06 PAB 4.06

$2.02 ¥330

100.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 PAB 1.81

$1.73 ¥283

4.62%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 PAB 2.45

$1.58 ¥258

55.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.50 PAB 2.50

$4.08 ¥666

-38.73%

Eggs

$2.96 PAB 2.96

$2.63 ¥430

12.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.57 PAB 11.57

$20.60 ¥3,364

-43.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.35 PAB 7.35

$6.25 ¥1,020

17.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.10 PAB 10.10

$20.46 ¥3,341

-50.64%

Apples (1kg)

$3.27 PAB 3.27

$3.18 ¥519

2.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 PAB 1.55

$1.43 ¥233

8.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.73 PAB 2.73

$1.36 ¥222

100.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.07 PAB 3.07

$5.73 ¥936

-46.42%

Potato (1kg)

$2.21 PAB 2.21

$2.85 ¥465

-22.46%

Onion (1kg)

$2.92 PAB 2.92

$3.12 ¥509

-6.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.23 PAB 2.23

$0.91 ¥148

145.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.57 PAB 1.57

$0.77 ¥125

103.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.94 PAB 5.94

$3.96 ¥647

50.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 PAB 10.64

$6.16 ¥1,006

72.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.30 PAB 1.30

$1.92 ¥314

-32.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 PAB 2.40

$2.11 ¥345

13.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 PAB 0.40

$1.78 ¥290

-77.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.52 PAB 22.52

$41.97 ¥6,854

-46.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.53 PAB 2.53

$4.72 ¥771

-46.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.79 PAB 1.79

$4.46 ¥728

-59.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.26 PAB 22.26

$19.49 ¥3,183

14.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 PAB 0.88

$1.21 ¥197

-27.27%

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

$19.5K PAB 19.5K

$22.9K ¥3.7M

-14.55%

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

$20.3K PAB 20.3K

$20.4K ¥3.3M

-0.53%

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

$122 PAB 122

$219 ¥35.7K

-44.04%

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

$30.02 PAB 30.02

$27.63 ¥4,511

8.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.29 PAB 49.29

$35.36 ¥5,775

39.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.68 PAB 45.68

$58.9 ¥9,612

-22.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$32.85 PAB 32.85

$3.38 ¥552

871.89%

Cinema Ticket

$7.88 PAB 7.88

$13.95 ¥2,277

-43.51%

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

$484 PAB 484

$414 ¥67.6K

16.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K PAB 15.7K

$13.3K ¥2.2M

17.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.9 PAB 50.9

$43.64 ¥7,126

16.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.70 PAB 45.70

$29.39 ¥4,799

55.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 PAB 88.6

$66.5 ¥10.9K

33.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 PAB 120

$59.7 ¥9,755

100.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,129 PAB 1,129

$543 ¥88.7K

107.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$881 PAB 881

$294 ¥48.0K

200.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,031 PAB 2,031

$1,056 ¥172.4K

92.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,564 PAB 1,564

$710 ¥116.0K

120.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,044 PAB 3,044

$6,208 ¥1.0M

-50.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,665 PAB 1,665

$2,623 ¥428.4K

-36.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$949 PAB 949

$1,547 ¥252.7K

-38.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.23

1.67

273.05%

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

Last update for Panama City: July 26, 2026

Last update for Fukuoka: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,129 in Panama City versus $543 in Fukuoka. 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 63% higher in Fukuoka, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Panama City versus $42.00 in Fukuoka. Groceries tell a different story – $291 in Panama City vs $327 in Fukuoka – so Panama City wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Fukuoka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,821 in Panama City, $1,291 in Fukuoka – roughly 41% apart. Panama City costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,732 per month in Panama City and $1,937 in Fukuoka. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Fukuoka, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $484 per month in Panama City and $414 in Fukuoka. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 12% cheaper in Panama City – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Fukuoka, where all-in costs run around $1,291, than in Panama City at $1,821. In Fukuoka it covers expenses comfortably, while in Panama City 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 $1,291 in Fukuoka to $1,821 in Panama City. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Fukuoka. 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.