Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and Garden Grove, CA

For one person, living is cheaper in Garden Grove, CA: $1,412 a month against $1,855 in Panama City, rent and utilities included – about $5,300 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Panama City outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

90

Cost of Living Index in Panama City
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Panama City Living Index
69

Cost of Living Index in Garden Grove, CA
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Garden Grove, CA Living Index

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Panama City

🇵🇦 Panama

$1,855

/mo nomad

Garden Grove, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$1,412

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,855 per month in Panama City vs $1,412 in Garden Grove, CA, rent included.

Panama City $1,855
Garden Grove, CA $1,412

A couple spends around $2,804 per month in Panama City vs $2,264 in Garden Grove, CA, rent included.

Panama City $2,804
Garden Grove, CA $2,264

A family of three spends $3,753 per month in Panama City vs $3,115 in Garden Grove, CA, rent included.

Panama City $3,753
Garden Grove, CA $3,115

Panama City costs about 31% more than Garden Grove, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Panama City and Garden Grove, CA sit above the global median – Panama City by 37%, Garden Grove, CA by 5%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.63 PAB 11.63

$25.44 $25.44

-54.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.92 PAB 47.92

$77.4 $77.4

-38.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.96 PAB 7.96

$11.44 $11.44

-30.42%

Cappuccino

$4.22 PAB 4.22

$5.61 $5.61

-24.78%

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

$2.01 PAB 2.01

$2.73 $2.73

-26.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 PAB 1.56

$1.95 $1.95

-20.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.39 PAB 3.39

$7.42 $7.42

-54.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 PAB 3.94

$9.42 $9.42

-58.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 PAB 1.85

$1.16 $1.16

59.48%

White Bread (500g)

$2.56 PAB 2.56

$5.30 $5.30

-51.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.48 PAB 3.48

$4.37 $4.37

-20.37%

Eggs

$2.69 PAB 2.69

$5.03 $5.03

-46.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.57 PAB 12.57

$12.53 $12.53

0.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.83 PAB 6.83

$8.63 $8.63

-20.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.58 PAB 10.58

$14.19 $14.19

-25.44%

Apples (1kg)

$4.18 PAB 4.18

$4.70 $4.70

-11.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 PAB 1.83

$1.71 $1.71

7.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.20 PAB 4.20

$4.00 $4.00

5.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.03 PAB 4.03

$5.77 $5.77

-30.16%

Potato (1kg)

$3.48 PAB 3.48

$3.65 $3.65

-4.66%

Onion (1kg)

$4.22 PAB 4.22

$3.02 $3.02

39.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 PAB 2.41

$2.15 $2.15

12.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 PAB 1.69

$2.23 $2.23

-24.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.14 PAB 6.14

$11.48 $11.48

-46.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.30 PAB 11.30

$14.94 $14.94

-24.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 PAB 1.42

$1.71 $1.71

-16.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 PAB 2.73

$3.08 $3.08

-11.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 PAB 0.33

$5.02 $5.02

-93.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.23 PAB 21.23

$68.6 $68.6

-69.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.52 PAB 2.52

$4.47 $4.47

-43.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.86 PAB 1.86

$1.89 $1.89

-1.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.78 PAB 21.78

$36.49 $36.49

-40.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 PAB 1.25

$1.53 $1.53

-18.30%

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

$21.2K PAB 21.2K

$36.4K $36.4K

-41.72%

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

$21.0K PAB 21.0K

$26.0K $26.0K

-19.15%

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

$130 PAB 130

$216 $216

-39.80%

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

$28.13 PAB 28.13

$70.3 $70.3

-59.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.21 PAB 48.21

$68.8 $68.8

-29.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.78 PAB 45.78

$14.85 $14.85

208.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.92 PAB 34.92

$20.03 $20.03

74.34%

Cinema Ticket

$8.67 PAB 8.67

$15.09 $15.09

-42.54%

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

$544 PAB 544

$1,189 $1,189

-54.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,697 PAB 9,697

$42.3K $42.3K

-77.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.8 PAB 66.8

$61.7 $61.7

8.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.14 PAB 49.14

$40.80 $40.80

20.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.9 PAB 93.9

$81.5 $81.5

15.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 PAB 112

$102 $102

9.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,257 PAB 1,257

$2,206 $2,206

-43.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$875 PAB 875

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,155 PAB 2,155

$3,518 $3,518

-38.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,564 PAB 1,564

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,122 PAB 3,122

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,709 PAB 1,709

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$916 PAB 916

$4,702 $4,702

-80.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.39

6.31

1.27%

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

Last update for Panama City: October 10, 2026

Last update for Garden Grove, CA: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Panama City

$875 47.2%

Garden Grove, CA

- * 0% 100%

Groceries & Markets

Panama City

$325 17.5%

Garden Grove, CA

$401 28.4% 23.3% $76

Eating Out

Panama City

$207 11.1%

Garden Grove, CA

$380 26.9% 83.8% $173

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Panama City

$206 11.1%

Garden Grove, CA

$355 25.1% 72.1% $149

Clothing & Footwear

Panama City

$145 7.8%

Garden Grove, CA

$129 9.1% 11% $16

Sport & Entertainment

Panama City

$63 3.4%

Garden Grove, CA

$45 3.2% 28.6% $18

Getting Around

Panama City

$34 1.9%

Garden Grove, CA

$103 7.3% 198% $68

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,257 in Panama City versus $2,206 in Garden Grove, CA. 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 413% higher in Garden Grove, CA, 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 $48.00 in Panama City versus $77.0 in Garden Grove, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $325 vs $401 – making Panama City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇵🇦 Panama City

🇺🇸 Garden Grove, CA

🕒 Local time

14:18 2:18 PM

12:18 12:18 PM

2 h behind Panama City

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,086,990 Capital

170,883

💱 Currency

Panamanian Balboa PAB B/.

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 PAB = 1 USD

1 PAB = 0.889 EUR

1 USD = 0.889 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 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1 PAB (1 PAB = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.12 PAB (1 PAB = 0.889 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.889 EUR).

USD to PAB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Panama City Garden Grove, CA 4,790 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight

From you

Panama City
Garden Grove, 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 Garden Grove, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Panama City costs about 31% more than Garden Grove, CA, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,783 per month in Panama City and $2,118 in Garden Grove, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,855 in Panama City and $1,412 in Garden Grove, CA. That's a gap of about 31%.

Public transport costs about 223% less in Garden Grove, CA. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Garden Grove, CA, where all-in costs run around $1,412, than in Panama City at $1,855. In Garden Grove, CA it covers expenses comfortably, while in Panama City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Garden Grove, CA costs $1,412 versus $1,855 in Panama City. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Garden Grove, CA. 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.