Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and Great Falls, MT

For one person, living is cheaper in Panama City: $1,972 a month against $2,223 in Great Falls, MT, rent and utilities included – about $3,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

95

Cost of Living Index in Panama City
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Panama City Living Index
107

Cost of Living Index in Great Falls, MT
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Great Falls, MT Living Index

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Panama City

🇵🇦 Panama

$1,972

/mo nomad

Great Falls, MT

🇺🇸 United States

$2,223

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Panama City and in Great Falls, MT

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 Great Falls, MT actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,972 per month in Panama City vs $2,223 in Great Falls, MT, rent included.

Panama City $1,972
Great Falls, MT $2,223

A couple spends around $2,930 per month in Panama City vs $3,105 in Great Falls, MT, rent included.

Panama City $2,930
Great Falls, MT $3,105

A family of three spends $3,888 per month in Panama City vs $3,987 in Great Falls, MT, rent included.

Panama City $3,888
Great Falls, MT $3,987

Panama City is about 11% cheaper than Great Falls, MT, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Panama City and Great Falls, MT sit above the global median – Panama City by 46%, Great Falls, MT by 64%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.37 PAB 11.37

$15.08 $15.08

-24.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.69 PAB 46.69

$39.24 $39.24

18.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.98 PAB 7.98

$9.70 $9.70

-17.73%

Cappuccino

$4.12 PAB 4.12

$4.38 $4.38

-5.94%

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

$2.01 PAB 2.01

$2.45 $2.45

-17.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 PAB 1.57

$1.95 $1.95

-19.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.28 PAB 3.28

$5.97 $5.97

-45.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 PAB 3.88

$6.09 $6.09

-36.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 PAB 1.82

$1.11 $1.11

63.96%

White Bread (500g)

$2.61 PAB 2.61

$3.33 $3.33

-21.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.45 PAB 3.45

$5.00 $5.00

-31.00%

Eggs

$2.68 PAB 2.68

$3.27 $3.27

-18.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.42 PAB 12.42

$16.62 $16.62

-25.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.73 PAB 6.73

$10.19 $10.19

-33.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.44 PAB 10.44

$12.15 $12.15

-14.07%

Apples (1kg)

$4.21 PAB 4.21

$4.96 $4.96

-15.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 PAB 1.95

$1.40 $1.40

39.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.07 PAB 4.07

$4.14 $4.14

-1.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.02 PAB 4.02

$2.21 $2.21

81.90%

Potato (1kg)

$3.46 PAB 3.46

$2.39 $2.39

44.77%

Onion (1kg)

$4.42 PAB 4.42

$2.91 $2.91

51.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 PAB 2.43

$2.40 $2.40

1.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 PAB 1.72

$3.27 $3.27

-47.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.04 PAB 6.04

$8.47 $8.47

-28.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.68 PAB 11.68

$17.94 $17.94

-34.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.41 PAB 1.41

$2.01 $2.01

-29.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 PAB 2.74

$4.43 $4.43

-38.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 PAB 0.33

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.65 PAB 20.65

$29.78 $29.78

-30.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.45 PAB 2.45

$6.16 $6.16

-60.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.76 PAB 1.76

$1.35 $1.35

30.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.86 PAB 21.86

$39.70 $39.70

-44.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 PAB 1.20

$0.98 $0.98

22.45%

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

$24.6K PAB 24.6K

$32.7K $32.7K

-24.98%

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

$20.9K PAB 20.9K

$24.1K $24.1K

-13.28%

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

$132 PAB 132

$131 $131

0.69%

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

$27.89 PAB 27.89

$39.45 $39.45

-29.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.10 PAB 49.10

$68.4 $68.4

-28.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.53 PAB 44.53

$63.4 $63.4

-29.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.01 PAB 34.01

Cinema Ticket

$8.70 PAB 8.70

$11.57 $11.57

-24.81%

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

$537 PAB 537

$927 $927

-42.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.5K PAB 20.5K

$17.7K $17.7K

16.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.8 PAB 65.8

$25.14 $25.14

161.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.45 PAB 48.45

$29.60 $29.60

63.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.4 PAB 95.4

$80.7 $80.7

18.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 PAB 114

$64.4 $64.4

76.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,405 PAB 1,405

$1,420 $1,420

-1.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$994 PAB 994

$1,111 $1,111

-10.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,221 PAB 2,221

$2,626 $2,626

-15.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,714 PAB 1,714

$1,655 $1,655

3.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,139 PAB 3,139

$2,207 $2,207

42.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,724 PAB 1,724

$2,205 $2,205

-21.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$936 PAB 936

$3,555 $3,555

-73.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.39

6.2

3.06%

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

Last update for Panama City: November 3, 2026

Last update for Great Falls, MT: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Panama City

$994 50.4%

Great Falls, MT

$1.1K 50% 11.7% $117

Groceries & Markets

Panama City

$326 16.5%

Great Falls, MT

$392 17.7% 20.5% $67

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Panama City

$209 10.6%

Great Falls, MT

$239 10.7% 14.3% $30

Eating Out

Panama City

$203 10.3%

Great Falls, MT

$262 11.8% 29.1% $59

Clothing & Footwear

Panama City

$145 7.4%

Great Falls, MT

$90 4.1% 38.2% $56

Sport & Entertainment

Panama City

$62 3.1%

Great Falls, MT

$87 3.9% 39.8% $25

Getting Around

Panama City

$33 1.7%

Great Falls, MT

$43 * 1.9% 28.5% $9.5

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,405 in Panama City versus $1,420 in Great Falls, MT. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Great Falls, MT are about 3.8 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Panama City versus $39 in Great Falls, MT. Groceries tell a different story – $326 in Panama City vs $392 in Great Falls, MT – so Panama City wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇵🇦 Panama City

🇺🇸 Great Falls, MT

🕒 Local time

10:27 10:27 AM

08:27 8:27 AM

2 h behind Panama City

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,086,990 Capital

60,442

💱 Currency

Panamanian Balboa PAB B/.

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 PAB = 1 USD

1 PAB = 0.89 EUR

1 USD = 0.89 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 November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 1 PAB (1 PAB = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.12 PAB (1 PAB = 0.89 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

USD to PAB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Panama City Great Falls, MT 5,220 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight

From you

Panama City
Great Falls, MT

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 Great Falls, MT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Great Falls, MT costs about 13% more than Panama City, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,958 per month in Panama City and $3,334 in Great Falls, MT. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A central 1-bedroom goes for about $1,405 in Panama City and $1,420 in Great Falls, MT. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.

Groceries cost about 20% more in Great Falls, MT, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Panama City and $39 in Great Falls, MT. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,500 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,972 in Panama City and $2,223 in Great Falls, MT, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Panama City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,972 in Panama City to $2,223 in Great Falls, MT. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Panama City. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Great Falls, MT makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.