Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and Idaho Falls, ID

For one person, living is cheaper in Panama City: $1,972 a month against $2,331 in Idaho Falls, ID, rent and utilities included – about $4,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Panama City, Panama
Idaho Falls, ID, United States
Panama City
🇵🇦 Panama
$1,972
/mo nomad
Idaho Falls, ID
🇺🇸 United States
$2,331
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Panama City and in Idaho Falls, ID

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 Idaho Falls, ID actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,972 per month in Panama City vs $2,331 in Idaho Falls, ID, rent included.

  • Panama City $1,972
  • Idaho Falls, ID $2,331

A couple spends around $2,930 per month in Panama City vs $3,363 in Idaho Falls, ID, rent included.

  • Panama City $2,930
  • Idaho Falls, ID $3,363

A family of three spends $3,888 per month in Panama City vs $4,394 in Idaho Falls, ID, rent included.

  • Panama City $3,888
  • Idaho Falls, ID $4,394

Panama City is about 15% cheaper than Idaho Falls, ID, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Panama City and Idaho Falls, ID sit above the global median – Panama City by 46%, Idaho Falls, ID by 72%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Panama City
Idaho Falls, ID
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.37 PAB 11.37
$18.32 $18.32
-37.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.69 PAB 46.69
$52.6 $52.6
-11.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.98 PAB 7.98
$9.98 $9.98
-20.04%
Cappuccino
$4.12 PAB 4.12
$4.99 $4.99
-17.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 PAB 2.01
$2.27 $2.27
-11.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 PAB 1.57
$1.54 $1.54
1.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.28 PAB 3.28
$3.90 $3.90
-15.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 PAB 3.88
$7.15 $7.15
-45.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Panama City
Idaho Falls, ID
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.82 PAB 1.82
$0.70 $0.70
160.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.61 PAB 2.61
$3.83 $3.83
-31.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.45 PAB 3.45
$2.96 $2.96
16.55%
Eggs
$2.68 PAB 2.68
$4.05 $4.05
-33.83%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.42 PAB 12.42
$11.95 $11.95
3.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.73 PAB 6.73
$6.52 $6.52
3.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.44 PAB 10.44
$9.73 $9.73
7.30%
Apples (1kg)
$4.21 PAB 4.21
$2.10 $2.10
100.48%
Banana (1kg)
$1.95 PAB 1.95
$1.20 $1.20
62.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.07 PAB 4.07
$2.12 $2.12
91.98%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.02 PAB 4.02
$2.08 $2.08
93.27%
Potato (1kg)
$3.46 PAB 3.46
$1.61 $1.61
114.91%
Onion (1kg)
$4.42 PAB 4.42
$2.41 $2.41
83.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 PAB 2.43
$1.90 $1.90
27.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 PAB 1.72
$1.93 $1.93
-10.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.04 PAB 6.04
$10.43 $10.43
-42.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.68 PAB 11.68
$7.40 $7.40
57.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.41 PAB 1.41
$1.78 $1.78
-20.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 PAB 2.74
$1.49 $1.49
83.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Panama City
Idaho Falls, ID
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.33 PAB 0.33
$3.08 $3.08
-89.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.65 PAB 20.65
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.45 PAB 2.45
$2.46 $2.46
-0.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.76 PAB 1.76
$2.35 $2.35
-25.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.86 PAB 21.86
$25.10 $25.10
-12.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.20 PAB 1.20
$1.06 $1.06
13.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K PAB 24.6K
$35.2K $35.2K
-30.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.9K PAB 20.9K
$26.4K $26.4K
-20.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Panama City
Idaho Falls, ID
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$132 PAB 132
$171 $171
-23.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.89 PAB 27.89
$53.2 $53.2
-47.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.10 PAB 49.10
$63.8 $63.8
-22.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Panama City
Idaho Falls, ID
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.53 PAB 44.53
$37.97 $37.97
17.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.01 PAB 34.01
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.70 PAB 8.70
$11.60 $11.60
-25.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Panama City
Idaho Falls, ID
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$537 PAB 537
$932 $932
-42.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.5K PAB 20.5K
$27.1K $27.1K
-24.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Panama City
Idaho Falls, ID
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.8 PAB 65.8
$41.22 $41.22
59.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.45 PAB 48.45
$46.12 $46.12
5.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.4 PAB 95.4
$69.9 $69.9
36.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 PAB 114
$95.7 $95.7
18.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Panama City
Idaho Falls, ID
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,405 PAB 1,405
$1,328 $1,328
5.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$994 PAB 994
$1,282 $1,282
-22.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,221 PAB 2,221
$2,034 $2,034
9.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,714 PAB 1,714
$2,147 $2,147
-20.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,139 PAB 3,139
$1,891 $1,891
65.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,724 PAB 1,724
$1,963 $1,963
-12.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Panama City
Idaho Falls, ID
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$936 PAB 936
$3,550 $3,550
-73.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.39
6.12
4.41%

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

Last update for Panama City: November 3, 2026

Last update for Idaho Falls, ID: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Panama City
$994
Idaho Falls, ID
$1.3K 28.9% $287
Groceries & Markets
Panama City
$326
Idaho Falls, ID
$275 15.7% $51
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Panama City
$209
Idaho Falls, ID
$288 38.1% $80
Eating Out
Panama City
$203
Idaho Falls, ID
$285 40.7% $82
Clothing & Footwear
Panama City
$145
Idaho Falls, ID
$114 21.8% $32
Sport & Entertainment
Panama City
$62
Idaho Falls, ID
$61 1.2% $0.8
Getting Around
Panama City
$33
Idaho Falls, ID
$27 * 20.1% $6.7

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 $1,328 in Idaho Falls, ID. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Idaho Falls, ID 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 $53 in Idaho Falls, ID. Groceries tell a different story – $326 in Panama City vs $275 in Idaho Falls, ID – so Idaho Falls, ID wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇵🇦 Panama City
🇺🇸 Idaho Falls, ID
🕒 Local time
03:09 3:09 AM
01:09 1:09 AM
2 h behind Panama City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,086,990 Capital
61,459
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to PAB – Panamanian Balboa Converter

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).

On the map
Between locations
  • Panama City Idaho Falls, ID 4,960 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Panama City
  • Idaho Falls, ID

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 Idaho Falls, ID: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Panama City cheaper than Idaho Falls, ID?
Yes – Idaho Falls, ID is pricier by about 18%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,958 per month in Panama City and $3,497 in Idaho Falls, ID. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What is the rent difference between Panama City and Idaho Falls, ID?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $1,405 in Panama City and $1,328 in Idaho Falls, ID. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
What are total monthly expenses in Panama City and in Idaho Falls, ID?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,972 in Panama City and $2,331 in Idaho Falls, ID. That makes Panama City about 15% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $537 per month in Panama City and $932 in Idaho Falls, ID. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is it better to live in Panama City or in Idaho Falls, ID?
It depends on your priorities. Panama City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,972 in Panama City to $2,331 in Idaho Falls, ID. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Panama City. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Idaho Falls, ID makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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