Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and Ilheus

For one person, living is cheaper in Ilheus: $839 a month against $1,837 in Panama City, rent and utilities included – about $12,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

90

Cost of Living Index in Panama City
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Panama City Living Index
41

Cost of Living Index in Ilheus
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Ilheus Living Index

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Panama City

🇵🇦 Panama

$1,837

/mo nomad

Ilheus

🇧🇷 Brazil

$839

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Panama City and in Ilheus

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 Ilheus actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,837 per month in Panama City vs $839 in Ilheus, rent included.

Panama City $1,837
Ilheus $839

A couple spends around $2,825 per month in Panama City vs $1,360 in Ilheus, rent included.

Panama City $2,825
Ilheus $1,360

A family of three spends $3,812 per month in Panama City vs $1,882 in Ilheus, rent included.

Panama City $3,812
Ilheus $1,882

Panama City costs about 119% more than Ilheus, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.34 PAB 11.34

$4.39 R$21.94

158.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.85 PAB 47.85

$31.59 R$158

51.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.07 PAB 8.07

$7.73 R$38.60

4.40%

Cappuccino

$4.02 PAB 4.02

$2.06 R$10.30

95.15%

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

$1.94 PAB 1.94

$1.16 R$5.79

67.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 PAB 1.62

$0.85 R$4.23

90.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.26 PAB 3.26

$1.99 R$9.91

63.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.99 PAB 3.99

$2.61 R$13.02

52.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 PAB 1.83

$1.07 R$5.33

71.03%

White Bread (500g)

$2.57 PAB 2.57

$1.68 R$8.37

52.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.33 PAB 3.33

$1.23 R$6.15

170.73%

Eggs

$2.69 PAB 2.69

$2.25 R$11.22

19.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.33 PAB 12.33

$18.89 R$94.3

-34.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.69 PAB 6.69

$4.30 R$21.46

55.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.40 PAB 10.40

$7.78 R$38.86

33.68%

Apples (1kg)

$4.16 PAB 4.16

$2.13 R$10.66

95.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 PAB 1.84

$1.33 R$6.62

38.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.18 PAB 4.18

$1.23 R$6.16

239.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.08 PAB 4.08

$1.61 R$8.04

153.42%

Potato (1kg)

$3.50 PAB 3.50

$1.26 R$6.30

177.78%

Onion (1kg)

$4.37 PAB 4.37

$1.07 R$5.36

308.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.34 PAB 2.34

$0.83 R$4.12

181.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 PAB 1.75

$0.81 R$4.03

116.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.06 PAB 6.06

$2.48 R$12.39

144.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.72 PAB 11.72

$7.30 R$36.43

60.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 PAB 1.37

$1.43 R$7.15

-4.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 PAB 2.84

$1.84 R$9.17

54.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 PAB 0.36

$1.04 R$5.17

-65.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.96 PAB 20.96

$45.84 R$229

-54.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.52 PAB 2.52

$1.39 R$6.95

81.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.79 PAB 1.79

$0.82 R$4.12

118.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.01 PAB 22.01

$7.87 R$39.30

179.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 PAB 1.25

$1.16 R$5.77

7.76%

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

$21.5K PAB 21.5K

$20.4K R$101.8K

5.61%

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

$21.2K PAB 21.2K

$29.3K R$146.3K

-27.69%

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

$131 PAB 131

$76.1 R$380

72.29%

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

$27.68 PAB 27.68

$12.11 R$60.5

128.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.59 PAB 48.59

$20.73 R$104

134.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.11 PAB 46.11

$25.85 R$129

78.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.01 PAB 35.01

$30.48 R$152

14.86%

Cinema Ticket

$8.73 PAB 8.73

$6.78 R$33.85

28.76%

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

$551 PAB 551

$279 R$1,392

97.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,560 PAB 9,560

$7,084 R$35.4K

34.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.6 PAB 67.6

$47.84 R$239

41.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.03 PAB 48.03

$44.99 R$225

6.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.9 PAB 94.9

$86.8 R$433

9.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 PAB 113

$64.1 R$320

76.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,238 PAB 1,238

$220 R$1,098

462.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$873 PAB 873

$200 R$997

337.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,197 PAB 2,197

$571 R$2,850

284.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,538 PAB 1,538

$442 R$2,207

247.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,116 PAB 3,116

$1,455 R$7,264

114.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,725 PAB 1,725

$1,036 R$5,173

66.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$934 PAB 934

$601 R$3,000

55.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.39

-41.91%

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

Last update for Panama City: October 3, 2026

Last update for Ilheus: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Panama City

$873 47.2%

Ilheus

$200 23.8% 77.1% $673

Groceries & Markets

Panama City

$324 17.5%

Ilheus

$219 26.1% 32.5% $105

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Panama City

$207 11.2%

Ilheus

$109 13% 47.5% $98

Eating Out

Panama City

$202 10.9%

Ilheus

$106 12.7% 47.3% $95

Clothing & Footwear

Panama City

$146 7.9%

Ilheus

$110 13.1% 24.6% $36

Sport & Entertainment

Panama City

$64 3.4%

Ilheus

$39 4.7% 38% $24

Getting Around

Panama City

$34 1.8%

Ilheus

$56 6.6% 63.8% $22

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,238 in Panama City versus $220 in Ilheus. 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 55% 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 $32.00 in Ilheus. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $324 vs $219 – making Ilheus the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇵🇦 Panama City

🇧🇷 Ilheus

🕒 Local time

03:34 3:34 AM

05:34 5:34 AM

2 h ahead of Panama City

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,086,990 Capital

178,649

💱 Currency

Panamanian Balboa PAB B/.

Brazilian Real BRL R$

📈 Exchange rate

1 PAB = 1 USD

1 PAB = 0.892 EUR

1 BRL = 0.2 USD

1 BRL = 0.179 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, USD, EUR to PAB – Panamanian Balboa Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇵🇦 Panamanian Balboa (B/.)

Panamanian Balboa exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1 PAB (1 PAB = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.12 PAB (1 PAB = 0.892 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 4.99 BRL (1 BRL = 0.2 USD). 1 EUR = 5.6 BRL (1 BRL = 0.179 EUR).

USD to PAB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Panama City Ilheus 5,190 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight

From you

Panama City
Ilheus

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 Ilheus: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,837 in Panama City, $839 in Ilheus – roughly 119% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,756 per month in Panama City and $1,258 in Ilheus. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 48% 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Panama City and $32.00 in Ilheus. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Ilheus, where all-in costs run around $839, than in Panama City at $1,837. In Ilheus 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 $839 in Ilheus to $1,837 in Panama City. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Ilheus. 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.