Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and Ketchikan, AK

For one person, living is cheaper in Panama City: $1,837 a month against $2,868 in Ketchikan, AK, rent and utilities included – about $12,400 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
142

Cost of Living Index in Ketchikan, AK
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Ketchikan, AK Living Index

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Panama City

🇵🇦 Panama

$1,837

/mo nomad

Ketchikan, AK

🇺🇸 United States

$2,868

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Panama City and in Ketchikan, AK

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,837 in Panama City versus $2,868 in Ketchikan, AK.

Panama City $1,837
Ketchikan, AK $2,868

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,825 in Panama City versus $3,913 in Ketchikan, AK.

Panama City $2,825
Ketchikan, AK $3,913

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,812 in Panama City versus $4,957 in Ketchikan, AK.

Panama City $3,812
Ketchikan, AK $4,957

Living in Panama City costs roughly 36% less than in Ketchikan, AK, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Panama City 37% above, Ketchikan, AK 114% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.34 PAB 11.34

$19.96 $19.96

-43.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.85 PAB 47.85

$74.6 $74.6

-35.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.07 PAB 8.07

$11.33 $11.33

-28.77%

Cappuccino

$4.02 PAB 4.02

$5.39 $5.39

-25.42%

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

$1.94 PAB 1.94

$2.61 $2.61

-25.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 PAB 1.62

$1.96 $1.96

-17.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.26 PAB 3.26

$5.89 $5.89

-44.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.99 PAB 3.99

$7.44 $7.44

-46.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 PAB 1.83

$1.01 $1.01

81.19%

White Bread (500g)

$2.57 PAB 2.57

$3.53 $3.53

-27.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.33 PAB 3.33

$4.43 $4.43

-24.83%

Eggs

$2.69 PAB 2.69

$3.46 $3.46

-22.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.33 PAB 12.33

$12.39 $12.39

-0.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.69 PAB 6.69

$11.51 $11.51

-41.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.40 PAB 10.40

$16.90 $16.90

-38.46%

Apples (1kg)

$4.16 PAB 4.16

$4.95 $4.95

-15.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 PAB 1.84

$1.38 $1.38

33.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.18 PAB 4.18

$4.32 $4.32

-3.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.08 PAB 4.08

$4.72 $4.72

-13.56%

Potato (1kg)

$3.50 PAB 3.50

$2.71 $2.71

29.15%

Onion (1kg)

$4.37 PAB 4.37

$3.11 $3.11

40.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.34 PAB 2.34

$2.20 $2.20

6.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 PAB 1.75

$1.92 $1.92

-8.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.06 PAB 6.06

$9.95 $9.95

-39.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.72 PAB 11.72

$14.33 $14.33

-18.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 PAB 1.37

$2.17 $2.17

-36.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 PAB 2.84

$3.17 $3.17

-10.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 PAB 0.36

$2.06 $2.06

-82.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.96 PAB 20.96

$25.15 $25.15

-16.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.52 PAB 2.52

$3.10 $3.10

-18.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.79 PAB 1.79

$1.79 $1.79

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.01 PAB 22.01

$28.64 $28.64

-23.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 PAB 1.25

$1.26 $1.26

-0.79%

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

$21.5K PAB 21.5K

$36.2K $36.2K

-40.43%

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

$21.2K PAB 21.2K

$26.3K $26.3K

-19.41%

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

$131 PAB 131

$198 $198

-33.61%

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

$27.68 PAB 27.68

$59.0 $59.0

-53.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.59 PAB 48.59

$69.6 $69.6

-30.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.11 PAB 46.11

$41.86 $41.86

10.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.01 PAB 35.01

Cinema Ticket

$8.73 PAB 8.73

$14.21 $14.21

-38.56%

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

$551 PAB 551

$1,374 $1,374

-59.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,560 PAB 9,560

$22.8K $22.8K

-58.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.6 PAB 67.6

$47.69 $47.69

41.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.03 PAB 48.03

$37.74 $37.74

27.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.9 PAB 94.9

$76.8 $76.8

23.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 PAB 113

$126 $126

-10.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,238 PAB 1,238

$1,788 $1,788

-30.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$873 PAB 873

$1,633 $1,633

-46.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,197 PAB 2,197

$2,367 $2,367

-7.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,538 PAB 1,538

$2,141 $2,141

-28.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,116 PAB 3,116

$2,751 $2,751

13.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,725 PAB 1,725

$2,803 $2,803

-38.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$934 PAB 934

$4,455 $4,455

-79.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.39

6.57

-2.74%

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

Last update for Panama City: October 3, 2026

Last update for Ketchikan, AK: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Panama City

$873 47.2%

Ketchikan, AK

$1.6K 56.1% 87.1% $760

Groceries & Markets

Panama City

$324 17.5%

Ketchikan, AK

$388 13.3% 19.8% $64

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Panama City

$207 11.2%

Ketchikan, AK

$326 11.2% 57.3% $119

Eating Out

Panama City

$202 10.9%

Ketchikan, AK

$321 11% 59.2% $119

Clothing & Footwear

Panama City

$146 7.9%

Ketchikan, AK

$130 4.5% 10.8% $16

Sport & Entertainment

Panama City

$64 3.4%

Ketchikan, AK

$70 2.4% 10.6% $6.7

Getting Around

Panama City

$34 1.8%

Ketchikan, AK

$45 1.6% 34.1% $12

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,238 in Panama City and $1,788 in Ketchikan, AK. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ketchikan, AK pays 377% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $48.00 in Panama City vs $75.0 in Ketchikan, AK for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $324 vs $388 per month, with Panama City cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇵🇦 Panama City

🇺🇸 Ketchikan, AK

🕒 Local time

01:50 1:50 AM

22:50 10:50 PM

3 h behind Panama City

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,086,990 Capital

8,200

💱 Currency

Panamanian Balboa PAB B/.

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 PAB = 1 USD

1 PAB = 0.892 EUR

1 USD = 0.892 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 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1 PAB (1 PAB = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.12 PAB (1 PAB = 0.892 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

USD to PAB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Panama City Ketchikan, AK 6,870 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight

From you

Panama City
Ketchikan, AK

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 Ketchikan, AK: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Panama City and Ketchikan, AK differ by about 56% in total monthly costs ($1,837 vs $2,868 including rent). Panama City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 377% lower in Ketchikan, AK. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,238 in Panama City versus $1,788 in Ketchikan, AK. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $551 in Panama City versus $1,374 in Ketchikan, AK. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 20% higher in Ketchikan, AK. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $1,837 in Panama City versus $2,868 in Ketchikan, AK, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Panama City but tight or insufficient in Ketchikan, AK. The gap between the two cities makes Panama City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Panama City and Ketchikan, AK are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Panama City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 56% less than in Ketchikan, AK. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.