Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and La Plata

For one person, living is cheaper in La Plata: $959 a month against $1,855 in Panama City, rent and utilities included – about $10,800 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
47

Cost of Living Index in La Plata
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La Plata Living Index

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Panama City

🇵🇦 Panama

$1,855

/mo nomad

La Plata

🇦🇷 Argentina

$959

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Panama City and in La Plata

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

A single person spends $1,855 per month in Panama City vs $959 in La Plata, rent included.

Panama City $1,855
La Plata $959

A couple spends around $2,804 per month in Panama City vs $1,711 in La Plata, rent included.

Panama City $2,804
La Plata $1,711

A family of three spends $3,753 per month in Panama City vs $2,464 in La Plata, rent included.

Panama City $3,753
La Plata $2,464

Panama City costs about 93% more than La Plata, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Panama City sits 37% above the global median, while La Plata is 29% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.63 PAB 11.63

$15.43 ARS 23.4K

-24.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.92 PAB 47.92

$49.89 ARS 75.7K

-3.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.96 PAB 7.96

$9.82 ARS 14.9K

-18.94%

Cappuccino

$4.22 PAB 4.22

$3.84 ARS 5,826

9.90%

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

$2.01 PAB 2.01

$1.54 ARS 2,342

30.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 PAB 1.56

$0.91 ARS 1,385

71.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.39 PAB 3.39

$4.04 ARS 6,121

-16.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 PAB 3.94

$3.60 ARS 5,455

9.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 PAB 1.85

$1.04 ARS 1,579

77.88%

White Bread (500g)

$2.56 PAB 2.56

$2.18 ARS 3,301

17.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.48 PAB 3.48

$0.88 ARS 1,327

295.45%

Eggs

$2.69 PAB 2.69

$2.23 ARS 3,385

20.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.57 PAB 12.57

$9.00 ARS 13.7K

39.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.83 PAB 6.83

$5.40 ARS 8,182

26.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.58 PAB 10.58

$9.44 ARS 14.3K

12.08%

Apples (1kg)

$4.18 PAB 4.18

$2.08 ARS 3,155

100.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 PAB 1.83

$1.94 ARS 2,941

-5.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.20 PAB 4.20

$0.74 ARS 1,121

467.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.03 PAB 4.03

$1.55 ARS 2,355

160.00%

Potato (1kg)

$3.48 PAB 3.48

$0.52 ARS 789

569.23%

Onion (1kg)

$4.22 PAB 4.22

$0.60 ARS 916

603.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 PAB 2.41

$1.01 ARS 1,534

138.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 PAB 1.69

$1.01 ARS 1,537

67.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.14 PAB 6.14

$3.23 ARS 4,900

90.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.30 PAB 11.30

$4.99 ARS 7,573

126.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 PAB 1.42

$2.09 ARS 3,176

-32.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 PAB 2.73

$2.83 ARS 4,285

-3.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 PAB 0.33

$0.73 ARS 1,107

-54.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.23 PAB 21.23

$4.59 ARS 6,961

362.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.52 PAB 2.52

$1.55 ARS 2,350

62.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.86 PAB 1.86

$0.67 ARS 1,020

177.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.78 PAB 21.78

$7.76 ARS 11.8K

180.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 PAB 1.25

$1.16 ARS 1,755

7.76%

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

$21.2K PAB 21.2K

$22.0K ARS 33.4M

-3.54%

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

$21.0K PAB 21.0K

$34.5K ARS 52.4M

-39.12%

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

$130 PAB 130

$70.9 ARS 107.6K

83.05%

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

$28.13 PAB 28.13

$11.14 ARS 16.9K

152.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.21 PAB 48.21

$24.13 ARS 36.6K

99.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.78 PAB 45.78

$26.16 ARS 39.7K

75.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.92 PAB 34.92

$10.80 ARS 16.4K

223.33%

Cinema Ticket

$8.67 PAB 8.67

$5.36 ARS 8,121

61.75%

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

$544 PAB 544

$138 ARS 209.5K

293.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,697 PAB 9,697

$4,189 ARS 6.4M

131.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.8 PAB 66.8

$108 ARS 163.1K

-37.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.14 PAB 49.14

$20.87 ARS 31.6K

135.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.9 PAB 93.9

$94.5 ARS 143.3K

-0.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 PAB 112

$54.1 ARS 82.0K

106.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,257 PAB 1,257

$346 ARS 524.8K

263.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$875 PAB 875

$238 ARS 361.1K

267.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,155 PAB 2,155

$1,207 ARS 1.8M

78.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,564 PAB 1,564

$758 ARS 1.1M

106.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,122 PAB 3,122

$2,009 ARS 3.0M

55.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,709 PAB 1,709

$1,190 ARS 1.8M

43.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$916 PAB 916

$716 ARS 1.1M

27.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.39

-84.79%

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

Last update for Panama City: October 10, 2026

Last update for La Plata: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Panama City

$875 47.2%

La Plata

$238 24.8% 72.8% $637

Groceries & Markets

Panama City

$325 17.5%

La Plata

$205 21.4% 37% $120

Eating Out

Panama City

$207 11.1%

La Plata

$236 24.6% 14.3% $30

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Panama City

$206 11.1%

La Plata

$106 11.1% 48.5% $100

Clothing & Footwear

Panama City

$145 7.8%

La Plata

$125 13% 13.8% $20

Sport & Entertainment

Panama City

$63 3.4%

La Plata

$37 3.8% 41.6% $26

Getting Around

Panama City

$34 1.9%

La Plata

$12 1.3% 63.9% $22

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,257 in Panama City versus $346 in La Plata. 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 28% 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 $50.0 in La Plata. Groceries tell a different story – $325 in Panama City vs $205 in La Plata – so La Plata wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇵🇦 Panama City

🇦🇷 La Plata

🕒 Local time

12:06 12:06 PM

14:06 2:06 PM

2 h ahead of Panama City

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,086,990 Capital

193,144

💱 Currency

Panamanian Balboa PAB B/.

Argentine Peso ARS $

📈 Exchange rate

1 PAB = 1 USD

1 PAB = 0.896 EUR

10,000 ARS = 6.59 USD

10,000 ARS = 5.91 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

ARS, USD, EUR to PAB – Panamanian Balboa Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇵🇦 Panamanian Balboa (B/.)

Panamanian Balboa exchange rates as of October 13, 2026: 1 USD = 1 PAB (1 PAB = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.12 PAB (1 PAB = 0.896 EUR).

Argentine Peso exchange rates as of October 13, 2026: 1 USD = 1,517 ARS (10,000 ARS = 6.59 USD). 1 EUR = 1,693 ARS (10,000 ARS = 5.91 EUR).

USD to PAB in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Panama City La Plata 5,380 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight

From you

Panama City
La Plata

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 La Plata: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,855 in Panama City, $959 in La Plata – roughly 93% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,783 per month in Panama City and $1,439 in La Plata. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Panama City and $50.0 in La Plata. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,855 in Panama City and $959 in La Plata. That's a gap of about 93%.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in La Plata, where all-in costs run around $959, than in Panama City at $1,855. In La Plata 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 $959 in La Plata to $1,855 in Panama City. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 La Plata. 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.