Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and Las Tablas Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and Las Tablas

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,814 per month in Panama City vs $849 in Las Tablas, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,693 per month in Panama City vs $755 in Las Tablas, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,572 per month in Panama City vs $661 in Las Tablas, rent included.

Panama City costs about 114% more than Las Tablas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Panama City sits 35% above the global median, while Las Tablas is 37% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.20 PAB 10.20

$9.85 PAB 9.85

3.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.54 PAB 49.54

$30.32 PAB 30.32

63.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.80 PAB 7.80

Cappuccino

$3.56 PAB 3.56

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

$1.73 PAB 1.73

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.41 PAB 1.41

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 PAB 2.95

$1.53 PAB 1.53

92.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.99 PAB 3.99

$3.06 PAB 3.06

30.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.84 PAB 1.84

White Bread (500g)

$2.47 PAB 2.47

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.38 PAB 2.38

Eggs

$2.86 PAB 2.86

$2.05 PAB 2.05

39.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.40 PAB 11.40

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.00 PAB 7.00

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.05 PAB 10.05

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 PAB 3.39

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 PAB 1.48

Oranges (1kg)

$2.89 PAB 2.89

Tomato (1kg)

$3.17 PAB 3.17

Potato (1kg)

$2.31 PAB 2.31

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 PAB 2.81

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.17 PAB 2.17

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 PAB 1.54

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.17 PAB 6.17

Wine (Bottle)

$11.14 PAB 11.14

$5.86 PAB 5.86

90.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 PAB 1.23

$1.42 PAB 1.42

-13.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 PAB 2.43

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 PAB 0.40

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.08 PAB 22.08

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.55 PAB 2.55

$0.98 PAB 0.98

160.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 PAB 1.78

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.60 PAB 21.60

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 PAB 0.89

$0.88 PAB 0.88

1.14%

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

$19.8K PAB 19.8K

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

$20.4K PAB 20.4K

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

$121 PAB 121

$152 PAB 152

-20.55%

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

$30.22 PAB 30.22

$15.18 PAB 15.18

99.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.45 PAB 49.45

$29.81 PAB 29.81

65.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.38 PAB 45.38

$20.16 PAB 20.16

125.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$32.57 PAB 32.57

Cinema Ticket

$7.89 PAB 7.89

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

$469 PAB 469

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K PAB 15.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.8 PAB 50.8

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.02 PAB 47.02

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.5 PAB 89.5

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 PAB 122

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,133 PAB 1,133

$713 PAB 713

58.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$874 PAB 874

$510 PAB 510

71.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,002 PAB 2,002

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,558 PAB 1,558

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,087 PAB 3,087

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,710 PAB 1,710

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$964 PAB 964

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.23

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

Last update for Panama City: April 28, 2026

Last update for Las Tablas: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,133 in Panama City versus $713 in Las Tablas. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $50.0 in Panama City versus $30.00 in Las Tablas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $290 vs $27.00 – making Las Tablas the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Las Tablas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Panama City costs about 114% more than Las Tablas, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,721 per month in Panama City and $1,273 in Las Tablas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,814 in Panama City and $849 in Las Tablas. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 972% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Las Tablas, where all-in costs run around $849, than in Panama City at $1,814. In Las Tablas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Panama City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Las Tablas costs $849 versus $1,814 in Panama City. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Las Tablas. 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.