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 $1,821 per month in Panama City vs $852 in Las Tablas, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,744 per month in Panama City vs $750 in Las Tablas, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,667 per month in Panama City vs $647 in Las Tablas, rent included.

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

Panama City sits 37% above the global median, while Las Tablas is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.16 PAB 10.16

$9.84 PAB 9.84

3.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.35 PAB 49.35

$29.85 PAB 29.85

65.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.17 PAB 8.17

Cappuccino

$3.57 PAB 3.57

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

$1.71 PAB 1.71

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 PAB 1.35

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.07 PAB 3.07

$1.53 PAB 1.53

100.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.06 PAB 4.06

$3.04 PAB 3.04

33.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 PAB 1.81

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 PAB 2.45

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.50 PAB 2.50

Eggs

$2.96 PAB 2.96

$1.97 PAB 1.97

50.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.57 PAB 11.57

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.35 PAB 7.35

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.10 PAB 10.10

Apples (1kg)

$3.27 PAB 3.27

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 PAB 1.55

Oranges (1kg)

$2.73 PAB 2.73

Tomato (1kg)

$3.07 PAB 3.07

Potato (1kg)

$2.21 PAB 2.21

Onion (1kg)

$2.92 PAB 2.92

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.23 PAB 2.23

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.57 PAB 1.57

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.94 PAB 5.94

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 PAB 10.64

$5.84 PAB 5.84

82.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.30 PAB 1.30

$1.40 PAB 1.40

-7.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 PAB 2.40

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 PAB 0.40

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.52 PAB 22.52

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.53 PAB 2.53

$0.98 PAB 0.98

158.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.79 PAB 1.79

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.26 PAB 22.26

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 PAB 0.88

$0.87 PAB 0.87

1.15%

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

$19.5K PAB 19.5K

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

$20.3K PAB 20.3K

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

$122 PAB 122

$148 PAB 148

-17.39%

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

$30.02 PAB 30.02

$15.05 PAB 15.05

99.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.29 PAB 49.29

$29.90 PAB 29.90

64.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.68 PAB 45.68

$20.21 PAB 20.21

126.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$32.85 PAB 32.85

Cinema Ticket

$7.88 PAB 7.88

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

$484 PAB 484

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K PAB 15.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.9 PAB 50.9

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.70 PAB 45.70

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 PAB 88.6

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 PAB 120

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,129 PAB 1,129

$696 PAB 696

62.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$881 PAB 881

$500 PAB 500

76.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,031 PAB 2,031

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,564 PAB 1,564

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,044 PAB 3,044

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,665 PAB 1,665

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$949 PAB 949

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Las Tablas: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,129 in Panama City versus $696 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 $49.00 in Panama City versus $30.00 in Las Tablas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $291 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 $2,732 per month in Panama City and $1,278 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 $1,821 in Panama City and $852 in Las Tablas. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 996% 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 $852, than in Panama City at $1,821. 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 $852 versus $1,821 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.