Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and Las Vegas, NV

For one person, living is cheaper in Panama City: $1,837 a month against $2,926 in Las Vegas, NV, rent and utilities included – about $13,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Panama City
🇵🇦 Panama
$1,837
/mo nomad
Las Vegas, NV
🇺🇸 United States
$2,926
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Panama City and in Las Vegas, NV

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 Las Vegas, NV actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,837 per month in Panama City vs $2,926 in Las Vegas, NV, rent included.

  • Panama City $1,837
  • Las Vegas, NV $2,926

A couple spends around $2,825 per month in Panama City vs $4,272 in Las Vegas, NV, rent included.

  • Panama City $2,825
  • Las Vegas, NV $4,272

A family of three spends $3,812 per month in Panama City vs $5,618 in Las Vegas, NV, rent included.

  • Panama City $3,812
  • Las Vegas, NV $5,618

Panama City is about 37% cheaper than Las Vegas, NV, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Panama City and Las Vegas, NV sit above the global median – Panama City by 37%, Las Vegas, NV by 118%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Panama City
Las Vegas, NV
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.34 PAB 11.34
$25.16 $25.16
-54.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.85 PAB 47.85
$99.7 $99.7
-52.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.07 PAB 8.07
$13.40 $13.40
-39.78%
Cappuccino
$4.02 PAB 4.02
$6.22 $6.22
-35.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 PAB 1.94
$4.44 $4.44
-56.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 PAB 1.62
$3.10 $3.10
-47.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.26 PAB 3.26
$7.48 $7.48
-56.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.99 PAB 3.99
$9.39 $9.39
-57.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Panama City
Las Vegas, NV
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.83 PAB 1.83
$0.93 $0.93
96.77%
White Bread (500g)
$2.57 PAB 2.57
$3.45 $3.45
-25.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.33 PAB 3.33
$4.62 $4.62
-27.92%
Eggs
$2.69 PAB 2.69
$4.53 $4.53
-40.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.33 PAB 12.33
$13.05 $13.05
-5.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.69 PAB 6.69
$11.60 $11.60
-42.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.40 PAB 10.40
$18.24 $18.24
-42.98%
Apples (1kg)
$4.16 PAB 4.16
$4.25 $4.25
-2.12%
Banana (1kg)
$1.84 PAB 1.84
$1.67 $1.67
10.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.18 PAB 4.18
$3.61 $3.61
15.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.08 PAB 4.08
$3.74 $3.74
9.09%
Potato (1kg)
$3.50 PAB 3.50
$2.25 $2.25
55.56%
Onion (1kg)
$4.37 PAB 4.37
$2.23 $2.23
95.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.34 PAB 2.34
$1.86 $1.86
25.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 PAB 1.75
$2.45 $2.45
-28.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.06 PAB 6.06
$9.95 $9.95
-39.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.72 PAB 11.72
$10.94 $10.94
7.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 PAB 1.37
$2.61 $2.61
-47.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 PAB 2.84
$2.91 $2.91
-2.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Panama City
Las Vegas, NV
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 PAB 0.36
$2.49 $2.49
-85.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.96 PAB 20.96
$64.6 $64.6
-67.53%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.52 PAB 2.52
$3.72 $3.72
-32.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.79 PAB 1.79
$2.63 $2.63
-31.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.01 PAB 22.01
$35.29 $35.29
-37.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 PAB 1.25
$1.22 $1.22
2.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5K PAB 21.5K
$36.8K $36.8K
-41.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.2K PAB 21.2K
$26.9K $26.9K
-21.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Panama City
Las Vegas, NV
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$131 PAB 131
$206 $206
-36.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.68 PAB 27.68
$76.1 $76.1
-63.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.59 PAB 48.59
$80.3 $80.3
-39.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Panama City
Las Vegas, NV
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.11 PAB 46.11
$29.82 $29.82
54.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.01 PAB 35.01
$13.86 $13.86
152.60%
Cinema Ticket
$8.73 PAB 8.73
$14.80 $14.80
-41.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Panama City
Las Vegas, NV
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$551 PAB 551
$1,205 $1,205
-54.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,560 PAB 9,560
$25.4K $25.4K
-62.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Panama City
Las Vegas, NV
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.6 PAB 67.6
$46.86 $46.86
44.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.03 PAB 48.03
$36.79 $36.79
30.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.9 PAB 94.9
$82.4 $82.4
15.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 PAB 113
$92.4 $92.4
22.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Panama City
Las Vegas, NV
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,238 PAB 1,238
$1,605 $1,605
-22.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$873 PAB 873
$1,464 $1,464
-40.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,197 PAB 2,197
$2,429 $2,429
-9.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,538 PAB 1,538
$2,311 $2,311
-33.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,116 PAB 3,116
$5,280 $5,280
-41.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,725 PAB 1,725
$2,743 $2,743
-37.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Panama City
Las Vegas, NV
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$934 PAB 934
$3,655 $3,655
-74.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.39
6.6
-3.18%

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

Last update for Panama City: October 3, 2026

Last update for Las Vegas, NV: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Panama City
$873
Las Vegas, NV
$1.5K 67.7% $591
Groceries & Markets
Panama City
$324
Las Vegas, NV
$385 18.9% $61
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Panama City
$207
Las Vegas, NV
$362 74.7% $155
Eating Out
Panama City
$202
Las Vegas, NV
$402 99.6% $201
Clothing & Footwear
Panama City
$146
Las Vegas, NV
$116 20.1% $29
Sport & Entertainment
Panama City
$64
Las Vegas, NV
$59 6.5% $4.1
Getting Around
Panama City
$34
Las Vegas, NV
$91 170% $57

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,238 in Panama City versus $1,605 in Las Vegas, NV. 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 291% higher in Las Vegas, NV, 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 $100 in Las Vegas, NV. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $324 vs $385 – making Panama City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇦 Panama City
🇺🇸 Las Vegas, NV
🕒 Local time
08:52 8:52 AM
06:52 6:52 AM
2 h behind Panama City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,086,990 Capital
641,903
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to PAB – Panamanian Balboa Converter

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).

On the map
Between locations
  • Panama City Las Vegas, NV 4,710 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Panama City
  • Las Vegas, NV

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 Las Vegas, NV: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Panama City and in Las Vegas, NV compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,837 in Panama City, $2,926 in Las Vegas, NV – roughly 59% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Panama City compared to Las Vegas, NV?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,756 per month in Panama City and $4,388 in Las Vegas, NV. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Panama City and Las Vegas, NV?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Panama City, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Panama City or Las Vegas, NV?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,837 in Panama City and $2,926 in Las Vegas, NV. That's a gap of about 59%.
How do commuting costs compare in Panama City and in Las Vegas, NV?
Public transport costs about 208% less in Panama City. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Panama City, where all-in costs run around $1,837, than in Las Vegas, NV at $2,926. In Panama City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Las Vegas, NV it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Panama City and Las Vegas, NV?
It depends on your priorities. Panama City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,837 in Panama City to $2,926 in Las Vegas, NV. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Panama City and Las Vegas, NV?
If budget matters most, go with Panama City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Las Vegas, NV makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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