Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and Long Beach, CA

For one person, living is cheaper in Panama City: $1,857 a month against $3,185 in Long Beach, CA, rent and utilities included – about $15,900 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
155

Cost of Living Index in Long Beach, CA
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Long Beach, CA Living Index

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Panama City

🇵🇦 Panama

$1,857

/mo nomad

Long Beach, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,185

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Panama City and in Long Beach, CA

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 Long Beach, CA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,857 in Panama City versus $3,185 in Long Beach, CA.

Panama City $1,857
Long Beach, CA $3,185

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,815 in Panama City versus $4,857 in Long Beach, CA.

Panama City $2,815
Long Beach, CA $4,857

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,773 in Panama City versus $6,529 in Long Beach, CA.

Panama City $3,773
Long Beach, CA $6,529

Living in Panama City costs roughly 42% less than in Long Beach, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Panama City 37% above, Long Beach, CA 135% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.68 PAB 11.68

$19.67 $19.67

-40.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.76 PAB 47.76

$78.7 $78.7

-39.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.12 PAB 8.12

$14.48 $14.48

-43.92%

Cappuccino

$4.23 PAB 4.23

$6.17 $6.17

-31.44%

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

$1.92 PAB 1.92

$3.27 $3.27

-41.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 PAB 1.58

$2.48 $2.48

-36.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.31 PAB 3.31

$7.46 $7.46

-55.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 PAB 3.98

$9.70 $9.70

-58.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.92 PAB 1.92

$1.05 $1.05

82.86%

White Bread (500g)

$2.63 PAB 2.63

$4.13 $4.13

-36.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.39 PAB 3.39

$4.65 $4.65

-27.10%

Eggs

$2.67 PAB 2.67

$4.63 $4.63

-42.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.21 PAB 12.21

$13.11 $13.11

-6.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.91 PAB 6.91

$14.28 $14.28

-51.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.58 PAB 10.58

$15.21 $15.21

-30.44%

Apples (1kg)

$4.16 PAB 4.16

$4.74 $4.74

-12.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 PAB 1.97

$1.67 $1.67

17.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 PAB 4.06

$4.80 $4.80

-15.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.18 PAB 4.18

$4.84 $4.84

-13.64%

Potato (1kg)

$3.47 PAB 3.47

$3.46 $3.46

0.29%

Onion (1kg)

$4.26 PAB 4.26

$2.24 $2.24

90.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.44 PAB 2.44

$2.04 $2.04

19.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 PAB 1.69

$1.83 $1.83

-7.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.83 PAB 5.83

$11.56 $11.56

-49.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.43 PAB 11.43

$15.06 $15.06

-24.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 PAB 1.38

$1.93 $1.93

-28.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 PAB 2.76

$3.29 $3.29

-16.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 PAB 0.33

$1.76 $1.76

-81.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.63 PAB 20.63

$68.9 $68.9

-70.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.55 PAB 2.55

$2.92 $2.92

-12.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 PAB 1.78

$2.08 $2.08

-14.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.17 PAB 22.17

$28.25 $28.25

-21.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 PAB 1.24

$1.54 $1.54

-19.48%

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

$24.4K PAB 24.4K

$28.5K $28.5K

-14.41%

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

$21.3K PAB 21.3K

$26.0K $26.0K

-18.00%

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

$131 PAB 131

$169 $169

-22.17%

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

$27.83 PAB 27.83

$66.3 $66.3

-58.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.32 PAB 49.32

$60.3 $60.3

-18.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.69 PAB 45.69

$39.49 $39.49

15.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.10 PAB 34.10

Cinema Ticket

$8.47 PAB 8.47

$14.84 $14.84

-42.92%

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

$553 PAB 553

$1,912 $1,912

-71.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,719 PAB 9,719

$36.2K $36.2K

-73.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.4 PAB 66.4

$58.5 $58.5

13.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.39 PAB 47.39

$40.11 $40.11

18.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.7 PAB 95.7

$93.9 $93.9

1.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 PAB 113

$142 $142

-20.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,322 PAB 1,322

$2,057 $2,057

-35.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$874 PAB 874

$1,813 $1,813

-51.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,153 PAB 2,153

$3,672 $3,672

-41.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,580 PAB 1,580

$3,462 $3,462

-54.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,097 PAB 3,097

$7,440 $7,440

-58.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,698 PAB 1,698

$6,677 $6,677

-74.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$914 PAB 914

$4,419 $4,419

-79.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.39

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

Last update for Panama City: October 20, 2026

Last update for Long Beach, CA: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Panama City

$874 47.1%

Long Beach, CA

$1.8K 56.9% 107% $938

Groceries & Markets

Panama City

$327 17.6%

Long Beach, CA

$414 13% 26.7% $87

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Panama City

$208 11.2%

Long Beach, CA

$295 9.3% 41.7% $87

Eating Out

Panama City

$207 11.2%

Long Beach, CA

$355 11.1% 71.2% $148

Clothing & Footwear

Panama City

$145 7.8%

Long Beach, CA

$151 4.7% 3.9% $5.7

Sport & Entertainment

Panama City

$63 3.4%

Long Beach, CA

$69 2.2% 10.4% $6.5

Getting Around

Panama City

$33 1.8%

Long Beach, CA

$89 2.8% 167% $56

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,322 in Panama City and $2,057 in Long Beach, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Long Beach, CA pays 384% 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 $79.0 in Long Beach, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $327 vs $414 per month, with Panama City cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇵🇦 Panama City

🇺🇸 Long Beach, CA

🕒 Local time

18:44 6:44 PM

16:44 4:44 PM

2 h behind Panama City

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,086,990 Capital

469,450

💱 Currency

Panamanian Balboa PAB B/.

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 PAB = 1 USD

1 PAB = 0.89 EUR

1 USD = 0.89 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 21, 2026: 1 USD = 1 PAB (1 PAB = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.12 PAB (1 PAB = 0.89 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

USD to PAB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Panama City Long Beach, CA 4,810 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight

From you

Panama City
Long Beach, CA

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 Long Beach, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Panama City and Long Beach, CA differ by about 71% in total monthly costs ($1,857 vs $3,185 including rent). Panama City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 384% lower in Long Beach, CA. 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: $1,322 in Panama City versus $2,057 in Long Beach, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Panama City – a meal for two runs $48.00 versus $79.0 in Long Beach, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,857 per month in Panama City versus $3,185 in Long Beach, CA – a 71% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,857 in Panama City versus $3,185 in Long Beach, CA, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Panama City but tight or insufficient in Long Beach, CA. 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.

Expats usually find Panama City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 71% less than in Long Beach, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.