Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and Marsascala Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and Marsascala

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,875 per month in Panama City vs $1,792 in Marsascala, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,722 per month in Panama City vs $2,739 in Marsascala, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,569 per month in Panama City vs $3,686 in Marsascala, rent included.

Panama City costs about 5% more than Marsascala, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Panama City and Marsascala sit above the global median – Panama City by 36%, Marsascala by 30%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.05 PAB 10.05

$20.48 €17.61

-50.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.07 PAB 45.07

$90.6 €77.9

-50.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.91 PAB 7.91

$14.02 €12.06

-43.58%

Cappuccino

$4.12 PAB 4.12

$2.35 €2.02

75.32%

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

$1.93 PAB 1.93

$2.58 €2.22

-25.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 PAB 1.56

$1.38 €1.18

13.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 PAB 2.95

$4.06 €3.49

-27.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.07 PAB 4.07

$3.58 €3.08

13.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 PAB 1.91

$1.30 €1.12

46.92%

White Bread (500g)

$2.44 PAB 2.44

$0.91 €0.78

168.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.12 PAB 3.12

$3.43 €2.95

-9.04%

Eggs

$2.81 PAB 2.81

$4.27 €3.67

-34.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.63 PAB 12.63

$5.69 €4.89

121.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.49 PAB 6.49

$6.49 €5.58

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.25 PAB 10.25

$14.50 €12.46

-29.31%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 PAB 4.49

$3.39 €2.91

32.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 PAB 1.69

$2.56 €2.20

-33.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.99 PAB 3.99

$2.30 €1.97

73.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.94 PAB 3.94

$3.09 €2.66

27.51%

Potato (1kg)

$3.24 PAB 3.24

$2.51 €2.16

29.08%

Onion (1kg)

$4.27 PAB 4.27

$2.12 €1.82

101.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.17 PAB 2.17

$2.34 €2.01

-7.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 PAB 1.69

$0.90 €0.77

87.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.98 PAB 5.98

$6.40 €5.50

-6.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.78 PAB 10.78

$6.86 €5.90

57.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 PAB 1.42

$1.70 €1.46

-16.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 PAB 2.71

$2.43 €2.09

11.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 PAB 0.37

$2.36 €2.03

-84.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.77 PAB 20.77

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.53 PAB 2.53

$5.13 €4.41

-50.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.85 PAB 1.85

$2.36 €2.03

-21.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.85 PAB 21.85

$13.86 €11.92

57.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 PAB 1.16

$1.60 €1.37

-27.50%

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

$21.7K PAB 21.7K

$32.4K €27.9K

-33.20%

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

$21.4K PAB 21.4K

$29.8K €25.7K

-28.39%

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

$132 PAB 132

$105 €90.0

26.52%

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

$28.93 PAB 28.93

$21.44 €18.43

34.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.52 PAB 49.52

$28.62 €24.60

73.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.25 PAB 47.25

$57.1 €49.06

-17.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$33.24 PAB 33.24

$23.63 €20.32

40.67%

Cinema Ticket

$7.88 PAB 7.88

$10.44 €8.97

-24.52%

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

$546 PAB 546

$236 €203

131.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,732 PAB 9,732

$4,612 €3,965

111.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 PAB 59.5

$90.7 €78.0

-34.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.26 PAB 46.26

$31.17 €26.80

48.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.3 PAB 92.3

$90.0 €77.4

2.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 PAB 116

$83.8 €72.0

38.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,276 PAB 1,276

$1,050 €903

21.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$904 PAB 904

$860 €739

5.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,126 PAB 2,126

$1,512 €1,300

40.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,469 PAB 1,469

$1,307 €1,123

12.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,086 PAB 3,086

$3,047 €2,619

1.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,697 PAB 1,697

$2,414 €2,076

-29.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$925 PAB 925

$2,239 €1,925

-58.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.39

2.9

120.34%

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

Last update for Panama City: August 31, 2026

Last update for Marsascala: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,276 in Panama City versus $1,050 in Marsascala. 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 142% higher in Marsascala, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Panama City versus $91.0 in Marsascala. Groceries tell a different story – $318 in Panama City vs $262 in Marsascala – so Marsascala wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Marsascala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Panama City is pricier by about 5%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,812 per month in Panama City and $2,688 in Marsascala. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Marsascala, 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 $45.00 in Panama City and $91.0 in Marsascala. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 21% 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 $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Marsascala, where all-in costs run around $1,792, than in Panama City at $1,875. In Marsascala it covers expenses comfortably, while in Panama City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Marsascala – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Marsascala. 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.