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 $1,763 per month in Panama City vs $1,646 in Marsascala, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,717 per month in Panama City vs $2,623 in Marsascala, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,671 per month in Panama City vs $3,600 in Marsascala, rent included.

Panama City costs about 7% more than Marsascala, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Panama City and Marsascala sit above the global median – Panama City by 32%, Marsascala by 23%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.08 PAB 10.08

$20.45 €17.61

-50.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.4 PAB 50.4

$93.0 €80.1

-45.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.80 PAB 7.80

$11.72 €10.09

-33.45%

Cappuccino

$3.69 PAB 3.69

$2.27 €1.95

62.56%

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

$1.70 PAB 1.70

$2.19 €1.89

-22.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 PAB 1.35

$1.47 €1.27

-8.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.06 PAB 3.06

$3.55 €3.06

-13.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 PAB 3.91

$2.90 €2.50

34.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 PAB 1.82

$1.31 €1.13

38.93%

White Bread (500g)

$2.56 PAB 2.56

$0.57 €0.49

349.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.49 PAB 2.49

$4.24 €3.65

-41.27%

Eggs

$2.96 PAB 2.96

$4.45 €3.83

-33.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.25 PAB 11.25

$10.41 €8.97

8.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.22 PAB 7.22

$5.66 €4.88

27.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.19 PAB 10.19

$13.90 €11.97

-26.69%

Apples (1kg)

$3.43 PAB 3.43

$3.49 €3.00

-1.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 PAB 1.50

$1.71 €1.47

-12.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.85 PAB 2.85

$3.32 €2.86

-14.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.19 PAB 3.19

$2.50 €2.15

27.60%

Potato (1kg)

$2.21 PAB 2.21

$2.60 €2.24

-15.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 PAB 2.77

$1.29 €1.11

114.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.25 PAB 2.25

$2.33 €2.00

-3.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 PAB 1.58

$0.70 €0.60

125.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.91 PAB 5.91

$6.22 €5.36

-4.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.11 PAB 11.11

$6.80 €5.86

63.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 PAB 1.28

$1.19 €1.03

7.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 PAB 2.32

$1.69 €1.46

37.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 PAB 0.40

$2.83 €2.43

-85.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.08 PAB 22.08

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 PAB 2.57

$5.73 €4.94

-55.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 PAB 1.78

$2.10 €1.80

-15.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.73 PAB 21.73

$50.0 €43.08

-56.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 PAB 0.93

$1.56 €1.34

-40.38%

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

$19.7K PAB 19.7K

$38.0K €32.8K

-48.26%

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

$20.9K PAB 20.9K

$13.7K €11.8K

52.69%

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

$121 PAB 121

$92.2 €79.4

31.61%

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

$29.44 PAB 29.44

$28.45 €24.50

3.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.27 PAB 49.27

$28.47 €24.52

73.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.92 PAB 45.92

$51.6 €44.42

-10.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$32.32 PAB 32.32

$18.93 €16.30

70.73%

Cinema Ticket

$8.11 PAB 8.11

$10.29 €8.86

-21.19%

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

$484 PAB 484

$435 €375

11.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K PAB 15.8K

$10.9K €9,369

45.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.2 PAB 51.2

$91.5 €78.8

-44.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.98 PAB 45.98

$22.93 €19.74

100.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.0 PAB 89.0

$75.5 €65.0

17.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 PAB 122

$54.5 €46.94

124.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,157 PAB 1,157

$886 €763

30.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$893 PAB 893

$753 €648

18.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,996 PAB 1,996

$1,559 €1,343

28.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,580 PAB 1,580

$1,298 €1,118

21.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,069 PAB 3,069

$2,954 €2,544

3.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,730 PAB 1,730

$2,439 €2,100

-29.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$962 PAB 962

$2,172 €1,871

-55.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.23

4.46

39.69%

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

Last update for Panama City: May 30, 2026

Last update for Marsascala: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,157 in Panama City versus $886 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 126% 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 $50.0 in Panama City versus $93.0 in Marsascala. Groceries tell a different story – $293 in Panama City vs $259 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 7%, 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 $2,644 per month in Panama City and $2,469 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 $50.0 in Panama City and $93.0 in Marsascala. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 13% 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 $1,646, than in Panama City at $1,763. 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.