Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and Ocean Shores, WA

For one person, living is cheaper in Panama City: $1,932 a month against $2,814 in Ocean Shores, WA, rent and utilities included – about $10,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Panama City, Panama
Ocean Shores, WA, United States
Panama City
🇵🇦 Panama
$1,932
/mo nomad
Ocean Shores, WA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,814
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Panama City and in Ocean Shores, WA

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 Ocean Shores, WA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,932 per month in Panama City vs $2,814 in Ocean Shores, WA, rent included.

  • Panama City $1,932
  • Ocean Shores, WA $2,814

A couple spends around $2,887 per month in Panama City vs $4,147 in Ocean Shores, WA, rent included.

  • Panama City $2,887
  • Ocean Shores, WA $4,147

A family of three spends $3,841 per month in Panama City vs $5,480 in Ocean Shores, WA, rent included.

  • Panama City $3,841
  • Ocean Shores, WA $5,480

Panama City is about 31% cheaper than Ocean Shores, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Panama City and Ocean Shores, WA sit above the global median – Panama City by 42%, Ocean Shores, WA by 107%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Panama City
Ocean Shores, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.72 PAB 11.72
$24.79 $24.79
-52.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.74 PAB 46.74
$101 $101
-53.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.98 PAB 7.98
$15.22 $15.22
-47.57%
Cappuccino
$4.18 PAB 4.18
$6.77 $6.77
-38.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 PAB 1.95
$3.15 $3.15
-38.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 PAB 1.64
$3.14 $3.14
-47.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.26 PAB 3.26
$8.13 $8.13
-59.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90 PAB 3.90
$8.16 $8.16
-52.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Panama City
Ocean Shores, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.91 PAB 1.91
$1.15 $1.15
66.09%
White Bread (500g)
$2.54 PAB 2.54
$3.25 $3.25
-21.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.37 PAB 3.37
$5.37 $5.37
-37.24%
Eggs
$2.82 PAB 2.82
$3.46 $3.46
-18.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.60 PAB 12.60
$11.19 $11.19
12.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.71 PAB 6.71
$6.22 $6.22
7.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.53 PAB 10.53
$16.50 $16.50
-36.18%
Apples (1kg)
$4.04 PAB 4.04
$4.47 $4.47
-9.62%
Banana (1kg)
$1.94 PAB 1.94
$1.86 $1.86
4.30%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.25 PAB 4.25
$3.37 $3.37
26.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.18 PAB 4.18
$6.29 $6.29
-33.55%
Potato (1kg)
$3.32 PAB 3.32
$3.49 $3.49
-4.87%
Onion (1kg)
$4.34 PAB 4.34
$3.16 $3.16
37.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.40 PAB 2.40
$1.96 $1.96
22.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 PAB 1.71
$1.97 $1.97
-13.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.05 PAB 6.05
$12.42 $12.42
-51.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.38 PAB 11.38
$14.75 $14.75
-22.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 PAB 1.36
$2.18 $2.18
-37.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80 PAB 2.80
$1.98 $1.98
41.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Panama City
Ocean Shores, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 PAB 0.34
$1.96 $1.96
-82.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.28 PAB 21.28
$59.7 $59.7
-64.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.43 PAB 2.43
$2.67 $2.67
-8.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.85 PAB 1.85
$1.72 $1.72
7.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.77 PAB 21.77
$29.49 $29.49
-26.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.20 PAB 1.20
$1.42 $1.42
-15.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8K PAB 24.8K
$37.0K $37.0K
-33.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.2K PAB 21.2K
$25.7K $25.7K
-17.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Panama City
Ocean Shores, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$132 PAB 132
$302 $302
-56.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.34 PAB 28.34
$68.6 $68.6
-58.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.88 PAB 48.88
$87.5 $87.5
-44.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Panama City
Ocean Shores, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.02 PAB 43.02
$35.13 $35.13
22.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.94 PAB 34.94
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.43 PAB 8.43
$18.30 $18.30
-53.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Panama City
Ocean Shores, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$545 PAB 545
$2,796 $2,796
-80.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,648 PAB 9,648
$31.0K $31.0K
-68.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Panama City
Ocean Shores, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.8 PAB 65.8
$80.0 $80.0
-17.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.25 PAB 47.25
$55.3 $55.3
-14.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.6 PAB 94.6
$127 $127
-25.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 PAB 110
$160 $160
-31.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Panama City
Ocean Shores, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,407 PAB 1,407
$1,413 $1,413
-0.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$954 PAB 954
$1,244 $1,244
-23.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,272 PAB 2,272
$2,604 $2,604
-12.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,662 PAB 1,662
$2,071 $2,071
-19.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,057 PAB 3,057
$2,770 $2,770
10.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,729 PAB 1,729
$2,491 $2,491
-30.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Panama City
Ocean Shores, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$916 PAB 916
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.39
6.89
-7.26%

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

Last update for Panama City: October 27, 2026

Last update for Ocean Shores, WA: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Panama City
$954
Ocean Shores, WA
$1.2K 30.4% $290
Groceries & Markets
Panama City
$326
Ocean Shores, WA
$365 11.9% $39
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Panama City
$210
Ocean Shores, WA
$458 118% $248
Eating Out
Panama City
$206
Ocean Shores, WA
$407 97.4% $201
Clothing & Footwear
Panama City
$143
Ocean Shores, WA
$190 33.2% $47
Sport & Entertainment
Panama City
$60
Ocean Shores, WA
$72 19.8% $12
Getting Around
Panama City
$34
Ocean Shores, WA
$79 130% $45

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,407 in Panama City versus $1,413 in Ocean Shores, WA. 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 $47 in Panama City versus $101 in Ocean Shores, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $326 vs $365 – making Panama City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇦 Panama City
🇺🇸 Ocean Shores, WA
🕒 Local time
18:44 6:44 PM
16:44 4:44 PM
2 h behind Panama City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,086,990 Capital
6,700
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to PAB – Panamanian Balboa Converter

Panamanian Balboa exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 1 PAB (1 PAB = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.11 PAB (1 PAB = 0.898 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Panama City Ocean Shores, WA 5,960 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Panama City
  • Ocean Shores, WA

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 Ocean Shores, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Panama City cheaper than Ocean Shores, WA?
Yes – Ocean Shores, WA is pricier by about 46%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,899 per month in Panama City and $4,221 in Ocean Shores, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What is the rent difference between Panama City and Ocean Shores, WA?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $1,407 in Panama City and $1,413 in Ocean Shores, WA. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
How do food prices compare in Panama City and in Ocean Shores, WA?
Groceries cost about 12% more in Ocean Shores, WA, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is eating out cheaper in Panama City or in Ocean Shores, WA?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Panama City and $101 in Ocean Shores, WA. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Panama City or in Ocean Shores, WA?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Panama City, where all-in costs run around $1,932, than in Ocean Shores, WA at $2,814. In Panama City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ocean Shores, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is it better to live in Panama City or in Ocean Shores, WA?
It depends on your priorities. Panama City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,932 in Panama City to $2,814 in Ocean Shores, WA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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