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

😐 Solo nomad: Panama City is 16.8% more expensive than Phuket without rent, and 43.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Panama City is 13.3% more expensive than Phuket without rent, and 10.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Panama City
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.17 PAB 10.17
$4.65 ฿147
118.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.4 PAB 50.4
$46.11 ฿1,454
9.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.88 PAB 7.88
$8.74 ฿276
-9.84%
Cappuccino
$3.71 PAB 3.71
$3.04 ฿95.8
22.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 PAB 1.64
$0.72 ฿22.72
127.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33 PAB 1.33
$0.39 ฿12.34
241.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 PAB 2.95
$2.44 ฿77.0
20.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.06 PAB 4.06
$3.79 ฿120
7.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Panama City
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.83 PAB 1.83
$2.14 ฿67.7
-14.49%
White Bread (500g)
$2.58 PAB 2.58
$1.86 ฿58.7
38.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.40 PAB 2.40
$2.19 ฿69.0
9.59%
Eggs
$2.97 PAB 2.97
$2.25 ฿70.8
32.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.34 PAB 11.34
$19.73 ฿622
-42.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.06 PAB 7.06
$3.79 ฿119
86.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.76 PAB 9.76
$13.55 ฿427
-27.97%
Apples (1kg)
$3.40 PAB 3.40
$3.25 ฿102
4.62%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 PAB 1.50
$1.67 ฿52.7
-10.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.77 PAB 2.77
$2.39 ฿75.5
15.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.23 PAB 3.23
$2.09 ฿66.0
54.55%
Potato (1kg)
$2.20 PAB 2.20
$1.53 ฿48.22
43.79%
Onion (1kg)
$2.87 PAB 2.87
$1.51 ฿47.62
90.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.17 PAB 2.17
$0.99 ฿31.19
119.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 PAB 1.54
$0.51 ฿16.24
201.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.99 PAB 5.99
$4.27 ฿135
40.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.31 PAB 10.31
$20.31 ฿640
-49.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30 PAB 1.30
$1.79 ฿56.5
-27.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 PAB 2.33
$2.77 ฿87.3
-15.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Panama City
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.43 PAB 0.43
$1.40 ฿44.29
-69.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.39 PAB 22.39
$11.70 ฿369
91.37%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.46 PAB 2.46
$3.11 ฿98.1
-20.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.82 PAB 1.82
$0.99 ฿31.37
83.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.57 PAB 21.57
$13.73 ฿433
57.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 PAB 0.95
$1.32 ฿41.60
-28.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.1K PAB 20.1K
$27.2K ฿859.0K
-26.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.1K PAB 20.1K
$34.1K ฿1.1M
-40.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Panama City
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$123 PAB 123
$120 ฿3,797
2.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.81 PAB 29.81
$13.93 ฿439
114.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.87 PAB 49.87
$18.31 ฿577
172.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Panama City
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.19 PAB 46.19
$60.9 ฿1,922
-24.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$32.83 PAB 32.83
$17.23 ฿544
90.54%
Cinema Ticket
$8.09 PAB 8.09
$8.71 ฿275
-7.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Panama City
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$478 PAB 478
$698 ฿22.0K
-31.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K PAB 15.8K
$15.7K ฿496.2K
0.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Panama City
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.0 PAB 52.0
$57.6 ฿1,818
-9.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.66 PAB 46.66
$34.24 ฿1,080
36.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.6 PAB 89.6
$113 ฿3,569
-20.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 PAB 123
$84.8 ฿2,675
45.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Panama City
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,124 PAB 1,124
$604 ฿19.0K
86.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$894 PAB 894
$436 ฿13.8K
105.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,059 PAB 2,059
$2,057 ฿64.9K
0.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,553 PAB 1,553
$1,498 ฿47.3K
3.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,128 PAB 3,128
$4,252 ฿134.1K
-26.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,730 PAB 1,730
$2,988 ฿94.2K
-42.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Panama City
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$967 PAB 967
$529 ฿16.7K
82.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.23
5.33
16.89%

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

Last update for Panama City: March 1, 2026

Last update for Phuket: February 28, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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