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

😐 Solo nomad: Panama City is 14.6% more expensive than Phuket without rent, and 43% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Panama City is 14.9% more expensive than Phuket without rent, and 11.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Panama City
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.18 PAB 10.18
$4.68 ฿151
117.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.36 PAB 49.36
$46.4 ฿1,502
6.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.16 PAB 8.16
$8.65 ฿280
-5.66%
Cappuccino
$3.58 PAB 3.58
$3.09 ฿100
15.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 PAB 1.66
$0.73 ฿23.53
127.40%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 PAB 1.41
$0.37 ฿11.95
281.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.08 PAB 3.08
$2.39 ฿77.4
28.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.9 PAB 3.9
$3.62 ฿117
7.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Panama City
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.88 PAB 1.88
$2.24 ฿72.5
-16.07%
White Bread (500g)
$2.56 PAB 2.56
$1.8 ฿58.2
42.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.52 PAB 2.52
$2.24 ฿72.3
12.50%
Eggs
$2.95 PAB 2.95
$2.23 ฿72.1
32.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.6 PAB 11.6
$19.31 ฿625
-39.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.14 PAB 7.14
$3.77 ฿122
89.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.92 PAB 9.92
$13.05 ฿422
-23.98%
Apples (1kg)
$3.42 PAB 3.42
$3.28 ฿106
4.27%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 PAB 1.49
$1.63 ฿52.6
-8.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.73 PAB 2.73
$2.4 ฿77.7
13.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.24 PAB 3.24
$1.99 ฿64.3
62.81%
Potato (1kg)
$2.28 PAB 2.28
$1.53 ฿49.62
49.02%
Onion (1kg)
$2.91 PAB 2.91
$1.49 ฿48.11
95.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.14 PAB 2.14
$1.02 ฿32.87
109.80%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.57 PAB 1.57
$0.48 ฿15.61
227.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.84 PAB 5.84
$4.32 ฿140
35.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.91 PAB 9.91
$21.68 ฿702
-54.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.3 PAB 1.3
$1.77 ฿57.3
-26.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32 PAB 2.32
$2.79 ฿90.4
-16.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Panama City
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.44 PAB 0.44
$1.35 ฿43.74
-67.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.32 PAB 22.32
$11.76 ฿380
89.80%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.53 PAB 2.53
$3.15 ฿102
-19.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.76 PAB 1.76
$1 ฿32.3
76.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.86 PAB 21.86
$13.64 ฿442
60.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.89 PAB 0.89
$1.3 ฿42.2
-31.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.9K PAB 19.9K
$27.4K ฿885.2K
-27.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K PAB 20.5K
$33.9K ฿1.1M
-39.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Panama City
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$124 PAB 124
$123 ฿3,970
1.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.96 PAB 29.96
$13.93 ฿451
115.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.2 PAB 50.2
$18.24 ฿590
174.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Panama City
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.96 PAB 44.96
$60.8 ฿1,966
-25.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$32.03 PAB 32.03
$17.11 ฿554
87.20%
Cinema Ticket
$8.16 PAB 8.16
$9.07 ฿294
-10.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Panama City
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$471 PAB 471
$694 ฿22.5K
-32.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16K PAB 16K
$15.9K ฿514.4K
0.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Panama City
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52 PAB 52
$57.5 ฿1,861
-9.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.24 PAB 45.24
$34.51 ฿1,117
31.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.6 PAB 87.6
$115 ฿3,727
-23.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 PAB 120
$84.8 ฿2,743
42.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Panama City
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,126 PAB 1,126
$611 ฿19.8K
84.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$890 PAB 890
$442 ฿14.3K
101.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,013 PAB 2,013
$2,014 ฿65.2K
-0.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,555 PAB 1,555
$1,460 ฿47.2K
6.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,710 PAB 2,710
$4,244 ฿137.3K
-36.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,655 PAB 1,655
$2,886 ฿93.4K
-42.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Panama City
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$975 PAB 975
$697 ฿22.5K
39.95%
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: October 29, 2025

Last update for Phuket: October 29, 2025

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