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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,814 per month in Panama City vs $1,250 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,728 per month in Panama City vs $2,284 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,643 per month in Panama City vs $3,317 in Phuket, rent included.

Panama City costs about 45% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Panama City sits 36% above the global median, while Phuket is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.13 PAB 10.13

$4.55 ฿153

122.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.65 PAB 49.65

$46.18 ฿1,553

7.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.06 PAB 8.06

$8.84 ฿297

-8.82%

Cappuccino

$3.60 PAB 3.60

$3.06 ฿103

17.65%

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

$1.72 PAB 1.72

$0.73 ฿24.40

135.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.36 PAB 1.36

$0.40 ฿13.39

240.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 PAB 2.95

$2.43 ฿81.8

21.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 PAB 4.03

$3.78 ฿127

6.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 PAB 1.81

$2.26 ฿76.0

-19.91%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 PAB 2.46

$1.81 ฿60.9

35.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.41 PAB 2.41

$2.25 ฿75.8

7.11%

Eggs

$2.93 PAB 2.93

$2.25 ฿75.5

30.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.38 PAB 11.38

$19.51 ฿656

-41.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.06 PAB 7.06

$3.65 ฿123

93.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.85 PAB 9.85

$13.05 ฿439

-24.52%

Apples (1kg)

$3.37 PAB 3.37

$3.23 ฿109

4.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 PAB 1.51

$1.62 ฿54.4

-6.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.86 PAB 2.86

$2.38 ฿80.1

20.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.12 PAB 3.12

$2.03 ฿68.1

53.69%

Potato (1kg)

$2.23 PAB 2.23

$1.53 ฿51.6

45.75%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 PAB 2.76

$1.50 ฿50.5

84.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.18 PAB 2.18

$0.98 ฿32.91

122.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.53 PAB 1.53

$0.52 ฿17.39

194.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.09 PAB 6.09

$4.44 ฿149

37.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.78 PAB 10.78

$18.32 ฿616

-41.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 PAB 1.28

$1.86 ฿62.7

-31.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 PAB 2.36

$2.68 ฿90.1

-11.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 PAB 0.44

$1.41 ฿47.46

-68.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.10 PAB 22.10

$11.70 ฿393

88.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.44 PAB 2.44

$3.11 ฿105

-21.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.77 PAB 1.77

$1.04 ฿35.06

70.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.61 PAB 21.61

$14.11 ฿474

53.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 PAB 0.95

$1.31 ฿44.10

-27.48%

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

$19.6K PAB 19.6K

$27.8K ฿935.4K

-29.51%

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

$20.6K PAB 20.6K

$33.2K ฿1.1M

-38.08%

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

$122 PAB 122

$122 ฿4,118

-0.31%

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

$29.88 PAB 29.88

$13.59 ฿457

119.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.49 PAB 49.49

$18.70 ฿629

164.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.36 PAB 45.36

$60.5 ฿2,034

-25.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$32.73 PAB 32.73

$16.98 ฿571

92.76%

Cinema Ticket

$7.85 PAB 7.85

$9.07 ฿305

-13.45%

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

$484 PAB 484

$706 ฿23.8K

-31.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K PAB 15.8K

$15.8K ฿531.5K

0.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.6 PAB 51.6

$58.6 ฿1,969

-11.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.50 PAB 46.50

$35.36 ฿1,189

31.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 PAB 88.6

$115 ฿3,883

-23.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 PAB 121

$83.7 ฿2,816

44.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,158 PAB 1,158

$626 ฿21.0K

85.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$894 PAB 894

$445 ฿15.0K

100.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,037 PAB 2,037

$2,040 ฿68.6K

-0.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 PAB 1,578

$1,492 ฿50.2K

5.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,124 PAB 3,124

$3,483 ฿117.1K

-10.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,693 PAB 1,693

$2,577 ฿86.7K

-34.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$926 PAB 926

$500 ฿16.8K

85.30%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,158 in Panama City versus $626 in Phuket. 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 85% higher in Panama City, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $50.0 in Panama City versus $46.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $288 in Panama City vs $289 in Phuket – so Panama City 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 Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Panama City is pricier by about 45%, 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 $2,720 per month in Panama City and $1,875 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 0% cheaper in Panama City – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $50.0 in Panama City and $46.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,250, than in Panama City at $1,814. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Panama City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Phuket – 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 Phuket. 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.