Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and Phuket

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,207 a month against $1,855 in Panama City, rent and utilities included – about $7,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

90

Cost of Living Index in Panama City
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Panama City Living Index
59

Cost of Living Index in Phuket
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Phuket Living Index

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Panama City

🇵🇦 Panama

$1,855

/mo nomad

Phuket

🇹🇭 Thailand

$1,207

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Panama City and in Phuket

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 Phuket actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,855 per month in Panama City vs $1,207 in Phuket, rent included.

Panama City $1,855
Phuket $1,207

A couple spends around $2,804 per month in Panama City vs $2,037 in Phuket, rent included.

Panama City $2,804
Phuket $2,037

A family of three spends $3,753 per month in Panama City vs $2,867 in Phuket, rent included.

Panama City $3,753
Phuket $2,867

Panama City costs about 54% more than Phuket, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Panama City sits 37% above the global median, while Phuket is 11% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.63 PAB 11.63

$4.58 ฿153

153.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.92 PAB 47.92

$32.48 ฿1,086

47.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.96 PAB 7.96

$8.55 ฿286

-6.90%

Cappuccino

$4.22 PAB 4.22

$2.72 ฿91.0

55.15%

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

$2.01 PAB 2.01

$0.94 ฿31.25

113.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 PAB 1.56

$0.49 ฿16.39

218.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.39 PAB 3.39

$2.59 ฿86.6

30.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 PAB 3.94

$3.83 ฿128

2.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 PAB 1.85

$1.74 ฿58.1

6.32%

White Bread (500g)

$2.56 PAB 2.56

$1.43 ฿47.82

79.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.48 PAB 3.48

$1.53 ฿51.0

127.45%

Eggs

$2.69 PAB 2.69

$2.17 ฿72.7

23.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.57 PAB 12.57

$19.15 ฿640

-34.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.83 PAB 6.83

$3.30 ฿110

106.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.58 PAB 10.58

$11.14 ฿372

-5.03%

Apples (1kg)

$4.18 PAB 4.18

$2.95 ฿98.5

41.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 PAB 1.83

$1.68 ฿56.1

8.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.20 PAB 4.20

$2.30 ฿76.8

82.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.03 PAB 4.03

$2.13 ฿71.3

89.20%

Potato (1kg)

$3.48 PAB 3.48

$1.53 ฿51.1

127.45%

Onion (1kg)

$4.22 PAB 4.22

$1.36 ฿45.55

210.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 PAB 2.41

$1.12 ฿37.44

115.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 PAB 1.69

$0.55 ฿18.24

207.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.14 PAB 6.14

$4.26 ฿142

44.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.30 PAB 11.30

$18.19 ฿608

-37.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 PAB 1.42

$1.74 ฿58.2

-18.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 PAB 2.73

$2.79 ฿93.3

-2.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 PAB 0.33

$2.22 ฿74.1

-85.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.23 PAB 21.23

$22.06 ฿737

-3.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.52 PAB 2.52

$2.91 ฿97.3

-13.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.86 PAB 1.86

$1.01 ฿33.79

84.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.78 PAB 21.78

$3.83 ฿128

468.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 PAB 1.25

$1.49 ฿49.85

-16.11%

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

$21.2K PAB 21.2K

$26.7K ฿891.6K

-20.40%

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

$21.0K PAB 21.0K

$26.7K ฿892.7K

-21.30%

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

$130 PAB 130

$99.4 ฿3,321

30.66%

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

$28.13 PAB 28.13

$11.28 ฿377

149.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.21 PAB 48.21

$17.36 ฿580

177.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.78 PAB 45.78

$52.3 ฿1,747

-12.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.92 PAB 34.92

$10.85 ฿362

221.84%

Cinema Ticket

$8.67 PAB 8.67

$7.57 ฿253

14.53%

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

$544 PAB 544

$558 ฿18.7K

-2.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,697 PAB 9,697

$11.5K ฿383.9K

-15.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.8 PAB 66.8

$62.9 ฿2,102

6.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.14 PAB 49.14

$28.58 ฿955

71.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.9 PAB 93.9

$96.1 ฿3,213

-2.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 PAB 112

$88.1 ฿2,943

26.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,257 PAB 1,257

$729 ฿24.4K

72.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$875 PAB 875

$460 ฿15.4K

90.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,155 PAB 2,155

$2,096 ฿70.0K

2.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,564 PAB 1,564

$1,222 ฿40.8K

27.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,122 PAB 3,122

$3,459 ฿115.6K

-9.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,709 PAB 1,709

$2,489 ฿83.2K

-31.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$916 PAB 916

$493 ฿16.5K

85.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.39

5.57

14.72%

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

Last update for Panama City: October 10, 2026

Last update for Phuket: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Panama City

$875 47.2%

Phuket

$460 38.1% 47.4% $415

Groceries & Markets

Panama City

$325 17.5%

Phuket

$268 22.2% 17.7% $58

Eating Out

Panama City

$207 11.1%

Phuket

$121 10.1% 41.3% $85

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Panama City

$206 11.1%

Phuket

$128 10.6% 37.9% $78

Clothing & Footwear

Panama City

$145 7.8%

Phuket

$124 10.3% 14.2% $21

Sport & Entertainment

Panama City

$63 3.4%

Phuket

$67 5.6% 6.8% $4.3

Getting Around

Panama City

$34 1.9%

Phuket

$39 3.2% 13.1% $4.5

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,257 in Panama City versus $729 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 86% 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 $48.00 in Panama City versus $32.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $325 vs $268 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇵🇦 Panama City

🇹🇭 Phuket

🕒 Local time

10:51 10:51 AM

22:51 10:51 PM

12 h ahead of Panama City

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,086,990 Capital

79,308

💱 Currency

Panamanian Balboa PAB B/.

Thai Baht THB ฿

📈 Exchange rate

1 PAB = 1 USD

1 PAB = 0.89 EUR

100 THB = 2.99 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to PAB – Panamanian Balboa Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇵🇦 Panamanian Balboa (B/.)

Panamanian Balboa exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 1 PAB (1 PAB = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.12 PAB (1 PAB = 0.89 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

USD to PAB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Panama City Phuket 18,130 km ≈ 23 h nonstop flight

From you

Panama City
Phuket

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 Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Panama City is pricier by about 54%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,783 per month in Panama City and $1,811 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.

Groceries cost about 22% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Panama City and $32.00 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 $1,207, than in Panama City at $1,855. 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.