Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and San Bernardo

For one person, living is cheaper in San Bernardo: $897 a month against $1,855 in Panama City, rent and utilities included – about $11,500 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
44

Cost of Living Index in San Bernardo
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San Bernardo Living Index

Jump to prices

Panama City

🇵🇦 Panama

$1,855

/mo nomad

San Bernardo

🇨🇱 Chile

$897

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Panama City and in San Bernardo

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

A single person spends $1,855 per month in Panama City vs $897 in San Bernardo, rent included.

Panama City $1,855
San Bernardo $897

A couple spends around $2,804 per month in Panama City vs $1,414 in San Bernardo, rent included.

Panama City $2,804
San Bernardo $1,414

A family of three spends $3,753 per month in Panama City vs $1,932 in San Bernardo, rent included.

Panama City $3,753
San Bernardo $1,932

Panama City costs about 107% more than San Bernardo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Panama City sits 37% above the global median, while San Bernardo is 34% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.63 PAB 11.63

$7.85 CLP 7,727

48.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.92 PAB 47.92

$25.41 CLP 25.0K

88.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.96 PAB 7.96

$6.51 CLP 6,407

22.27%

Cappuccino

$4.22 PAB 4.22

$2.52 CLP 2,481

67.46%

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

$2.01 PAB 2.01

$0.94 CLP 922

113.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 PAB 1.56

$1.01 CLP 991

54.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.39 PAB 3.39

$4.05 CLP 3,985

-16.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 PAB 3.94

$4.49 CLP 4,421

-12.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 PAB 1.85

$1.15 CLP 1,132

60.87%

White Bread (500g)

$2.56 PAB 2.56

$1.29 CLP 1,272

98.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.48 PAB 3.48

$1.66 CLP 1,632

109.64%

Eggs

$2.69 PAB 2.69

$3.91 CLP 3,848

-31.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.57 PAB 12.57

$11.24 CLP 11.1K

11.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.83 PAB 6.83

$4.36 CLP 4,289

56.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.58 PAB 10.58

$10.73 CLP 10.6K

-1.40%

Apples (1kg)

$4.18 PAB 4.18

$1.88 CLP 1,855

122.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 PAB 1.83

$1.51 CLP 1,489

21.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.20 PAB 4.20

$1.42 CLP 1,396

195.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.03 PAB 4.03

$1.75 CLP 1,721

130.29%

Potato (1kg)

$3.48 PAB 3.48

$0.85 CLP 839

309.41%

Onion (1kg)

$4.22 PAB 4.22

$0.84 CLP 822

402.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 PAB 2.41

$1.21 CLP 1,194

99.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 PAB 1.69

$1.08 CLP 1,065

56.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.14 PAB 6.14

$3.31 CLP 3,259

85.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.30 PAB 11.30

$6.05 CLP 5,959

86.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 PAB 1.42

$1.57 CLP 1,541

-9.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 PAB 2.73

$2.30 CLP 2,261

18.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 PAB 0.33

$0.79 CLP 781

-58.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.23 PAB 21.23

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.52 PAB 2.52

$0.40 CLP 391

530.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.86 PAB 1.86

$0.84 CLP 830

121.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.78 PAB 21.78

$11.45 CLP 11.3K

90.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 PAB 1.25

$1.31 CLP 1,293

-4.58%

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

$21.2K PAB 21.2K

$17.5K CLP 17.3M

21.17%

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

$21.0K PAB 21.0K

$21.7K CLP 21.4M

-3.24%

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

$130 PAB 130

$123 CLP 120.7K

5.85%

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

$28.13 PAB 28.13

$12.05 CLP 11.9K

133.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.21 PAB 48.21

$16.63 CLP 16.4K

189.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.78 PAB 45.78

$19.89 CLP 19.6K

130.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.92 PAB 34.92

Cinema Ticket

$8.67 PAB 8.67

$7.43 CLP 7,312

16.69%

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

$544 PAB 544

$434 CLP 427.0K

25.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,697 PAB 9,697

$10.8K CLP 10.6M

-9.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.8 PAB 66.8

$36.88 CLP 36.3K

80.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.14 PAB 49.14

$26.73 CLP 26.3K

83.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.9 PAB 93.9

$65.3 CLP 64.3K

43.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 PAB 112

$80.5 CLP 79.3K

38.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,257 PAB 1,257

$279 CLP 274.4K

351.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$875 PAB 875

$245 CLP 241.6K

256.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,155 PAB 2,155

$703 CLP 691.9K

206.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,564 PAB 1,564

$552 CLP 543.3K

183.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,122 PAB 3,122

$1,856 CLP 1.8M

68.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,709 PAB 1,709

$1,357 CLP 1.3M

25.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$916 PAB 916

$1,335 CLP 1.3M

-31.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.39

5.39

18.55%

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

Last update for Panama City: October 10, 2026

Last update for San Bernardo: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Panama City

$875 47.2%

San Bernardo

$245 27.4% 71.9% $630

Groceries & Markets

Panama City

$325 17.5%

San Bernardo

$214 23.9% 34.2% $111

Eating Out

Panama City

$207 11.1%

San Bernardo

$150 16.7% 27.6% $57

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Panama City

$206 11.1%

San Bernardo

$151 16.9% 26.6% $55

Clothing & Footwear

Panama City

$145 7.8%

San Bernardo

$94 10.5% 34.8% $50

Sport & Entertainment

Panama City

$63 3.4%

San Bernardo

$35 3.9% 45% $28

Getting Around

Panama City

$34 1.9%

San Bernardo

$7.8 * 0.9% 77.4% $27

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,257 in Panama City versus $279 in San Bernardo. 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 46% higher in San Bernardo, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Panama City versus $25.00 in San Bernardo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $325 vs $214 – making San Bernardo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇵🇦 Panama City

🇨🇱 San Bernardo

🕒 Local time

11:05 11:05 AM

13:05 1:05 PM

2 h ahead of Panama City

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,086,990 Capital

290,912

💱 Currency

Panamanian Balboa PAB B/.

Chilean Peso CLP $

📈 Exchange rate

1 PAB = 1 USD

1 PAB = 0.889 EUR

10,000 CLP = 10.16 USD

10,000 CLP = 9.04 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

CLP, USD, EUR to PAB – Panamanian Balboa Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇵🇦 Panamanian Balboa (B/.)

Panamanian Balboa exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1 PAB (1 PAB = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.12 PAB (1 PAB = 0.889 EUR).

Chilean Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 984 CLP (1,000 CLP = 1.02 USD). 1 EUR = 1,107 CLP (10,000 CLP = 9.04 EUR).

USD to PAB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Panama City San Bernardo 4,820 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight

From you

Panama City
San Bernardo

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 San Bernardo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Panama City is pricier by about 107%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,783 per month in Panama City and $1,345 in San Bernardo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,855 in Panama City and $897 in San Bernardo. That's a gap of about 107%.

Kindergarten costs $544 per month in Panama City and $434 in San Bernardo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in San Bernardo, where all-in costs run around $897, than in Panama City at $1,855. In San Bernardo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Panama City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward San Bernardo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with San Bernardo. 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.