😐A single person spends $1,814 per month in Panama City vs $892 in San Miguelito, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,693 per month in Panama City vs $1,442 in San Miguelito, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,572 per month in Panama City vs $1,992 in San Miguelito, rent included.
😐Panama City costs about 103% more than San Miguelito, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Panama City sits 35% above the global median, while San Miguelito is 33% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Panama City
San Miguelito
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.20PAB 10.20
$10.09PAB 10.09
1.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.54PAB 49.54
$50.6PAB 50.6
-2.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.80PAB 7.80
$8.13PAB 8.13
-4.06%
Cappuccino
$3.56PAB 3.56
$3.54PAB 3.54
0.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73PAB 1.73
$1.65PAB 1.65
4.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41PAB 1.41
$1.17PAB 1.17
20.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95PAB 2.95
$2.98PAB 2.98
-1.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.99PAB 3.99
$4.04PAB 4.04
-1.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Panama City
San Miguelito
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.84PAB 1.84
$1.90PAB 1.90
-3.16%
White Bread(500g)
$2.47PAB 2.47
$2.56PAB 2.56
-3.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.38PAB 2.38
$2.46PAB 2.46
-3.25%
Eggs
$2.86PAB 2.86
$2.95PAB 2.95
-3.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.40PAB 11.40
$10.02PAB 10.02
13.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.00PAB 7.00
$7.11PAB 7.11
-1.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.05PAB 10.05
$10.08PAB 10.08
-0.30%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39PAB 3.39
$3.27PAB 3.27
3.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.48PAB 1.48
$1.56PAB 1.56
-5.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.89PAB 2.89
$2.84PAB 2.84
1.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.17PAB 3.17
$3.09PAB 3.09
2.59%
Potato(1kg)
$2.31PAB 2.31
$2.23PAB 2.23
3.59%
Onion(1kg)
$2.81PAB 2.81
$2.87PAB 2.87
-2.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.17PAB 2.17
$2.20PAB 2.20
-1.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.54PAB 1.54
$1.57PAB 1.57
-1.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.17PAB 6.17
$6.01PAB 6.01
2.66%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.14PAB 11.14
$10.84PAB 10.84
2.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23PAB 1.23
$1.24PAB 1.24
-0.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43PAB 2.43
$2.42PAB 2.42
0.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Panama City
San Miguelito
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.40PAB 0.40
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.08PAB 22.08
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.55PAB 2.55
$2.52PAB 2.52
1.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.78PAB 1.78
$1.84PAB 1.84
-3.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.60PAB 21.60
$21.87PAB 21.87
-1.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.89PAB 0.89
$0.94PAB 0.94
-5.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.8KPAB 19.8K
$19.5KPAB 19.5K
1.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.4KPAB 20.4K
$20.5KPAB 20.5K
-0.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Panama City
San Miguelito
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$121PAB 121
$125PAB 125
-3.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.22PAB 30.22
$30.00PAB 30.00
0.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.45PAB 49.45
$48.70PAB 48.70
1.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Panama City
San Miguelito
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.38PAB 45.38
$50.1PAB 50.1
-9.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$32.57PAB 32.57
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.89PAB 7.89
$8.05PAB 8.05
-1.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Panama City
San Miguelito
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$469PAB 469
$480PAB 480
-2.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9KPAB 15.9K
$15.9KPAB 15.9K
-0.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Panama City
San Miguelito
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.8PAB 50.8
$50.6PAB 50.6
0.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.02PAB 47.02
$45.44PAB 45.44
3.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.5PAB 89.5
$90.0PAB 90.0
-0.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122PAB 122
$123PAB 123
-0.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Panama City
San Miguelito
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,133PAB 1,133
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$874PAB 874
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,002PAB 2,002
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,558PAB 1,558
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,087PAB 3,087
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,710PAB 1,710
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Panama City
San Miguelito
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$964PAB 964
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.23
6.23
-
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Panama City: April 28, 2026
Última actualización para San Miguelito: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $50.0 in Panama City versus $51.0 in San Miguelito. Groceries tell a different story – $290 in Panama City vs $287 in San Miguelito – so San Miguelito wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Panama City vs San Miguelito: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Is San Miguelito cheaper than Panama City?
Yes – Panama City is pricier by about 103%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,721 per month in Panama City and $1,338 in San Miguelito. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Panama City vs San Miguelito?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,814 in Panama City and $892 in San Miguelito. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $469 per month in Panama City and $480 in San Miguelito. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Panama City or San Miguelito?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in San Miguelito, where all-in costs run around $892, than in Panama City at $1,814. In San Miguelito it covers expenses comfortably, while in Panama City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Panama City or San Miguelito more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward San Miguelito – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with San Miguelito. 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.
Panama City vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado