Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and Santa Cruz do Sul

For one person, living is cheaper in Santa Cruz do Sul: $949 a month against $1,857 in Panama City, rent and utilities included – about $10,900 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
45

Cost of Living Index in Santa Cruz do Sul
Learn more

Santa Cruz do Sul Living Index

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Panama City

🇵🇦 Panama

$1,857

/mo nomad

Santa Cruz do Sul

🇧🇷 Brazil

$949

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Panama City and in Santa Cruz do Sul

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 Santa Cruz do Sul actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,857 per month in Panama City vs $949 in Santa Cruz do Sul, rent included.

Panama City $1,857
Santa Cruz do Sul $949

A couple spends around $2,815 per month in Panama City vs $1,519 in Santa Cruz do Sul, rent included.

Panama City $2,815
Santa Cruz do Sul $1,519

A family of three spends $3,773 per month in Panama City vs $2,089 in Santa Cruz do Sul, rent included.

Panama City $3,773
Santa Cruz do Sul $2,089

Panama City costs about 96% more than Santa Cruz do Sul, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Panama City sits 37% above the global median, while Santa Cruz do Sul is 30% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.68 PAB 11.68

$5.96 R$30.23

95.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.76 PAB 47.76

$35.87 R$182

33.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.12 PAB 8.12

$7.10 R$35.99

14.37%

Cappuccino

$4.23 PAB 4.23

$2.24 R$11.36

88.84%

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

$1.92 PAB 1.92

$1.35 R$6.82

42.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 PAB 1.58

$0.88 R$4.46

79.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.31 PAB 3.31

$1.74 R$8.82

90.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 PAB 3.98

$2.70 R$13.70

47.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.92 PAB 1.92

$0.88 R$4.45

118.18%

White Bread (500g)

$2.63 PAB 2.63

$1.80 R$9.15

46.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.39 PAB 3.39

$1.39 R$7.07

143.88%

Eggs

$2.67 PAB 2.67

$2.24 R$11.36

19.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.21 PAB 12.21

$8.97 R$45.45

36.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.91 PAB 6.91

$4.80 R$24.32

43.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.58 PAB 10.58

$7.87 R$39.91

34.43%

Apples (1kg)

$4.16 PAB 4.16

$2.18 R$11.06

90.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 PAB 1.97

$1.11 R$5.63

77.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.06 PAB 4.06

$1.18 R$5.99

244.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.18 PAB 4.18

$1.52 R$7.73

175.00%

Potato (1kg)

$3.47 PAB 3.47

$1.26 R$6.37

175.40%

Onion (1kg)

$4.26 PAB 4.26

$1.21 R$6.12

252.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.44 PAB 2.44

$0.89 R$4.52

174.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 PAB 1.69

$0.87 R$4.42

94.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.83 PAB 5.83

$2.33 R$11.80

150.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.43 PAB 11.43

$7.22 R$36.60

58.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 PAB 1.38

$1.17 R$5.91

17.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 PAB 2.76

$1.99 R$10.11

38.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 PAB 0.33

$0.99 R$5.00

-66.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.63 PAB 20.63

$48.92 R$248

-57.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.55 PAB 2.55

$1.17 R$5.91

117.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 PAB 1.78

$0.92 R$4.66

93.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.17 PAB 22.17

$7.79 R$39.50

184.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 PAB 1.24

$1.11 R$5.64

11.71%

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

$24.4K PAB 24.4K

$20.3K R$103.1K

19.99%

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

$21.3K PAB 21.3K

$33.4K R$169.4K

-36.28%

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

$131 PAB 131

$86.3 R$438

52.11%

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

$27.83 PAB 27.83

$13.08 R$66.3

112.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.32 PAB 49.32

$23.04 R$117

114.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.69 PAB 45.69

$25.93 R$131

76.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.10 PAB 34.10

$24.49 R$124

39.24%

Cinema Ticket

$8.47 PAB 8.47

$7.66 R$38.85

10.57%

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

$553 PAB 553

$288 R$1,462

91.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,719 PAB 9,719

$6,499 R$32.9K

49.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.4 PAB 66.4

$49.59 R$251

33.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.39 PAB 47.39

$55.4 R$281

-14.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.7 PAB 95.7

$99.2 R$503

-3.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 PAB 113

$65.8 R$333

71.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,322 PAB 1,322

$533 R$2,702

148.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$874 PAB 874

$296 R$1,499

195.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,153 PAB 2,153

$927 R$4,697

132.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,580 PAB 1,580

$607 R$3,075

160.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,097 PAB 3,097

$1,850 R$9,380

67.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,698 PAB 1,698

$1,188 R$6,021

42.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$914 PAB 914

$373 R$1,889

145.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.39

-41.91%

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

Last update for Panama City: October 20, 2026

Last update for Santa Cruz do Sul: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Panama City

$874 47.1%

Santa Cruz do Sul

$296 31.2% 66.2% $578

Groceries & Markets

Panama City

$327 17.6%

Santa Cruz do Sul

$190 20.1% 41.7% $136

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Panama City

$208 11.2%

Santa Cruz do Sul

$122 12.9% 41.3% $86

Eating Out

Panama City

$207 11.2%

Santa Cruz do Sul

$119 12.5% 42.6% $88

Clothing & Footwear

Panama City

$145 7.8%

Santa Cruz do Sul

$121 12.8% 16.2% $23

Sport & Entertainment

Panama City

$63 3.4%

Santa Cruz do Sul

$41 4.4% 34.1% $21

Getting Around

Panama City

$33 1.8%

Santa Cruz do Sul

$59 6.2% 75.4% $25

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,322 in Panama City versus $533 in Santa Cruz do Sul. 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 145% 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 $36.00 in Santa Cruz do Sul. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $327 vs $190 – making Santa Cruz do Sul the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇵🇦 Panama City

🇧🇷 Santa Cruz do Sul

🕒 Local time

19:22 7:22 PM

21:22 9:22 PM

2 h ahead of Panama City

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,086,990 Capital

133,246

💱 Currency

Panamanian Balboa PAB B/.

Brazilian Real BRL R$

📈 Exchange rate

1 PAB = 1 USD

1 PAB = 0.89 EUR

1 BRL = 0.197 USD

1 BRL = 0.175 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, USD, EUR to PAB – Panamanian Balboa Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇵🇦 Panamanian Balboa (B/.)

Panamanian Balboa exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 1 PAB (1 PAB = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.12 PAB (1 PAB = 0.89 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 5.07 BRL (1 BRL = 0.197 USD). 1 EUR = 5.7 BRL (1 BRL = 0.175 EUR).

USD to PAB in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Panama City Santa Cruz do Sul 5,190 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight

From you

Panama City
Santa Cruz do Sul

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 Santa Cruz do Sul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Panama City is pricier by about 96%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,786 per month in Panama City and $1,423 in Santa Cruz do Sul. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 72% 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 $36.00 in Santa Cruz do Sul. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Santa Cruz do Sul, where all-in costs run around $949, than in Panama City at $1,857. In Santa Cruz do Sul it covers expenses comfortably, while in Panama City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Santa Cruz do Sul – 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 Santa Cruz do Sul. 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.