Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and Santa Rita

For one person, living is cheaper in Santa Rita: $932 a month against $1,837 in Panama City, rent and utilities included – about $10,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Panama City
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Panama City Living Index

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Panama City

🇵🇦 Panama

$1,837

/mo nomad

Santa Rita

🇵🇾 Paraguay

$932

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Panama City and in Santa Rita

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

A single person spends $1,837 per month in Panama City vs $932 in Santa Rita, rent included.

Panama City $1,837
Santa Rita $932

A couple spends around $2,825 per month in Panama City vs $1,412 in Santa Rita, rent included.

Panama City $2,825
Santa Rita $1,412

A family of three spends $3,812 per month in Panama City vs $1,893 in Santa Rita, rent included.

Panama City $3,812
Santa Rita $1,893

Panama City costs about 97% more than Santa Rita, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.34 PAB 11.34

$3.43 ₲19.5K

230.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.85 PAB 47.85

$33.54 ₲190.4K

42.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.07 PAB 8.07

Cappuccino

$4.02 PAB 4.02

$3.33 ₲18.9K

20.72%

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

$1.94 PAB 1.94

$0.87 ₲4,948

122.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 PAB 1.62

$0.49 ₲2,783

230.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.26 PAB 3.26

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.99 PAB 3.99

$1.34 ₲7,583

197.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 PAB 1.83

$1.12 ₲6,371

63.39%

White Bread (500g)

$2.57 PAB 2.57

$1.82 ₲10.3K

41.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.33 PAB 3.33

$1.15 ₲6,553

189.57%

Eggs

$2.69 PAB 2.69

$2.74 ₲15.6K

-1.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.33 PAB 12.33

$7.86 ₲44.6K

56.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.69 PAB 6.69

$4.33 ₲24.6K

54.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.40 PAB 10.40

$11.25 ₲63.9K

-7.56%

Apples (1kg)

$4.16 PAB 4.16

$5.25 ₲29.8K

-20.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 PAB 1.84

Oranges (1kg)

$4.18 PAB 4.18

$3.43 ₲19.5K

21.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.08 PAB 4.08

$3.09 ₲17.5K

32.04%

Potato (1kg)

$3.50 PAB 3.50

$3.30 ₲18.7K

6.06%

Onion (1kg)

$4.37 PAB 4.37

$2.61 ₲14.8K

67.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.34 PAB 2.34

$0.81 ₲4,606

188.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 PAB 1.75

$1.40 ₲7,950

25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.06 PAB 6.06

Wine (Bottle)

$11.72 PAB 11.72

$5.07 ₲28.8K

131.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 PAB 1.37

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 PAB 2.84

$2.75 ₲15.6K

3.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 PAB 0.36

$1.33 ₲7,530

-72.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.96 PAB 20.96

$40.55 ₲230.2K

-48.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.52 PAB 2.52

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.79 PAB 1.79

$4.37 ₲24.8K

-59.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.01 PAB 22.01

$3.83 ₲21.7K

474.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 PAB 1.25

$1.42 ₲8,087

-11.97%

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

$21.5K PAB 21.5K

$9,647 ₲54.8M

123.25%

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

$21.2K PAB 21.2K

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

$131 PAB 131

$105 ₲594.6K

25.23%

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

$27.68 PAB 27.68

$23.85 ₲135.4K

16.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.59 PAB 48.59

$37.63 ₲213.6K

29.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.11 PAB 46.11

$43.27 ₲245.6K

6.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.01 PAB 35.01

$25.68 ₲145.8K

36.33%

Cinema Ticket

$8.73 PAB 8.73

$8.31 ₲47.2K

5.05%

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

$551 PAB 551

$77.2 ₲437.9K

613.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,560 PAB 9,560

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.6 PAB 67.6

$50.9 ₲288.9K

32.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.03 PAB 48.03

$83.6 ₲474.7K

-42.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.9 PAB 94.9

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 PAB 113

$68.9 ₲391.2K

63.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,238 PAB 1,238

$346 ₲2.0M

258.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$873 PAB 873

$254 ₲1.4M

244.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,197 PAB 2,197

$421 ₲2.4M

421.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,538 PAB 1,538

$340 ₲1.9M

352.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,116 PAB 3,116

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,725 PAB 1,725

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$934 PAB 934

$514 ₲2.9M

81.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.39

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

Last update for Panama City: October 3, 2026

Last update for Santa Rita: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Panama City

$873 47.2%

Santa Rita

–

Groceries & Markets

Panama City

$324 17.5%

Santa Rita

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Panama City

$207 11.2%

Santa Rita

–

Eating Out

Panama City

$202 10.9%

Santa Rita

–

Clothing & Footwear

Panama City

$146 7.9%

Santa Rita

–

Sport & Entertainment

Panama City

$64 3.4%

Santa Rita

–

Getting Around

Panama City

$34 1.8%

Santa Rita

–

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,238 in Panama City versus $346 in Santa Rita. 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 82% 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 $34.00 in Santa Rita. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $324 vs $230 – making Santa Rita the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇵🇦 Panama City

🇵🇾 Santa Rita

🕒 Local time

06:38 6:38 AM

08:38 8:38 AM

2 h ahead of Panama City

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,086,990 Capital

35,000

💱 Currency

Panamanian Balboa PAB B/.

Paraguayan Guarani PYG ₲

📈 Exchange rate

1 PAB = 1 USD

1 PAB = 0.892 EUR

10,000 PYG = 1.76 USD

10,000 PYG = 1.57 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

PYG, USD, EUR to PAB – Panamanian Balboa Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇵🇦 Panamanian Balboa (B/.)

Panamanian Balboa exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1 PAB (1 PAB = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.12 PAB (1 PAB = 0.892 EUR).

Paraguayan Guarani exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 5,676 PYG (10,000 PYG = 1.76 USD). 1 EUR = 6,361 PYG (10,000 PYG = 1.57 EUR).

USD to PAB in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Panama City Santa Rita 4,680 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight

From you

Panama City
Santa Rita

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 Rita: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Panama City is pricier by about 97%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,756 per month in Panama City and $1,397 in Santa Rita. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 41% 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 $34.00 in Santa Rita. 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 Rita, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Panama City at $1,837. In Santa Rita it covers expenses comfortably, while in Panama City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Santa Rita – 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 Rita. 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.