Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and Sao Joao da Boa Vista

For one person, living is cheaper in Sao Joao da Boa Vista: $823 a month against $1,855 in Panama City, rent and utilities included – about $12,400 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
40

Cost of Living Index in Sao Joao da Boa Vista
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Sao Joao da Boa Vista Living Index

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Panama City

🇵🇦 Panama

$1,855

/mo nomad

Sao Joao da Boa Vista

🇧🇷 Brazil

$823

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Panama City and in Sao Joao da Boa Vista

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 Sao Joao da Boa Vista actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,855 per month in Panama City vs $823 in Sao Joao da Boa Vista, rent included.

Panama City $1,855
Sao Joao da Boa Vista $823

A couple spends around $2,804 per month in Panama City vs $1,320 in Sao Joao da Boa Vista, rent included.

Panama City $2,804
Sao Joao da Boa Vista $1,320

A family of three spends $3,753 per month in Panama City vs $1,818 in Sao Joao da Boa Vista, rent included.

Panama City $3,753
Sao Joao da Boa Vista $1,818

Panama City costs about 126% more than Sao Joao da Boa Vista, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Panama City sits 37% above the global median, while Sao Joao da Boa Vista is 39% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.63 PAB 11.63

$5.62 R$28.22

106.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.92 PAB 47.92

$23.03 R$116

108.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.96 PAB 7.96

$7.07 R$35.45

12.59%

Cappuccino

$4.22 PAB 4.22

$2.05 R$10.29

105.85%

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

$2.01 PAB 2.01

$1.17 R$5.89

71.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 PAB 1.56

$0.92 R$4.62

69.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.39 PAB 3.39

$1.98 R$9.94

71.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 PAB 3.94

$2.06 R$10.32

91.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 PAB 1.85

$1.07 R$5.37

72.90%

White Bread (500g)

$2.56 PAB 2.56

$1.64 R$8.23

56.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.48 PAB 3.48

$0.98 R$4.90

255.10%

Eggs

$2.69 PAB 2.69

$2.37 R$11.90

13.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.57 PAB 12.57

$10.01 R$50.2

25.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.83 PAB 6.83

$5.00 R$25.09

36.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.58 PAB 10.58

$10.07 R$50.5

5.06%

Apples (1kg)

$4.18 PAB 4.18

$1.95 R$9.80

114.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 PAB 1.83

$1.17 R$5.88

56.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.20 PAB 4.20

$0.97 R$4.89

332.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.03 PAB 4.03

$1.56 R$7.85

158.33%

Potato (1kg)

$3.48 PAB 3.48

$0.83 R$4.15

319.28%

Onion (1kg)

$4.22 PAB 4.22

$0.81 R$4.09

420.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 PAB 2.41

$0.78 R$3.90

208.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 PAB 1.69

$0.77 R$3.87

119.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.14 PAB 6.14

$2.35 R$11.80

161.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.30 PAB 11.30

$6.09 R$30.55

85.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 PAB 1.42

$1.18 R$5.90

20.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 PAB 2.73

$1.98 R$9.93

37.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 PAB 0.33

$0.87 R$4.38

-62.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.23 PAB 21.23

$44.48 R$223

-52.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.52 PAB 2.52

$1.57 R$7.89

60.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.86 PAB 1.86

$1.57 R$7.87

18.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.78 PAB 21.78

$8.19 R$41.10

165.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 PAB 1.25

$1.07 R$5.35

16.82%

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

$21.2K PAB 21.2K

$19.8K R$99.3K

7.34%

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

$21.0K PAB 21.0K

$33.3K R$166.9K

-36.81%

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

$130 PAB 130

$95.3 R$478

36.23%

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

$28.13 PAB 28.13

$9.88 R$49.55

184.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.21 PAB 48.21

$19.70 R$98.8

144.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.78 PAB 45.78

$28.59 R$143

60.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.92 PAB 34.92

$31.76 R$159

9.95%

Cinema Ticket

$8.67 PAB 8.67

$5.49 R$27.56

57.92%

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

$544 PAB 544

$280 R$1,403

94.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,697 PAB 9,697

$10.3K R$51.8K

-6.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.8 PAB 66.8

$54.6 R$274

22.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.14 PAB 49.14

$37.79 R$190

30.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.9 PAB 93.9

$51.3 R$258

82.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 PAB 112

$60.7 R$304

83.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,257 PAB 1,257

$349 R$1,753

259.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$875 PAB 875

$203 R$1,018

331.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,155 PAB 2,155

$678 R$3,402

217.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,564 PAB 1,564

$465 R$2,333

236.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,122 PAB 3,122

$1,581 R$7,931

97.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,709 PAB 1,709

$1,031 R$5,175

65.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$916 PAB 916

$659 R$3,307

38.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.39

12.79

-50.04%

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

Last update for Panama City: October 10, 2026

Last update for Sao Joao da Boa Vista: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Panama City

$875 47.2%

Sao Joao da Boa Vista

$203 24.7% 76.8% $672

Groceries & Markets

Panama City

$325 17.5%

Sao Joao da Boa Vista

$193 23.4% 40.7% $132

Eating Out

Panama City

$207 11.1%

Sao Joao da Boa Vista

$113 13.8% 45.2% $93

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Panama City

$206 11.1%

Sao Joao da Boa Vista

$125 15.2% 39.4% $81

Clothing & Footwear

Panama City

$145 7.8%

Sao Joao da Boa Vista

$92 11.2% 36.4% $53

Sport & Entertainment

Panama City

$63 3.4%

Sao Joao da Boa Vista

$40 4.8% 37.3% $24

Getting Around

Panama City

$34 1.9%

Sao Joao da Boa Vista

$57 7% 66.8% $23

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,257 in Panama City versus $349 in Sao Joao da Boa Vista. 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 39% 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 $23.00 in Sao Joao da Boa Vista. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $325 vs $193 – making Sao Joao da Boa Vista the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇵🇦 Panama City

🇧🇷 Sao Joao da Boa Vista

🕒 Local time

15:20 3:20 PM

17:20 5:20 PM

2 h ahead of Panama City

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,086,990 Capital

92,547

💱 Currency

Panamanian Balboa PAB B/.

Brazilian Real BRL R$

📈 Exchange rate

1 PAB = 1 USD

1 PAB = 0.893 EUR

1 BRL = 0.199 USD

1 BRL = 0.178 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 14, 2026: 1 USD = 1 PAB (1 PAB = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.12 PAB (1 PAB = 0.893 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 14, 2026: 1 USD = 5.02 BRL (1 BRL = 0.199 USD). 1 EUR = 5.62 BRL (1 BRL = 0.178 EUR).

USD to PAB in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Panama City Sao Joao da Boa Vista 4,960 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight

From you

Panama City
Sao Joao da Boa Vista

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 Sao Joao da Boa Vista: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Panama City is pricier by about 126%, 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 $1,234 in Sao Joao da Boa Vista. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sao Joao da Boa Vista, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 69% 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 $23.00 in Sao Joao da Boa Vista. 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 Sao Joao da Boa Vista, where all-in costs run around $823, than in Panama City at $1,855. In Sao Joao da Boa Vista it covers expenses comfortably, while in Panama City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sao Joao da Boa Vista – 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 Sao Joao da Boa Vista. 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.