Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and Show Low, AZ

For one person, living is cheaper in Panama City: $1,837 a month against $2,962 in Show Low, AZ, rent and utilities included – about $13,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

90

Cost of Living Index in Panama City
Learn more

Panama City Living Index
141

Cost of Living Index in Show Low, AZ
Learn more

Show Low, AZ Living Index

Jump to prices

Panama City

🇵🇦 Panama

$1,837

/mo nomad

Show Low, AZ

🇺🇸 United States

$2,962

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Panama City and in Show Low, AZ

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 Show Low, AZ actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,837 per month in Panama City vs $2,962 in Show Low, AZ, rent included.

Panama City $1,837
Show Low, AZ $2,962

A couple spends around $2,825 per month in Panama City vs $4,019 in Show Low, AZ, rent included.

Panama City $2,825
Show Low, AZ $4,019

A family of three spends $3,812 per month in Panama City vs $5,075 in Show Low, AZ, rent included.

Panama City $3,812
Show Low, AZ $5,075

Panama City is about 38% cheaper than Show Low, AZ, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Panama City and Show Low, AZ sit above the global median – Panama City by 37%, Show Low, AZ by 121%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.34 PAB 11.34

$17.36 $17.36

-34.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.85 PAB 47.85

$81.2 $81.2

-41.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.07 PAB 8.07

$18.65 $18.65

-56.73%

Cappuccino

$4.02 PAB 4.02

$6.09 $6.09

-33.99%

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

$1.94 PAB 1.94

$3.42 $3.42

-43.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 PAB 1.62

$2.70 $2.70

-40.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.26 PAB 3.26

$5.92 $5.92

-44.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.99 PAB 3.99

$6.93 $6.93

-42.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 PAB 1.83

$1.47 $1.47

24.49%

White Bread (500g)

$2.57 PAB 2.57

$4.49 $4.49

-42.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.33 PAB 3.33

$4.41 $4.41

-24.49%

Eggs

$2.69 PAB 2.69

$4.18 $4.18

-35.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.33 PAB 12.33

$13.77 $13.77

-10.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.69 PAB 6.69

$11.51 $11.51

-41.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.40 PAB 10.40

$15.74 $15.74

-33.93%

Apples (1kg)

$4.16 PAB 4.16

$4.72 $4.72

-11.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 PAB 1.84

$1.58 $1.58

16.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.18 PAB 4.18

$4.22 $4.22

-0.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.08 PAB 4.08

$5.01 $5.01

-18.56%

Potato (1kg)

$3.50 PAB 3.50

$3.03 $3.03

15.51%

Onion (1kg)

$4.37 PAB 4.37

$2.92 $2.92

49.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.34 PAB 2.34

$1.99 $1.99

17.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 PAB 1.75

$2.24 $2.24

-21.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.06 PAB 6.06

$10.79 $10.79

-43.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.72 PAB 11.72

$15.19 $15.19

-22.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 PAB 1.37

$2.01 $2.01

-31.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 PAB 2.84

$3.32 $3.32

-14.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 PAB 0.36

$2.11 $2.11

-82.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.96 PAB 20.96

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.52 PAB 2.52

$3.39 $3.39

-25.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.79 PAB 1.79

$1.57 $1.57

14.01%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.01 PAB 22.01

$32.81 $32.81

-32.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 PAB 1.25

$1.09 $1.09

14.68%

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

$21.5K PAB 21.5K

$32.7K $32.7K

-34.24%

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

$21.2K PAB 21.2K

$25.2K $25.2K

-16.06%

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

$131 PAB 131

$199 $199

-34.21%

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

$27.68 PAB 27.68

$57.5 $57.5

-51.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.59 PAB 48.59

$99.1 $99.1

-50.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.11 PAB 46.11

$44.11 $44.11

4.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.01 PAB 35.01

Cinema Ticket

$8.73 PAB 8.73

$8.73 $8.73

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

$551 PAB 551

$1,265 $1,265

-56.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,560 PAB 9,560

$25.6K $25.6K

-62.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.6 PAB 67.6

$49.18 $49.18

37.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.03 PAB 48.03

$40.02 $40.02

20.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.9 PAB 94.9

$88.5 $88.5

7.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 PAB 113

$104 $104

8.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,238 PAB 1,238

$1,478 $1,478

-16.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$873 PAB 873

$1,620 $1,620

-46.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,197 PAB 2,197

$2,454 $2,454

-10.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,538 PAB 1,538

$2,247 $2,247

-31.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,116 PAB 3,116

$2,881 $2,881

8.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,725 PAB 1,725

$2,450 $2,450

-29.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$934 PAB 934

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.39

6.57

-2.74%

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

Last update for Panama City: October 3, 2026

Last update for Show Low, AZ: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Panama City

$873 47.2%

Show Low, AZ

$1.6K 55.3% 85.6% $747

Groceries & Markets

Panama City

$324 17.5%

Show Low, AZ

$412 14.1% 27% $88

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Panama City

$207 11.2%

Show Low, AZ

$356 12.1% 71.6% $148

Eating Out

Panama City

$202 10.9%

Show Low, AZ

$336 11.5% 66.5% $134

Clothing & Footwear

Panama City

$146 7.9%

Show Low, AZ

$127 4.3% 12.9% $19

Sport & Entertainment

Panama City

$64 3.4%

Show Low, AZ

$62 2.1% 3.1% $2

Getting Around

Panama City

$34 1.8%

Show Low, AZ

$20 * 0.7% 41.9% $14

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,238 in Panama City versus $1,478 in Show Low, AZ. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Panama City versus $81.0 in Show Low, AZ. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $324 vs $412 – making Panama City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇵🇦 Panama City

🇺🇸 Show Low, AZ

🕒 Local time

09:19 9:19 AM

07:19 7:19 AM

2 h behind Panama City

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,086,990 Capital

11,732

💱 Currency

Panamanian Balboa PAB B/.

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 PAB = 1 USD

1 PAB = 0.892 EUR

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

USD to PAB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Panama City Show Low, AZ 4,190 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight

From you

Panama City
Show Low, AZ

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 Show Low, AZ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Show Low, AZ is pricier by about 61%, 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 $4,444 in Show Low, AZ. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Panama City, 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 $1,837 in Panama City and $2,962 in Show Low, AZ. That's a gap of about 61%.

Kindergarten costs $551 per month in Panama City and $1,265 in Show Low, AZ. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Panama City, where all-in costs run around $1,837, than in Show Low, AZ at $2,962. In Panama City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Show Low, AZ it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Panama City – 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 Panama City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Show Low, AZ makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.