Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and Southampton

For one person, living is cheaper in Panama City: $1,857 a month against $3,694 in Southampton, rent and utilities included – about $22,000 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Panama City
🇵🇦 Panama
$1,857
/mo nomad
Southampton
🇧🇲 Bermuda
$3,694
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Panama City and in Southampton

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

A single person spends $1,857 per month in Panama City vs $3,694 in Southampton, rent included.

  • Panama City $1,857
  • Southampton $3,694

A couple spends around $2,815 per month in Panama City vs $8,281 in Southampton, rent included.

  • Panama City $2,815
  • Southampton $8,281

A family of three spends $3,773 per month in Panama City vs $12.9K in Southampton, rent included.

  • Panama City $3,773
  • Southampton $12.9K

Panama City is about 50% cheaper than Southampton, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Panama City and Southampton sit above the global median – Panama City by 37%, Southampton by 173%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Panama City
Southampton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.68 PAB 11.68
$50.7 BMD 50.7
-76.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.76 PAB 47.76
$151 BMD 151
-68.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.12 PAB 8.12
$16.82 BMD 16.82
-51.72%
Cappuccino
$4.23 PAB 4.23
$6.02 BMD 6.02
-29.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 PAB 1.92
$2.98 BMD 2.98
-35.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 PAB 1.58
$3.09 BMD 3.09
-48.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.31 PAB 3.31
$7.55 BMD 7.55
-56.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98 PAB 3.98
$9.03 BMD 9.03
-55.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Panama City
Southampton
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.92 PAB 1.92
$4.79 BMD 4.79
-59.92%
White Bread (500g)
$2.63 PAB 2.63
$7.98 BMD 7.98
-67.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.39 PAB 3.39
$5.45 BMD 5.45
-37.80%
Eggs
$2.67 PAB 2.67
$7.33 BMD 7.33
-63.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.21 PAB 12.21
$23.09 BMD 23.09
-47.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.91 PAB 6.91
$21.09 BMD 21.09
-67.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.58 PAB 10.58
$19.30 BMD 19.30
-45.18%
Apples (1kg)
$4.16 PAB 4.16
$8.88 BMD 8.88
-53.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.97 PAB 1.97
$6.79 BMD 6.79
-70.99%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.06 PAB 4.06
$7.23 BMD 7.23
-43.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.18 PAB 4.18
$8.49 BMD 8.49
-50.77%
Potato (1kg)
$3.47 PAB 3.47
$5.86 BMD 5.86
-40.78%
Onion (1kg)
$4.26 PAB 4.26
$4.13 BMD 4.13
3.15%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.44 PAB 2.44
$6.39 BMD 6.39
-61.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 PAB 1.69
$3.39 BMD 3.39
-50.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.83 PAB 5.83
$18.34 BMD 18.34
-68.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.43 PAB 11.43
$23.79 BMD 23.79
-51.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38 PAB 1.38
$5.12 BMD 5.12
-73.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 PAB 2.76
$4.20 BMD 4.20
-34.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Panama City
Southampton
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.33 PAB 0.33
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.63 PAB 20.63
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.55 PAB 2.55
$6.60 BMD 6.60
-61.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.78 PAB 1.78
$3.07 BMD 3.07
-42.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.17 PAB 22.17
$70.9 BMD 70.9
-68.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 PAB 1.24
$2.10 BMD 2.10
-40.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.4K PAB 24.4K
$37.4K BMD 37.4K
-34.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.3K PAB 21.3K
$43.4K BMD 43.4K
-50.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Panama City
Southampton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$131 PAB 131
$288 BMD 288
-54.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.83 PAB 27.83
$148 BMD 148
-81.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.32 PAB 49.32
$162 BMD 162
-69.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Panama City
Southampton
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.69 PAB 45.69
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.10 PAB 34.10
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.47 PAB 8.47
$13.37 BMD 13.37
-36.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Panama City
Southampton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$553 PAB 553
$1,314 BMD 1,314
-57.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,719 PAB 9,719
$24.9K BMD 24.9K
-60.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Panama City
Southampton
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.4 PAB 66.4
$90.3 BMD 90.3
-26.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.39 PAB 47.39
$70.2 BMD 70.2
-32.48%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.7 PAB 95.7
$141 BMD 141
-32.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 PAB 113
$131 BMD 131
-14.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Panama City
Southampton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,322 PAB 1,322
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$874 PAB 874
$1,503 BMD 1,503
-41.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,153 PAB 2,153
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,580 PAB 1,580
$7,867 BMD 7,867
-79.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,097 PAB 3,097
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,698 PAB 1,698
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Panama City
Southampton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$914 PAB 914
$9,763 BMD 9,763
-90.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.39
8.63
-25.96%

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

Last update for Panama City: October 20, 2026

Last update for Southampton: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Panama City
$874
Southampton
$1.5K 72% $629
Groceries & Markets
Panama City
$327
Southampton
$742 127% $415
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Panama City
$208
Southampton
$598 187% $389
Eating Out
Panama City
$207
Southampton
$608 194% $401
Clothing & Footwear
Panama City
$145
Southampton
$195 34.2% $50
Sport & Entertainment
Panama City
$63
Southampton
$27 * 57.3% $36
Getting Around
Panama City
$33
Southampton
$22 * 34.3% $11

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

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 968% higher in Southampton, 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 $151 in Southampton. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $327 vs $742 – making Panama City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇦 Panama City
🇧🇲 Southampton
🕒 Local time
21:23 9:23 PM
23:23 11:23 PM
2 h ahead of Panama City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,086,990 Capital
6,260
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BMD, USD, EUR to PAB – Panamanian Balboa Converter

Panamanian Balboa exchange rates as of October 25, 2026: 1 USD = 1 PAB (1 PAB = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.12 PAB (1 PAB = 0.89 EUR).

Bermudian Dollar exchange rates as of October 25, 2026: 1 USD = 1 BMD (1 BMD = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.12 BMD (1 BMD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Panama City Southampton 3,000 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Panama City
  • Southampton

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 Southampton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Southampton cheaper than Panama City?
Yes – Southampton is pricier by about 99%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,786 per month in Panama City and $5,542 in Southampton. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Panama City and in Southampton?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,857 in Panama City and $3,694 in Southampton. That's a gap of about 99%.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $553 per month in Panama City and $1,314 in Southampton. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Panama City or in Southampton?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Panama City, where all-in costs run around $1,857, than in Southampton at $3,694. In Panama City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Southampton it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Panama City or Southampton more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Panama City or Southampton?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Panama City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Southampton makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Panama City vs other spots: cost of living compared

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