Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and Surprise, AZ

For one person, living is cheaper in Surprise, AZ: $1,305 a month against $1,837 in Panama City, rent and utilities included – about $6,400 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Panama City outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

90

Cost of Living Index in Panama City
Learn more

Panama City Living Index
63

Cost of Living Index in Surprise, AZ
Learn more

Surprise, AZ Living Index

Jump to prices

Panama City

🇵🇦 Panama

$1,837

/mo nomad

Surprise, AZ

🇺🇸 United States

$1,305

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Panama City and in Surprise, 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 Surprise, AZ actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,837 per month in Panama City vs $1,305 in Surprise, AZ, rent included.

Panama City $1,837
Surprise, AZ $1,305

A couple spends around $2,825 per month in Panama City vs $3,606 in Surprise, AZ, rent included.

Panama City $2,825
Surprise, AZ $3,606

A family of three spends $3,812 per month in Panama City vs $5,906 in Surprise, AZ, rent included.

Panama City $3,812
Surprise, AZ $5,906

Panama City costs about 41% more than Surprise, AZ, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Panama City sits 37% above the global median, while Surprise, AZ is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.34 PAB 11.34

$20.25 $20.25

-44.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.85 PAB 47.85

$84.2 $84.2

-43.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.07 PAB 8.07

$12.84 $12.84

-37.15%

Cappuccino

$4.02 PAB 4.02

$6.01 $6.01

-33.11%

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

$1.94 PAB 1.94

$2.65 $2.65

-26.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 PAB 1.62

$2.46 $2.46

-34.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.26 PAB 3.26

$7.20 $7.20

-54.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.99 PAB 3.99

$8.13 $8.13

-50.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 PAB 1.83

$1.00 $1.00

83.00%

White Bread (500g)

$2.57 PAB 2.57

$3.52 $3.52

-26.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.33 PAB 3.33

$5.19 $5.19

-35.84%

Eggs

$2.69 PAB 2.69

$4.73 $4.73

-43.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.33 PAB 12.33

$13.40 $13.40

-7.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.69 PAB 6.69

$11.30 $11.30

-40.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.40 PAB 10.40

$14.80 $14.80

-29.73%

Apples (1kg)

$4.16 PAB 4.16

$4.61 $4.61

-9.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 PAB 1.84

$1.94 $1.94

-5.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.18 PAB 4.18

$3.88 $3.88

7.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.08 PAB 4.08

$4.21 $4.21

-3.09%

Potato (1kg)

$3.50 PAB 3.50

$2.55 $2.55

37.25%

Onion (1kg)

$4.37 PAB 4.37

$2.88 $2.88

51.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.34 PAB 2.34

$2.13 $2.13

9.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 PAB 1.75

$2.17 $2.17

-19.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.06 PAB 6.06

$10.66 $10.66

-43.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.72 PAB 11.72

$13.77 $13.77

-14.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 PAB 1.37

$2.51 $2.51

-45.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 PAB 2.84

$3.19 $3.19

-10.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 PAB 0.36

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.96 PAB 20.96

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.52 PAB 2.52

$2.80 $2.80

-10.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.79 PAB 1.79

$1.40 $1.40

27.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.01 PAB 22.01

$35.29 $35.29

-37.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 PAB 1.25

$1.13 $1.13

10.62%

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

$21.5K PAB 21.5K

$36.7K $36.7K

-41.36%

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

$21.2K PAB 21.2K

$25.3K $25.3K

-16.24%

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

$131 PAB 131

$197 $197

-33.40%

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

$27.68 PAB 27.68

$62.6 $62.6

-55.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.59 PAB 48.59

$73.8 $73.8

-34.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.11 PAB 46.11

$60.8 $60.8

-24.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.01 PAB 35.01

Cinema Ticket

$8.73 PAB 8.73

$13.16 $13.16

-33.66%

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

$551 PAB 551

$1,090 $1,090

-49.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,560 PAB 9,560

$15.6K $15.6K

-38.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.6 PAB 67.6

$56.0 $56.0

20.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.03 PAB 48.03

$44.17 $44.17

8.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.9 PAB 94.9

$99.9 $99.9

-4.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 PAB 113

$115 $115

-2.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,238 PAB 1,238

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$873 PAB 873

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,197 PAB 2,197

$2,116 $2,116

3.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,538 PAB 1,538

$3,030 $3,030

-49.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,116 PAB 3,116

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,725 PAB 1,725

$1,591 $1,591

8.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$934 PAB 934

$4,222 $4,222

-77.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.39

6.44

-0.78%

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

Last update for Panama City: October 3, 2026

Last update for Surprise, AZ: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Panama City

$873 47.2%

Surprise, AZ

- * 0% 100%

Groceries & Markets

Panama City

$324 17.5%

Surprise, AZ

$392 29.9% 20.8% $67

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Panama City

$207 11.2%

Surprise, AZ

$333 25.5% 60.7% $126

Eating Out

Panama City

$202 10.9%

Surprise, AZ

$345 26.4% 71.2% $144

Clothing & Footwear

Panama City

$146 7.9%

Surprise, AZ

$142 10.8% 2.5% $3.6

Sport & Entertainment

Panama City

$64 3.4%

Surprise, AZ

$87 6.7% 37% $24

Getting Around

Panama City

$34 1.8%

Surprise, AZ

$9.8 * 0.8% 71% $24

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

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 352% higher in Surprise, AZ, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Panama City versus $84.0 in Surprise, AZ. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $324 vs $392 – making Panama City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇵🇦 Panama City

🇺🇸 Surprise, AZ

🕒 Local time

04:59 4:59 AM

02:59 2:59 AM

2 h behind Panama City

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,086,990 Capital

143,148

💱 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 12, 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 12, 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 Surprise, AZ 4,330 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight

From you

Panama City
Surprise, 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 Surprise, AZ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Panama City is pricier by about 41%, 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 $1,958 in Surprise, AZ. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,837 in Panama City and $1,305 in Surprise, AZ. That's a gap of about 41%.

Kindergarten costs $551 per month in Panama City and $1,090 in Surprise, AZ. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Surprise, AZ, where all-in costs run around $1,305, than in Panama City at $1,837. In Surprise, AZ it covers expenses comfortably, while in Panama City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Surprise, AZ – 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 Surprise, AZ. 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.