Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and Ubud, Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Ubud, Bali: $1,368 a month against $1,855 in Panama City, rent and utilities included – about $5,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Panama City
🇵🇦 Panama
$1,855
/mo nomad
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,368
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Panama City and in Ubud, Bali

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

A single person spends $1,855 per month in Panama City vs $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

  • Panama City $1,855
  • Ubud, Bali $1,368

A couple spends around $2,804 per month in Panama City vs $2,314 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

  • Panama City $2,804
  • Ubud, Bali $2,314

A family of three spends $3,753 per month in Panama City vs $3,260 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

  • Panama City $3,753
  • Ubud, Bali $3,260

Panama City costs about 36% more than Ubud, Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Panama City and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Panama City by 37%, Ubud, Bali by 1%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Panama City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.63 PAB 11.63
$3.33 Rp 59.9K
249.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.92 PAB 47.92
$35.18 Rp 633.2K
36.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.96 PAB 7.96
$5.80 Rp 104.5K
37.24%
Cappuccino
$4.22 PAB 4.22
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
54.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 PAB 2.01
$1.64 Rp 29.5K
22.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 PAB 1.56
$0.83 Rp 15.0K
87.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.39 PAB 3.39
$2.70 Rp 48.6K
25.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.94 PAB 3.94
$4.30 Rp 77.4K
-8.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Panama City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.85 PAB 1.85
$1.50 Rp 27.1K
23.33%
White Bread (500g)
$2.56 PAB 2.56
$2.30 Rp 41.4K
11.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.48 PAB 3.48
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
194.92%
Eggs
$2.69 PAB 2.69
$2.14 Rp 38.6K
25.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.57 PAB 12.57
$17.48 Rp 314.6K
-28.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.83 PAB 6.83
$4.03 Rp 72.5K
69.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.58 PAB 10.58
$12.23 Rp 220.1K
-13.49%
Apples (1kg)
$4.18 PAB 4.18
$3.55 Rp 63.9K
17.75%
Banana (1kg)
$1.83 PAB 1.83
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
16.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.20 PAB 4.20
$2.24 Rp 40.2K
87.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.03 PAB 4.03
$1.93 Rp 34.7K
108.81%
Potato (1kg)
$3.48 PAB 3.48
$1.88 Rp 33.9K
85.11%
Onion (1kg)
$4.22 PAB 4.22
$2.29 Rp 41.3K
84.28%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.41 PAB 2.41
$0.99 Rp 17.9K
143.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 PAB 1.69
$0.53 Rp 9,475
218.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.14 PAB 6.14
$2.28 Rp 41.1K
169.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.30 PAB 11.30
$23.01 Rp 414.2K
-50.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42 PAB 1.42
$2.34 Rp 42.2K
-39.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 PAB 2.73
$2.91 Rp 52.4K
-6.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Panama City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.33 PAB 0.33
$0.24 Rp 4,315
37.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.23 PAB 21.23
$8.82 Rp 158.7K
140.70%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.52 PAB 2.52
$0.48 Rp 8,684
425.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.86 PAB 1.86
$0.46 Rp 8,233
304.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.78 PAB 21.78
$5.45 Rp 98.2K
299.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 PAB 1.25
$0.88 Rp 15.9K
42.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K PAB 21.2K
$24.6K Rp 442.2M
-13.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.0K PAB 21.0K
$31.2K Rp 561.4M
-32.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Panama City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$130 PAB 130
$83.0 Rp 1.5M
56.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.13 PAB 28.13
$6.45 Rp 116.0K
336.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.21 PAB 48.21
$18.57 Rp 334.2K
159.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Panama City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.78 PAB 45.78
$55.8 Rp 1.0M
-17.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.92 PAB 34.92
$18.11 Rp 326.0K
92.82%
Cinema Ticket
$8.67 PAB 8.67
$4.38 Rp 78.9K
97.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Panama City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$544 PAB 544
$493 Rp 8.9M
10.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,697 PAB 9,697
$5,754 Rp 103.6M
68.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Panama City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.8 PAB 66.8
$46.19 Rp 831.4K
44.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.14 PAB 49.14
$35.33 Rp 636.0K
39.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.9 PAB 93.9
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
18.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 PAB 112
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
42.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Panama City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,257 PAB 1,257
$1,142 Rp 20.6M
10.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$875 PAB 875
$676 Rp 12.2M
29.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,155 PAB 2,155
$3,503 Rp 63.1M
-38.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,564 PAB 1,564
$1,700 Rp 30.6M
-8.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,122 PAB 3,122
$2,784 Rp 50.1M
12.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,709 PAB 1,709
$2,241 Rp 40.3M
-23.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Panama City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$916 PAB 916
$165 Rp 3.0M
456.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.39
13.78
-53.63%

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

Last update for Panama City: October 10, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Panama City
$875
Ubud, Bali
$676 22.8% $199
Groceries & Markets
Panama City
$325
Ubud, Bali
$290 10.7% $35
Eating Out
Panama City
$207
Ubud, Bali
$109 47.4% $98
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Panama City
$206
Ubud, Bali
$108 47.6% $98
Clothing & Footwear
Panama City
$145
Ubud, Bali
$108 25.6% $37
Sport & Entertainment
Panama City
$63
Ubud, Bali
$65 2.3% $1.5
Getting Around
Panama City
$34
Ubud, Bali
$13 63.5% $22

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,257 in Panama City versus $1,142 in Ubud, Bali. 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 457% 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 $35.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $325 vs $290 – making Ubud, Bali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇦 Panama City
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🕒 Local time
10:52 10:52 AM
23:52 11:52 PM
13 h ahead of Panama City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,086,990 Capital
74,800
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to PAB – Panamanian Balboa Converter

Panamanian Balboa exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 1 PAB (1 PAB = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.12 PAB (1 PAB = 0.89 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Panama City Ubud, Bali 18,390 km ≈ 23 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Panama City
  • Ubud, Bali

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 Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Panama City?
Yes – Panama City is pricier by about 36%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,783 per month in Panama City and $2,051 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ubud, Bali, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Panama City and in Ubud, Bali?
Groceries cost about 12% 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.
Is eating out cheaper in Panama City or in Ubud, Bali?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Panama City and $35.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Panama City or in Ubud, Bali?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,368, than in Panama City at $1,855. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Panama City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Panama City or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ubud, Bali – 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 Ubud, Bali?
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 Ubud, Bali. 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.

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