Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama and Brazil

Name: Brazil
Address: BR

For one person, living is cheaper in Brazil: $915 a month against $1,590 in Panama, rent and utilities included – about $8,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

78

Cost of Living Index in Panama
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Panama Living Index
45

Cost of Living Index in Brazil
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Brazil Living Index

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🇵🇦 Panama

$1,590

/mo nomad

🇧🇷 Brazil

$915

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Panama and in Brazil

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Panama and in Brazil actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,590 per month in Panama vs $915 in Brazil, rent included.

Panama $1,590
Brazil $915

A couple spends around $2,415 per month in Panama vs $1,462 in Brazil, rent included.

Panama $2,415
Brazil $1,462

A family of three spends $3,241 per month in Panama vs $2,009 in Brazil, rent included.

Panama $3,241
Brazil $2,009

The cost of living in Panama is about 74% higher than in Brazil on average.

Panama sits 18% above the global median, while Brazil is 32% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.80 PAB 7.80

$6.73 R$34.09

15.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.15 PAB 44.15

$34.26 R$174

28.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.87 PAB 7.87

$7.98 R$40.47

-1.38%

Cappuccino

$3.86 PAB 3.86

$2.16 R$10.97

78.70%

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

$1.60 PAB 1.60

$1.30 R$6.61

23.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 PAB 1.40

$0.75 R$3.80

86.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 PAB 2.24

$1.96 R$9.95

14.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 PAB 3.96

$3.06 R$15.52

29.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 PAB 1.80

$1.09 R$5.54

65.14%

White Bread (500g)

$2.29 PAB 2.29

$1.69 R$8.54

35.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.91 PAB 2.91

$1.28 R$6.50

127.34%

Eggs

$2.49 PAB 2.49

$2.28 R$11.54

9.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.07 PAB 12.07

$9.90 R$50.2

21.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.22 PAB 7.22

$4.38 R$22.21

64.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.43 PAB 10.43

$8.64 R$43.78

20.72%

Apples (1kg)

$4.18 PAB 4.18

$2.38 R$12.04

75.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 PAB 1.42

$1.37 R$6.95

3.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.61 PAB 3.61

$1.29 R$6.54

179.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.86 PAB 3.86

$1.65 R$8.37

133.94%

Potato (1kg)

$2.64 PAB 2.64

$1.19 R$6.04

121.85%

Onion (1kg)

$3.14 PAB 3.14

$1.14 R$5.78

175.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 PAB 2.28

$0.82 R$4.15

178.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.57 PAB 1.57

$0.77 R$3.91

103.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.87 PAB 5.87

$2.43 R$12.31

141.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.15 PAB 10.15

$8.06 R$40.84

25.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.34 PAB 1.34

$1.38 R$7.00

-2.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 PAB 2.40

$2.33 R$11.80

3.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 PAB 0.44

$0.99 R$5.03

-55.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.23 PAB 21.23

$47.39 R$240

-55.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.49 PAB 2.49

$1.34 R$6.78

85.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 PAB 1.78

$0.99 R$5.00

79.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.40 PAB 22.40

$7.82 R$39.66

186.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 PAB 1.18

$1.30 R$6.60

-9.23%

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

$21.6K PAB 21.6K

$23.6K R$119.6K

-8.58%

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

$22.4K PAB 22.4K

$33.5K R$169.9K

-33.01%

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

$118 PAB 118

$84.8 R$430

39.22%

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

$26.75 PAB 26.75

$12.97 R$65.8

106.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.56 PAB 46.56

$21.05 R$107

121.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.98 PAB 48.98

$26.33 R$133

86.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.75 PAB 29.75

$27.36 R$139

8.74%

Cinema Ticket

$7.95 PAB 7.95

$7.27 R$36.87

9.35%

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

$553 PAB 553

$342 R$1,732

61.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,030 PAB 8,030

$9,086 R$46.1K

-11.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 PAB 54.6

$54.5 R$276

0.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.81 PAB 42.81

$50.1 R$254

-14.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.0 PAB 89.0

$90.0 R$456

-1.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 PAB 105

$72.2 R$366

45.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$939 PAB 939

$383 R$1,939

145.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$701 PAB 701

$250 R$1,269

180.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,709 PAB 1,709

$742 R$3,761

130.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 PAB 1,258

$501 R$2,540

151.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,911 PAB 2,911

$1,935 R$9,811

50.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,643 PAB 1,643

$1,294 R$6,558

27.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$831 PAB 831

$537 R$2,722

54.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.37

11.17

-42.97%

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

Last update for Panama: October 11, 2026

Last update for Brazil: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Panama

$701 44.1%

Brazil

$250 27.4% 64.3% $451

Groceries & Markets

Panama

$303 19.1%

Brazil

$199 21.8% 34.4% $104

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Panama

$191 12%

Brazil

$119 13% 37.9% $73

Eating Out

Panama

$163 10.3%

Brazil

$128 14% 21.7% $36

Clothing & Footwear

Panama

$131 8.3%

Brazil

$120 13.1% 8.4% $11

Sport & Entertainment

Panama

$65 4.1%

Brazil

$41 4.5% 37% $24

Getting Around

Panama

$34 2.2%

Brazil

$58 6.3% 67.7% $23

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $336 in Panama vs $353 in Brazil. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,257 in Panama City and $507 in Brasilia.

Average salary: $686 in Panama vs $503 in Brazil. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 5% higher in Brazil.

Dining out costs 11% more in Brazil.

Public transport is 1267% more expensive in Brazil.

Salaries are 36% higher in Panama, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Brazil.

Good to know

🇵🇦 Panama

🇧🇷 Brazil

🕒 Local time

23:16 11:16 PM

01:16 1:16 AM

2 h ahead of Panama

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

4,098,587

203,062,512

💱 Currency

Panamanian Balboa PAB B/.

Brazilian Real BRL R$

📈 Exchange rate

1 PAB = 1 USD

1 PAB = 0.89 EUR

1 BRL = 0.197 USD

1 BRL = 0.175 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 19, 2026: 1 USD = 1 PAB (1 PAB = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.12 PAB (1 PAB = 0.89 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 5.07 BRL (1 BRL = 0.197 USD). 1 EUR = 5.7 BRL (1 BRL = 0.175 EUR).

USD to PAB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Panama Brazil 4,440 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight

From you

Panama
Brazil

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 vs Brazil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Brazil is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 74% lower on average.

Not necessarily. Overall, Panama costs about 74% more, but the gap varies by category, and some expenses can be lower in Panama. Compare the categories that matter most for your budget.

$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Brazil, but in Panama it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

Brazil is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.