Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama and Budapest

For one person, living costs are similar in Panama and in Budapest: $1,604 and $1,621 a month, rent and utilities included.

Jump to prices
🇵🇦 Panama
$1,604
/mo nomad
Budapest
🇭🇺 Hungary
$1,621
/mo nomad
🙂 Solo nomad: Panama is 7.1% cheaper than Budapest without rent, and 1.1% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Panama is 7.7% cheaper than Budapest without rent, and 5.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Panama
Budapest
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.86 PAB 7.86
$13.99 Ft 4,551
-43.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.75 PAB 44.75
$60.3 Ft 19.6K
-25.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.89 PAB 7.89
$9.96 Ft 3,241
-20.78%
Cappuccino
$3.84 PAB 3.84
$3.38 Ft 1,100
13.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 PAB 1.59
$2.13 Ft 692
-25.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 PAB 1.41
$1.87 Ft 608
-24.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.19 PAB 2.19
$3.75 Ft 1,221
-41.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.04 PAB 4.04
$3.57 Ft 1,162
13.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Panama
Budapest
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.85 PAB 1.85
$1.13 Ft 368
63.72%
White Bread (500g)
$2.32 PAB 2.32
$1.84 Ft 599
26.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.99 PAB 2.99
$2.39 Ft 777
25.10%
Eggs
$2.48 PAB 2.48
$3.83 Ft 1,245
-35.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.28 PAB 12.28
$11.33 Ft 3,686
8.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.94 PAB 6.94
$6.74 Ft 2,192
2.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.11 PAB 10.11
$14.69 Ft 4,780
-31.18%
Apples (1kg)
$4.18 PAB 4.18
$1.84 Ft 597
127.17%
Banana (1kg)
$1.48 PAB 1.48
$2.01 Ft 653
-26.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.65 PAB 3.65
$2.36 Ft 767
54.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.73 PAB 3.73
$3.77 Ft 1,226
-1.06%
Potato (1kg)
$2.50 PAB 2.50
$0.96 Ft 313
160.42%
Onion (1kg)
$3.29 PAB 3.29
$1.03 Ft 334
219.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.34 PAB 2.34
$1.56 Ft 509
50.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.57 PAB 1.57
$0.66 Ft 216
137.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.08 PAB 6.08
$7.96 Ft 2,591
-23.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.88 PAB 9.88
$6.01 Ft 1,954
64.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 PAB 1.39
$1.30 Ft 421
6.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 PAB 2.42
$2.08 Ft 676
16.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Panama
Budapest
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.43 PAB 0.43
$1.50 Ft 489
-71.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.96 PAB 20.96
$27.61 Ft 8,982
-24.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.43 PAB 2.43
$3.30 Ft 1,074
-26.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.82 PAB 1.82
$1.30 Ft 424
40.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.79 PAB 21.79
$19.78 Ft 6,436
10.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.18 PAB 1.18
$1.81 Ft 591
-34.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5K PAB 21.5K
$29.3K Ft 9.5M
-26.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K PAB 22.2K
$34.1K Ft 11.1M
-34.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Panama
Budapest
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$119 PAB 119
$170 Ft 55.3K
-29.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.03 PAB 27.03
$23.98 Ft 7,802
12.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.70 PAB 47.70
$23.42 Ft 7,621
103.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Panama
Budapest
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.94 PAB 48.94
$66.2 Ft 21.6K
-26.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.16 PAB 30.16
$19.18 Ft 6,239
57.25%
Cinema Ticket
$7.84 PAB 7.84
$9.52 Ft 3,098
-17.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Panama
Budapest
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$536 PAB 536
$537 Ft 174.6K
-0.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,069 PAB 8,069
$16.6K Ft 5.4M
-51.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Panama
Budapest
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5 PAB 53.5
$101 Ft 33.0K
-47.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.77 PAB 42.77
$42.99 Ft 14.0K
-0.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.4 PAB 87.4
$113 Ft 36.7K
-22.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 PAB 103
$119 Ft 38.6K
-12.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Panama
Budapest
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$944 PAB 944
$805 Ft 262.0K
17.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$697 PAB 697
$629 Ft 204.7K
10.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,728 PAB 1,728
$1,549 Ft 504.1K
11.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,262 PAB 1,262
$1,167 Ft 379.7K
8.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,941 PAB 2,941
$5,618 Ft 1.8M
-47.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,673 PAB 1,673
$3,968 Ft 1.3M
-57.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Panama
Budapest
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$826 PAB 826
$1,626 Ft 529.0K
-49.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.37
6.43
-0.93%

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

Last update for Panama: October 5, 2026

Last update for Budapest: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Panama
$697
Budapest
$629 9.7% $67
Groceries & Markets
Panama
$302
Budapest
$258 14.8% $45
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Panama
$194
Budapest
$217 12.2% $24
Eating Out
Panama
$164
Budapest
$224 37.1% $61
Clothing & Footwear
Panama
$129
Budapest
$169 30.9% $40
Sport & Entertainment
Panama
$65
Budapest
$85 32% $21
Getting Around
Panama
$34
Budapest
$43 26.9% $9.2
Good to know
🇵🇦 Panama
🇭🇺 Budapest
🕒 Local time
22:09 10:09 PM
05:09 5:09 AM
7 h ahead of Panama
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,098,587
1,686,222 Capital
💱 Currency
Panamanian Balboa PAB B/.
Hungarian Forint HUF Ft
📈 Exchange rate
1 PAB = 1 USD
1 PAB = 0.892 EUR
1,000 HUF = 3.07 USD
1,000 HUF = 2.74 EUR
Exchange rates and currency converter

HUF, USD, EUR to PAB – Panamanian Balboa Converter

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).

Hungarian Forint exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 325 HUF (1,000 HUF = 3.07 USD). 1 EUR = 365 HUF (1,000 HUF = 2.74 EUR).

USD to PAB in detail →
On the map
Between locations
  • Panama Budapest 9,910 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Panama
  • Budapest

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 other spots: cost of living compared

🇵🇦 Panama
$1,604
/mo nomad
🇺🇸 United States
$2,785
/mo nomad
🇵🇦 Panama
$1,604
/mo nomad
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,284
/mo nomad
🇵🇦 Panama
$1,604
/mo nomad
🇮🇳 India
$380
/mo nomad
🇵🇦 Panama
$1,604
/mo nomad
🇩🇪 Germany
$2,099
/mo nomad
Show more

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