Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama and China Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama and China

😐 Solo nomad: Panama is 62.8% more expensive than China without rent, and 95.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Panama is 61.1% more expensive than China without rent, and 84.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Panama
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.18 PAB 10.18
$2.85 ¥20.46
257.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.5 PAB 50.5
$23.97 ¥172
110.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.58 PAB 7.58
$4.96 ¥35.61
52.82%
Cappuccino
$3.55 PAB 3.55
$3.13 ¥22.47
13.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 PAB 1.51
$0.44 ¥3.18
243.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23 PAB 1.23
$0.29 ¥2.1
324.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.23 PAB 2.23
$0.95 ¥6.83
134.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 PAB 3.73
$2.14 ¥15.32
74.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Panama
China
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.83 PAB 1.83
$1.85 ¥13.23
-1.08%
White Bread (500g)
$2.41 PAB 2.41
$1.68 ¥12.06
43.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.27 PAB 2.27
$0.95 ¥6.81
138.95%
Eggs
$2.7 PAB 2.7
$1.55 ¥11.11
74.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.54 PAB 11.54
$13.25 ¥95.1
-12.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.39 PAB 7.39
$3.28 ¥23.52
125.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.36 PAB 9.36
$10.85 ¥77.8
-13.73%
Apples (1kg)
$3.89 PAB 3.89
$1.77 ¥12.66
119.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 PAB 1.37
$1.26 ¥9.01
8.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.89 PAB 2.89
$1.5 ¥10.73
92.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.05 PAB 3.05
$1.19 ¥8.5
156.30%
Potato (1kg)
$2.1 PAB 2.1
$0.75 ¥5.4
180.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.46 PAB 2.46
$0.86 ¥6.15
186.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.14 PAB 2.14
$0.61 ¥4.37
250.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.6 PAB 1.6
$0.58 ¥4.14
175.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.88 PAB 5.88
$3.45 ¥24.74
70.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.17 PAB 10.17
$11.3 ¥81.1
-10.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 PAB 1.24
$0.84 ¥6
47.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 PAB 2.22
$1.68 ¥12.05
32.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Panama
China
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 PAB 0.52
$0.4 ¥2.86
30.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.45 PAB 25.45
$20.83 ¥149
22.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.05 PAB 2.05
$1.36 ¥9.74
50.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.99 PAB 1.99
$0.35 ¥2.55
468.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.72 PAB 20.72
$6.8 ¥48.75
204.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.96 PAB 0.96
$1.12 ¥8.05
-14.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K PAB 21.3K
$19.2K ¥137.7K
11.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.9K PAB 20.9K
$16.7K ¥119.8K
25.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Panama
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$108 PAB 108
$51.4 ¥369
110.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.43 PAB 29.43
$9.77 ¥70.1
201.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.41 PAB 47.41
$11.34 ¥81.3
318.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Panama
China
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.24 PAB 49.24
$39.55 ¥284
24.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$33.72 PAB 33.72
$14.89 ¥107
126.46%
Cinema Ticket
$7.11 PAB 7.11
$6.23 ¥44.71
14.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Panama
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$439 PAB 439
$417 ¥2,989
5.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K PAB 11.6K
$17.7K ¥126.8K
-34.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Panama
China
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.07 PAB 47.07
$45.65 ¥327
3.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.77 PAB 40.77
$33.49 ¥240
21.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85 PAB 85
$71.8 ¥515
18.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 PAB 116
$72.9 ¥523
59.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Panama
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$923 PAB 923
$445 ¥3,194
107.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$711 PAB 711
$255 ¥1,830
178.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,745 PAB 1,745
$915 ¥6,566
90.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,378 PAB 1,378
$543 ¥3,895
153.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,884 PAB 1,884
$6,142 ¥44.1K
-69.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,502 PAB 1,502
$2,860 ¥20.5K
-47.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Panama
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$807 PAB 807
$942 ¥6,755
-14.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.3
4.06
55.17%

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

Last update for Panama: October 28, 2025

Last update for China: October 29, 2025

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