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

😐 Solo nomad: Panama is 59.9% more expensive than China without rent, and 97.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Panama is 58.3% more expensive than China without rent, and 90.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Panama
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.93 PAB 9.93
$2.82 ¥19.48
252.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.9 PAB 50.9
$23.62 ¥163
115.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.54 PAB 7.54
$4.97 ¥34.30
51.71%
Cappuccino
$3.53 PAB 3.53
$3.14 ¥21.63
12.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 PAB 1.51
$0.44 ¥3.06
243.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 PAB 1.29
$0.27 ¥1.84
377.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.30 PAB 2.30
$0.93 ¥6.39
147.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69 PAB 3.69
$2.08 ¥14.35
77.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Panama
China
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.77 PAB 1.77
$1.84 ¥12.68
-3.80%
White Bread (500g)
$2.41 PAB 2.41
$1.62 ¥11.15
48.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.26 PAB 2.26
$0.96 ¥6.61
135.42%
Eggs
$2.61 PAB 2.61
$1.56 ¥10.74
67.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.25 PAB 11.25
$13.18 ¥90.9
-14.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.05 PAB 7.05
$3.21 ¥22.11
119.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.06 PAB 9.06
$10.89 ¥75.2
-16.80%
Apples (1kg)
$4.05 PAB 4.05
$1.77 ¥12.18
128.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 PAB 1.38
$1.25 ¥8.62
10.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.94 PAB 2.94
$1.52 ¥10.51
93.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.05 PAB 3.05
$1.15 ¥7.94
165.22%
Potato (1kg)
$2.09 PAB 2.09
$0.76 ¥5.27
175.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.45 PAB 2.45
$0.89 ¥6.13
175.28%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.07 PAB 2.07
$0.61 ¥4.24
239.34%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 PAB 1.61
$0.54 ¥3.71
198.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.88 PAB 5.88
$3.38 ¥23.29
73.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.17 PAB 10.17
$11.67 ¥80.5
-12.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 PAB 1.24
$0.78 ¥5.38
58.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 PAB 2.17
$1.67 ¥11.52
29.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Panama
China
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 PAB 0.51
$0.43 ¥2.97
18.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.03 PAB 25.03
$20.93 ¥144
19.59%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.99 PAB 1.99
$1.41 ¥9.72
41.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.01 PAB 2.01
$0.35 ¥2.44
474.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.24 PAB 21.24
$6.48 ¥44.71
227.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.96 PAB 0.96
$1.16 ¥8.03
-17.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.7K PAB 21.7K
$19.3K ¥132.9K
12.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.3K PAB 21.3K
$17.0K ¥117.2K
25.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Panama
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$107 PAB 107
$51.3 ¥354
108.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.34 PAB 29.34
$9.84 ¥67.9
198.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.08 PAB 48.08
$11.49 ¥79.3
318.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Panama
China
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.6 PAB 50.6
$40.28 ¥278
25.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$33.55 PAB 33.55
$14.78 ¥102
127.00%
Cinema Ticket
$6.80 PAB 6.80
$6.41 ¥44.24
6.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Panama
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$449 PAB 449
$403 ¥2,783
11.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K PAB 11.6K
$17.9K ¥123.3K
-35.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Panama
China
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.32 PAB 46.32
$45.91 ¥317
0.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.74 PAB 40.74
$32.39 ¥223
25.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.1 PAB 86.1
$71.2 ¥492
20.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 PAB 116
$74.0 ¥510
56.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Panama
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$939 PAB 939
$436 ¥3,008
115.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$719 PAB 719
$254 ¥1,750
183.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,734 PAB 1,734
$900 ¥6,210
92.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,352 PAB 1,352
$548 ¥3,781
146.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,996 PAB 2,996
$5,140 ¥35.5K
-41.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,711 PAB 1,711
$2,676 ¥18.5K
-36.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Panama
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$831 PAB 831
$1,024 ¥7,068
-18.92%
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: March 3, 2026

Last update for China: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated January 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Similar countries