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

😐 Solo nomad: Panama is 57% more expensive than China without rent, and 97.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Panama is 57.8% more expensive than China without rent, and 91.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Panama
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.89 PAB 9.89
$2.86 ¥19.51
245.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.66 PAB 49.66
$23.89 ¥163
107.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.68 PAB 7.68
$4.77 ¥32.61
61.01%
Cappuccino
$3.49 PAB 3.49
$3.08 ¥21.02
13.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 PAB 1.47
$0.44 ¥2.99
234.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.26 PAB 1.26
$0.27 ¥1.84
366.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.31 PAB 2.31
$0.93 ¥6.36
148.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80 PAB 3.80
$2.04 ¥13.96
86.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Panama
China
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.84 PAB 1.84
$1.78 ¥12.16
3.37%
White Bread (500g)
$2.47 PAB 2.47
$1.60 ¥10.94
54.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.24 PAB 2.24
$0.98 ¥6.70
128.57%
Eggs
$2.72 PAB 2.72
$1.55 ¥10.60
75.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.12 PAB 11.12
$13.22 ¥90.3
-15.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.03 PAB 7.03
$3.39 ¥23.13
107.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.16 PAB 9.16
$10.52 ¥71.9
-12.93%
Apples (1kg)
$3.94 PAB 3.94
$1.84 ¥12.59
114.13%
Banana (1kg)
$1.32 PAB 1.32
$1.30 ¥8.89
1.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.99 PAB 2.99
$1.47 ¥10.03
103.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.98 PAB 2.98
$1.15 ¥7.83
159.13%
Potato (1kg)
$2.16 PAB 2.16
$0.72 ¥4.94
200.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.48 PAB 2.48
$0.94 ¥6.40
163.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.08 PAB 2.08
$0.61 ¥4.16
240.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 PAB 1.61
$0.53 ¥3.61
203.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.87 PAB 5.87
$3.54 ¥24.15
65.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.93 PAB 9.93
$11.89 ¥81.2
-16.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.22 PAB 1.22
$0.79 ¥5.39
54.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 PAB 2.25
$1.69 ¥11.51
33.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Panama
China
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 PAB 0.52
$0.44 ¥2.98
18.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$24.98 PAB 24.98
$20.98 ¥143
19.07%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.06 PAB 2.06
$1.38 ¥9.39
49.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 PAB 2.05
$0.35 ¥2.40
485.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.36 PAB 21.36
$6.75 ¥46.13
216.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 PAB 0.88
$1.16 ¥7.93
-24.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5K PAB 21.5K
$19.7K ¥134.8K
8.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.1K PAB 21.1K
$16.9K ¥115.8K
24.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Panama
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$108 PAB 108
$50.3 ¥344
114.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.60 PAB 29.60
$10.04 ¥68.5
194.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.27 PAB 47.27
$11.39 ¥77.8
315.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Panama
China
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.91 PAB 49.91
$40.16 ¥274
24.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.22 PAB 34.22
$14.68 ¥100
133.11%
Cinema Ticket
$7.04 PAB 7.04
$6.21 ¥42.39
13.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Panama
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$452 PAB 452
$402 ¥2,746
12.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K PAB 11.6K
$17.4K ¥119.1K
-33.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Panama
China
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.42 PAB 47.42
$46.39 ¥317
2.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.80 PAB 40.80
$32.60 ¥223
25.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.7 PAB 83.7
$71.3 ¥487
17.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 PAB 120
$74.8 ¥511
60.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Panama
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$939 PAB 939
$429 ¥2,931
118.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$714 PAB 714
$261 ¥1,783
173.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,730 PAB 1,730
$915 ¥6,253
89.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,353 PAB 1,353
$545 ¥3,725
148.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,042 PAB 3,042
$5,127 ¥35.0K
-40.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,677 PAB 1,677
$2,614 ¥17.9K
-35.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Panama
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$821 PAB 821
$1,061 ¥7,244
-22.59%
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: April 12, 2026

Last update for China: April 12, 2026

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

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