Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama and Costa Rica Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama and Costa Rica

Name: Costa Rica
Address: CR

🙂 Solo nomad: Panama is 16.3% cheaper than Costa Rica without rent, and 3.2% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Panama is 17.2% cheaper than Costa Rica without rent, and 1.3% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.18 PAB 10.18

$9.65 ₡4,833

5.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.5 PAB 50.5

$58.6 ₡29.3K

-13.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.58 PAB 7.58

$9.9 ₡4,957

-23.43%

Cappuccino

$3.55 PAB 3.55

$3.9 ₡1,954

-8.97%

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

$1.51 PAB 1.51

$2.2 ₡1,100

-31.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.23 PAB 1.23

$1.65 ₡827

-25.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.23 PAB 2.23

$3.03 ₡1,517

-26.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 PAB 3.73

$4.55 ₡2,278

-18.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 PAB 1.83

$2.06 ₡1,033

-11.17%

White Bread (500g)

$2.41 PAB 2.41

$3.06 ₡1,530

-21.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.27 PAB 2.27

$2.52 ₡1,261

-9.92%

Eggs

$2.7 PAB 2.7

$3.29 ₡1,646

-17.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.54 PAB 11.54

$9.29 ₡4,650

24.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.39 PAB 7.39

$9.54 ₡4,775

-22.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.36 PAB 9.36

$13.6 ₡6,808

-31.18%

Apples (1kg)

$3.89 PAB 3.89

$4.67 ₡2,337

-16.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 PAB 1.37

$1.56 ₡782

-12.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.89 PAB 2.89

$3.34 ₡1,672

-13.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.05 PAB 3.05

$3.01 ₡1,507

1.33%

Potato (1kg)

$2.1 PAB 2.1

$3.04 ₡1,524

-30.92%

Onion (1kg)

$2.46 PAB 2.46

$2.85 ₡1,426

-13.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.14 PAB 2.14

$1.01 ₡506

111.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.6 PAB 1.6

$2.54 ₡1,273

-37.01%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.88 PAB 5.88

$4.86 ₡2,434

20.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.17 PAB 10.17

$14.87 ₡7,442

-31.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 PAB 1.24

$2.27 ₡1,137

-45.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 PAB 2.22

$2.73 ₡1,366

-18.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 PAB 0.52

$0.95 ₡476

-45.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.45 PAB 25.45

$49.46 ₡24.8K

-48.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.05 PAB 2.05

$1.81 ₡904

13.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.99 PAB 1.99

$1.93 ₡969

3.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.72 PAB 20.72

$7.69 ₡3,850

169.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 PAB 0.96

$1.47 ₡735

-34.69%

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

$21.3K PAB 21.3K

$37.4K ₡18.7M

-42.93%

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

$20.9K PAB 20.9K

$34.8K ₡17.4M

-39.96%

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

$108 PAB 108

$86.9 ₡43.5K

24.43%

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

$29.43 PAB 29.43

$25.46 ₡12.7K

15.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.41 PAB 47.41

$54.7 ₡27.4K

-13.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.24 PAB 49.24

$57.8 ₡28.9K

-14.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$33.72 PAB 33.72

$28.42 ₡14.2K

18.65%

Cinema Ticket

$7.11 PAB 7.11

$9.08 ₡4,546

-21.70%

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

$439 PAB 439

$551 ₡275.9K

-20.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K PAB 11.6K

$9,816 ₡4.9M

17.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.07 PAB 47.07

$72.3 ₡36.2K

-34.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.77 PAB 40.77

$55.2 ₡27.6K

-26.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85 PAB 85

$118 ₡59.3K

-28.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 PAB 116

$104 ₡52.1K

11.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$923 PAB 923

$817 ₡408.8K

13.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$711 PAB 711

$539 ₡269.6K

31.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,745 PAB 1,745

$1,495 ₡748.3K

16.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,378 PAB 1,378

$1,019 ₡510.2K

35.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,884 PAB 1,884

$2,511 ₡1.3M

-24.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,502 PAB 1,502

$1,384 ₡693K

8.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$807 PAB 807

$996 ₡498.8K

-18.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.3

10.53

-40.17%

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

Last update for Panama: October 28, 2025

Last update for Costa Rica: October 28, 2025

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