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 15.7% cheaper than Costa Rica without rent, and 1% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Panama is 18% cheaper than Costa Rica without rent, and 0.4% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.93 PAB 9.93

$9.67 ₡4,570

2.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.9 PAB 50.9

$58.6 ₡27.7K

-13.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.54 PAB 7.54

$10.23 ₡4,837

-26.30%

Cappuccino

$3.53 PAB 3.53

$3.97 ₡1,878

-11.08%

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

$1.51 PAB 1.51

$2.17 ₡1,026

-30.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 PAB 1.29

$1.73 ₡817

-25.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.30 PAB 2.30

$2.89 ₡1,367

-20.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 PAB 3.69

$4.40 ₡2,083

-16.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.77 PAB 1.77

$2.05 ₡970

-13.66%

White Bread (500g)

$2.41 PAB 2.41

$3.09 ₡1,459

-22.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.26 PAB 2.26

$2.51 ₡1,186

-9.96%

Eggs

$2.61 PAB 2.61

$3.30 ₡1,559

-20.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.25 PAB 11.25

$9.16 ₡4,331

22.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.05 PAB 7.05

$9.29 ₡4,393

-24.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.06 PAB 9.06

$13.16 ₡6,223

-31.16%

Apples (1kg)

$4.05 PAB 4.05

$4.48 ₡2,117

-9.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 PAB 1.38

$1.62 ₡766

-14.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.94 PAB 2.94

$3.22 ₡1,520

-8.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.05 PAB 3.05

$2.98 ₡1,410

2.35%

Potato (1kg)

$2.09 PAB 2.09

$3.01 ₡1,422

-30.56%

Onion (1kg)

$2.45 PAB 2.45

$2.85 ₡1,345

-14.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.07 PAB 2.07

$1.01 ₡478

104.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 PAB 1.61

$2.51 ₡1,187

-35.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.88 PAB 5.88

$4.94 ₡2,335

19.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.17 PAB 10.17

$15.72 ₡7,434

-35.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 PAB 1.24

$2.38 ₡1,123

-47.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 PAB 2.17

$2.71 ₡1,282

-19.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 PAB 0.51

$0.94 ₡445

-45.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.03 PAB 25.03

$48.94 ₡23.1K

-48.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.99 PAB 1.99

$1.79 ₡847

11.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.01 PAB 2.01

$2.01 ₡950

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.24 PAB 21.24

$7.82 ₡3,699

171.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 PAB 0.96

$1.51 ₡715

-36.42%

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

$21.7K PAB 21.7K

$36.8K ₡17.4M

-41.14%

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

$21.3K PAB 21.3K

$34.7K ₡16.4M

-38.62%

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

$107 PAB 107

$86.8 ₡41.0K

23.32%

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

$29.34 PAB 29.34

$25.69 ₡12.1K

14.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.08 PAB 48.08

$53.8 ₡25.4K

-10.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.6 PAB 50.6

$55.9 ₡26.4K

-9.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$33.55 PAB 33.55

$28.78 ₡13.6K

16.57%

Cinema Ticket

$6.80 PAB 6.80

$9.04 ₡4,276

-24.78%

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

$449 PAB 449

$560 ₡264.9K

-19.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K PAB 11.6K

$10.0K ₡4.7M

15.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.32 PAB 46.32

$72.4 ₡34.2K

-36.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.74 PAB 40.74

$54.4 ₡25.7K

-25.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 PAB 86.1

$117 ₡55.3K

-26.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 PAB 116

$103 ₡48.6K

12.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$939 PAB 939

$811 ₡383.6K

15.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 PAB 719

$551 ₡260.4K

30.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,734 PAB 1,734

$1,482 ₡700.8K

17.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,352 PAB 1,352

$1,036 ₡489.8K

30.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,996 PAB 2,996

$2,301 ₡1.1M

30.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,711 PAB 1,711

$1,575 ₡744.8K

8.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$831 PAB 831

$1,030 ₡487.0K

-19.36%

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: March 3, 2026

Last update for Costa Rica: March 2, 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

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

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated January 2026)

Panama

Costa Rica

Panama

Costa Rica

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