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 3.4% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Panama is 14.9% cheaper than Costa Rica without rent, and 0.4% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.89 PAB 9.89

$10.19 ₡5,052

-2.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.8 PAB 50.8

$60.5 ₡30.0K

-15.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.62 PAB 7.62

$10.17 ₡5,041

-25.07%

Cappuccino

$3.60 PAB 3.60

$3.90 ₡1,933

-7.69%

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

$1.47 PAB 1.47

$2.19 ₡1,086

-32.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 PAB 1.29

$1.65 ₡819

-21.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 PAB 2.22

$2.95 ₡1,460

-24.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 PAB 3.73

$4.32 ₡2,142

-13.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 PAB 1.80

$2.03 ₡1,005

-11.33%

White Bread (500g)

$2.48 PAB 2.48

$3.18 ₡1,576

-22.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 PAB 2.24

$2.49 ₡1,234

-10.04%

Eggs

$2.60 PAB 2.60

$3.41 ₡1,688

-23.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.37 PAB 11.37

$9.25 ₡4,584

22.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.20 PAB 7.20

$9.42 ₡4,670

-23.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.52 PAB 9.52

$13.28 ₡6,583

-28.31%

Apples (1kg)

$4.02 PAB 4.02

$4.51 ₡2,235

-10.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.33 PAB 1.33

$1.54 ₡763

-13.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.90 PAB 2.90

$3.37 ₡1,673

-13.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.04 PAB 3.04

$2.94 ₡1,458

3.40%

Potato (1kg)

$2.17 PAB 2.17

$2.97 ₡1,475

-26.94%

Onion (1kg)

$2.37 PAB 2.37

$2.83 ₡1,403

-16.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.14 PAB 2.14

$1.01 ₡502

111.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 PAB 1.63

$2.54 ₡1,257

-35.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.04 PAB 6.04

$5.03 ₡2,494

20.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.18 PAB 10.18

$15.31 ₡7,589

-33.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 PAB 1.25

$2.31 ₡1,145

-45.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 PAB 2.30

$2.72 ₡1,347

-15.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 PAB 0.52

$0.96 ₡475

-45.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.15 PAB 25.15

$48.97 ₡24.3K

-48.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.05 PAB 2.05

$1.80 ₡893

13.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 PAB 1.95

$2.01 ₡995

-2.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.88 PAB 20.88

$7.51 ₡3,723

178.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 PAB 0.96

$1.52 ₡752

-36.84%

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

$21.6K PAB 21.6K

$36.6K ₡18.2M

-41.07%

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

$21.2K PAB 21.2K

$36.0K ₡17.9M

-41.23%

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

$107 PAB 107

$85.9 ₡42.6K

24.72%

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

$28.96 PAB 28.96

$25.46 ₡12.6K

13.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.54 PAB 47.54

$53.9 ₡26.7K

-11.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.3 PAB 50.3

$57.3 ₡28.4K

-12.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.39 PAB 34.39

$29.36 ₡14.6K

17.13%

Cinema Ticket

$6.90 PAB 6.90

$9.01 ₡4,466

-23.42%

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

$442 PAB 442

$540 ₡267.8K

-18.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.3K PAB 11.3K

$10.1K ₡5.0M

12.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.73 PAB 46.73

$71.5 ₡35.5K

-34.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.09 PAB 41.09

$54.9 ₡27.2K

-25.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.8 PAB 83.8

$117 ₡58.2K

-28.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 PAB 117

$103 ₡50.8K

13.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$948 PAB 948

$810 ₡401.7K

16.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$705 PAB 705

$551 ₡272.9K

28.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,721 PAB 1,721

$1,488 ₡737.8K

15.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,363 PAB 1,363

$1,043 ₡516.9K

30.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,980 PAB 2,980

$2,335 ₡1.2M

27.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,704 PAB 1,704

$1,607 ₡796.5K

6.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$799 PAB 799

$981 ₡486.2K

-18.55%

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: January 13, 2026

Last update for Costa Rica: January 12, 2026

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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

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