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

Name: Costa Rica
Address: CR

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $795 per month in Panama vs $1,660 in Costa Rica, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,195 per month in Panama vs $2,621 in Costa Rica, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,595 per month in Panama vs $3,581 in Costa Rica, rent included.

The cost of living in Panama is roughly 52% lower than in Costa Rica on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Panama sits 42% below the global median, while Costa Rica is 20% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.80 PAB 7.80

$10.89 ₡4,874

-28.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.46 PAB 44.46

$55.8 ₡25.0K

-20.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.20 PAB 8.20

$10.81 ₡4,839

-24.14%

Cappuccino

$3.96 PAB 3.96

$4.52 ₡2,021

-12.39%

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

$1.56 PAB 1.56

$2.45 ₡1,095

-36.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 PAB 1.34

$1.89 ₡844

-29.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.52 PAB 2.52

$3.30 ₡1,476

-23.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 PAB 4.03

$4.61 ₡2,064

-12.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 PAB 1.85

$2.42 ₡1,085

-23.55%

White Bread (500g)

$2.30 PAB 2.30

$3.60 ₡1,613

-36.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.74 PAB 2.74

$2.70 ₡1,207

1.48%

Eggs

$2.48 PAB 2.48

$4.01 ₡1,796

-38.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.06 PAB 12.06

$10.21 ₡4,568

18.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.89 PAB 6.89

$10.38 ₡4,647

-33.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.17 PAB 10.17

$13.83 ₡6,190

-26.46%

Apples (1kg)

$4.30 PAB 4.30

$5.08 ₡2,272

-15.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 PAB 1.45

$1.75 ₡782

-17.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.28 PAB 3.28

$3.52 ₡1,575

-6.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.73 PAB 3.73

$3.23 ₡1,446

15.48%

Potato (1kg)

$2.48 PAB 2.48

$3.34 ₡1,496

-25.75%

Onion (1kg)

$3.15 PAB 3.15

$3.18 ₡1,422

-0.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.21 PAB 2.21

$1.08 ₡483

104.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 PAB 1.60

$2.68 ₡1,200

-40.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.05 PAB 6.05

$5.57 ₡2,495

8.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.17 PAB 10.17

$15.23 ₡6,817

-33.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.34 PAB 1.34

$2.67 ₡1,196

-49.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 PAB 2.32

$3.33 ₡1,490

-30.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 PAB 0.48

$1.09 ₡486

-55.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.31 PAB 21.31

$65.4 ₡29.3K

-67.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.56 PAB 2.56

$2.20 ₡983

16.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 PAB 1.83

$1.94 ₡870

-5.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.22 PAB 22.22

$8.87 ₡3,969

150.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 PAB 1.13

$1.60 ₡718

-29.38%

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

$21.4K PAB 21.4K

$32.7K ₡14.6M

-34.34%

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

$22.6K PAB 22.6K

$36.3K ₡16.3M

-37.79%

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

$115 PAB 115

$95.2 ₡42.6K

21.29%

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

$27.31 PAB 27.31

$31.50 ₡14.1K

-13.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.77 PAB 46.77

$59.7 ₡26.7K

-21.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.94 PAB 49.94

$66.3 ₡29.7K

-24.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.82 PAB 28.82

$23.60 ₡10.6K

22.12%

Cinema Ticket

$8.21 PAB 8.21

$8.21 ₡3,676

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

$548 PAB 548

$726 ₡324.9K

-24.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,915 PAB 7,915

$12.8K ₡5.7M

-37.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.3 PAB 50.3

$74.6 ₡33.4K

-32.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.73 PAB 38.73

$53.6 ₡24.0K

-27.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.4 PAB 87.4

$125 ₡56.0K

-30.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 PAB 119

$107 ₡47.7K

11.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$950 PAB 950

$884 ₡395.5K

7.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$741 PAB 741

$641 ₡286.7K

15.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,682 PAB 1,682

$1,743 ₡779.9K

-3.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,246 PAB 1,246

$1,168 ₡522.7K

6.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,931 PAB 2,931

$2,400 ₡1.1M

22.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,668 PAB 1,668

$1,671 ₡748.0K

-0.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$833 PAB 833

$1,083 ₡484.5K

-23.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.35

9.56

-33.58%

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

Last update for Panama: September 5, 2026

Last update for Costa Rica: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $340 in Panama vs $816 in Costa Rica. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,296 in Panama City and $960 in San Jose.

Average salary: $719 in Panama vs $1,106 in Costa Rica. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 140% higher in Costa Rica.

Dining out costs 96% more in Costa Rica.

Public transport is 367% more expensive in Costa Rica.

Salaries are 54% higher in Costa Rica, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Panama.

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

Panama vs Costa Rica: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Panama is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 69% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in Costa Rica, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Costa Rica consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Panama, contributing to the overall 69% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Panama, but in Costa Rica it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

Panama is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.