Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama and Costa Rica

Name: Costa Rica
Address: CR

For one person, living is cheaper in Panama: $1,619 a month against $1,821 in Costa Rica, rent and utilities included – about $2,400 less a year. The total is higher in Costa Rica despite lower rent and utilities.

78

Cost of Living Index in Panama
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Panama Living Index
87

Cost of Living Index in Costa Rica
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Costa Rica Living Index

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🇵🇦 Panama

$1,619

/mo nomad

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

$1,821

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Panama and in Costa Rica

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Panama and in Costa Rica actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,619 per month in Panama vs $1,821 in Costa Rica, rent included.

Panama $1,619
Costa Rica $1,821

A couple spends around $2,502 per month in Panama vs $2,773 in Costa Rica, rent included.

Panama $2,502
Costa Rica $2,773

A family of three spends $3,384 per month in Panama vs $3,725 in Costa Rica, rent included.

Panama $3,384
Costa Rica $3,725

The regional cost range is wider in Panama ($174–$1,932) than in Costa Rica ($1,004–$2,114), so city choice matters more there.

The cost of living in Panama is roughly 11% lower than in Costa Rica on average.

Both Panama and Costa Rica are pricier than the global median – Panama by 19%, Costa Rica by 34%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.22 PAB 8.22

$11.26 ₡5,082

-27.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.37 PAB 44.37

$54.5 ₡24.6K

-18.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.18 PAB 8.18

$11.02 ₡4,973

-25.77%

Cappuccino

$4.02 PAB 4.02

$4.43 ₡1,998

-9.26%

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

$1.63 PAB 1.63

$2.34 ₡1,055

-30.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 PAB 1.35

$1.84 ₡828

-26.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.20 PAB 2.20

$3.26 ₡1,472

-32.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.06 PAB 4.06

$4.55 ₡2,053

-10.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 PAB 1.87

$2.45 ₡1,104

-23.67%

White Bread (500g)

$2.43 PAB 2.43

$3.56 ₡1,608

-31.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.04 PAB 3.04

$2.76 ₡1,245

10.14%

Eggs

$2.47 PAB 2.47

$3.97 ₡1,793

-37.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.09 PAB 12.09

$10.47 ₡4,726

15.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.24 PAB 7.24

$9.98 ₡4,505

-27.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.09 PAB 10.09

$13.91 ₡6,275

-27.46%

Apples (1kg)

$4.13 PAB 4.13

$5.06 ₡2,282

-18.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 PAB 1.50

$1.69 ₡763

-11.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.61 PAB 3.61

$3.45 ₡1,557

4.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.84 PAB 3.84

$3.23 ₡1,459

18.89%

Potato (1kg)

$2.63 PAB 2.63

$3.44 ₡1,554

-23.55%

Onion (1kg)

$3.26 PAB 3.26

$3.25 ₡1,465

0.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.21 PAB 2.21

$1.09 ₡492

102.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 PAB 1.59

$2.67 ₡1,203

-40.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.96 PAB 5.96

$5.38 ₡2,426

10.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.88 PAB 9.88

$15.50 ₡6,993

-36.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 PAB 1.39

$2.75 ₡1,241

-49.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 PAB 2.40

$3.30 ₡1,488

-27.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 PAB 0.41

$1.13 ₡509

-63.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.33 PAB 21.33

$65.5 ₡29.6K

-67.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.56 PAB 2.56

$2.17 ₡979

17.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 PAB 1.84

$2.02 ₡912

-8.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.97 PAB 21.97

$8.94 ₡4,034

145.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 PAB 1.17

$1.61 ₡726

-27.33%

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

$26.0K PAB 26.0K

$34.5K ₡15.6M

-24.64%

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

$22.9K PAB 22.9K

$37.4K ₡16.9M

-38.82%

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

$116 PAB 116

$94.9 ₡42.8K

22.51%

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

$26.53 PAB 26.53

$31.42 ₡14.2K

-15.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.36 PAB 46.36

$58.6 ₡26.4K

-20.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.47 PAB 47.47

$65.7 ₡29.6K

-27.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.48 PAB 30.48

$22.20 ₡10.0K

37.30%

Cinema Ticket

$7.77 PAB 7.77

$8.10 ₡3,654

-4.07%

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

$541 PAB 541

$722 ₡325.8K

-25.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,955 PAB 7,955

$12.9K ₡5.8M

-38.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.3 PAB 55.3

$75.5 ₡34.1K

-26.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.64 PAB 44.64

$56.4 ₡25.5K

-20.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.1 PAB 88.1

$128 ₡57.9K

-31.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 PAB 102

$108 ₡48.8K

-5.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$994 PAB 994

$960 ₡433.2K

3.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$727 PAB 727

$708 ₡319.5K

2.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,830 PAB 1,830

$1,749 ₡789.0K

4.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,390 PAB 1,390

$1,215 ₡548.3K

14.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,036 PAB 3,036

$2,656 ₡1.2M

14.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,764 PAB 1,764

$1,839 ₡829.7K

-4.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$821 PAB 821

$1,058 ₡477.6K

-22.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.37

9.56

-33.37%

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

Last update for Panama: October 26, 2026

Last update for Costa Rica: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Panama

$727 44.9%

Costa Rica

$708 38.9% 2.7% $19

Groceries & Markets

Panama

$305 18.8%

Costa Rica

$380 20.9% 24.6% $75

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Panama

$189 11.7%

Costa Rica

$185 10.2% 2.3% $4.3

Eating Out

Panama

$170 10.5%

Costa Rica

$218 12% 28.8% $49

Clothing & Footwear

Panama

$131 8.1%

Costa Rica

$166 9.1% 26.8% $35

Sport & Entertainment

Panama

$63 3.9%

Costa Rica

$82 4.5% 29.9% $19

Getting Around

Panama

$35 2.2%

Costa Rica

$82 4.5% 137% $48

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $735 in Panama vs $855 in Costa Rica. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,407 in Panama City and $1,164 in San Jose.

Average salary: $692 in Panama vs $1,087 in Costa Rica. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 16% higher in Costa Rica.

Dining out costs 26% more in Costa Rica.

Public transport is 191% more expensive in Costa Rica.

Salaries are 57% higher in Costa Rica, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Costa Rica.

Good to know

🇵🇦 Panama

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

🕒 Local time

03:37 3:37 AM

02:37 2:37 AM

1 h behind Panama

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

4,098,587

5,044,197

💱 Currency

Panamanian Balboa PAB B/.

Costa Rican Colón CRC ₡

📈 Exchange rate

1 PAB = 1 USD

1 PAB = 0.899 EUR

1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD

1,000 CRC = 1.99 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to PAB – Panamanian Balboa Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇵🇦 Panamanian Balboa (B/.)

Panamanian Balboa exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 1 PAB (1 PAB = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.11 PAB (1 PAB = 0.899 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 451 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 502 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.99 EUR).

USD to PAB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Panama Costa Rica 510 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Panama
Costa Rica

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 11% lower on average.

Housing costs more in Costa Rica: a central one-bedroom averages $855 versus $735 in Panama.

Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in Panama, adding to the overall 12% price gap.

$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. But cost isn’t everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.