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 $839 per month in Panama vs $1,543 in Costa Rica, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,204 per month in Panama vs $2,324 in Costa Rica, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,568 per month in Panama vs $3,105 in Costa Rica, rent included.

Panama is roughly 46% cheaper than Costa Rica on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Panama sits 37% below the global median, while Costa Rica is 15% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.83 PAB 9.83

$9.97 ₡4,556

-1.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.27 PAB 49.27

$59.4 ₡27.1K

-17.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.71 PAB 7.71

$9.74 ₡4,452

-20.84%

Cappuccino

$3.58 PAB 3.58

$3.94 ₡1,799

-9.14%

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

$1.47 PAB 1.47

$2.11 ₡964

-30.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 PAB 1.28

$1.65 ₡756

-22.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.19 PAB 2.19

$2.92 ₡1,333

-25.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 PAB 3.69

$4.39 ₡2,006

-15.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 PAB 1.79

$2.07 ₡944

-13.53%

White Bread (500g)

$2.48 PAB 2.48

$3.17 ₡1,448

-21.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.31 PAB 2.31

$2.41 ₡1,103

-4.15%

Eggs

$2.63 PAB 2.63

$3.34 ₡1,525

-21.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.15 PAB 11.15

$9.24 ₡4,221

20.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.03 PAB 7.03

$9.40 ₡4,296

-25.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.03 PAB 9.03

$13.56 ₡6,197

-33.41%

Apples (1kg)

$3.91 PAB 3.91

$4.48 ₡2,046

-12.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.33 PAB 1.33

$1.56 ₡711

-14.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.88 PAB 2.88

$3.36 ₡1,534

-14.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.05 PAB 3.05

$3.08 ₡1,408

-0.97%

Potato (1kg)

$2.17 PAB 2.17

$2.89 ₡1,322

-24.91%

Onion (1kg)

$2.37 PAB 2.37

$2.86 ₡1,307

-17.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.07 PAB 2.07

$1.03 ₡469

100.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.64 PAB 1.64

$2.52 ₡1,151

-34.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.08 PAB 6.08

$4.90 ₡2,237

24.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.16 PAB 10.16

$16.18 ₡7,392

-37.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 PAB 1.25

$2.39 ₡1,091

-47.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 PAB 2.22

$2.78 ₡1,269

-20.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 PAB 0.52

$0.94 ₡430

-44.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.30 PAB 25.30

$49.22 ₡22.5K

-48.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.02 PAB 2.02

$1.87 ₡852

8.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.97 PAB 1.97

$2.01 ₡920

-1.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.62 PAB 20.62

$7.61 ₡3,477

170.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 PAB 0.88

$1.51 ₡689

-41.72%

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

$22.1K PAB 22.1K

$36.3K ₡16.6M

-39.16%

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

$20.7K PAB 20.7K

$35.7K ₡16.3M

-42.07%

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

$108 PAB 108

$88.7 ₡40.5K

22.05%

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

$29.06 PAB 29.06

$25.67 ₡11.7K

13.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.71 PAB 48.71

$53.8 ₡24.6K

-9.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.82 PAB 49.82

$57.7 ₡26.4K

-13.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$33.48 PAB 33.48

$29.09 ₡13.3K

15.09%

Cinema Ticket

$6.79 PAB 6.79

$9.00 ₡4,113

-24.56%

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

$451 PAB 451

$544 ₡248.5K

-17.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.4K PAB 11.4K

$10.0K ₡4.6M

14.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.60 PAB 46.60

$74.3 ₡33.9K

-37.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.52 PAB 41.52

$53.2 ₡24.3K

-21.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.5 PAB 83.5

$120 ₡54.7K

-30.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 PAB 117

$101 ₡46.0K

15.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$933 PAB 933

$798 ₡364.8K

16.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$728 PAB 728

$534 ₡244.1K

36.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,732 PAB 1,732

$1,509 ₡689.7K

14.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,363 PAB 1,363

$1,041 ₡475.7K

30.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,991 PAB 2,991

$2,382 ₡1.1M

25.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,673 PAB 1,673

$1,603 ₡732.2K

4.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$820 PAB 820

$1,062 ₡485.1K

-22.76%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Costa Rica: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $368 in Panama vs $776 in Costa Rica. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,157 in Panama City and $879 in San Jose.

Average salary: $720 in Panama vs $1,098 in Costa Rica. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 111% higher in Costa Rica.

Dining out costs 89% more in Costa Rica.

Public transport is 160% more expensive in Costa Rica.

Salaries are 53% higher in Costa Rica, giving Panama stronger purchasing power.

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 82% 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 82% 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.