Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama and New York, NY
For one person, living is cheaper in Panama: $1,604 a month against $5,142 in New York, NY, rent and utilities included – about $42,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
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Panama Living Index77Cost of Living Index in PanamaLearn more -
New York, NY Living Index245Cost of Living Index in New York, NYLearn more
🙂 Solo nomad: Panama is 52.9% cheaper than New York, NY without rent, and 68.8% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Panama is 53% cheaper than New York, NY without rent, and 66.2% cheaper with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Panama
New York, NY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.86 PAB 7.86
$26.46 $26.46
-70.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.75 PAB 44.75
$119 $119
-62.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.89 PAB 7.89
$14.43 $14.43
-45.32%
Cappuccino
$3.84 PAB 3.84
$6.55 $6.55
-41.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 PAB 1.59
$3.84 $3.84
-58.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 PAB 1.41
$3.00 $3.00
-53.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.19 PAB 2.19
$8.27 $8.27
-73.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.04 PAB 4.04
$10.05 $10.05
-59.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Panama
New York, NY
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.85 PAB 1.85
$1.31 $1.31
41.22%
White Bread (500g)
$2.32 PAB 2.32
$4.90 $4.90
-52.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.99 PAB 2.99
$7.16 $7.16
-58.24%
Eggs
$2.48 PAB 2.48
$5.92 $5.92
-58.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.28 PAB 12.28
$19.06 $19.06
-35.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.94 PAB 6.94
$17.38 $17.38
-60.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.11 PAB 10.11
$18.94 $18.94
-46.62%
Apples (1kg)
$4.18 PAB 4.18
$6.96 $6.96
-39.94%
Banana (1kg)
$1.48 PAB 1.48
$2.08 $2.08
-28.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.65 PAB 3.65
$6.10 $6.10
-40.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.73 PAB 3.73
$6.95 $6.95
-46.33%
Potato (1kg)
$2.50 PAB 2.50
$3.98 $3.98
-37.19%
Onion (1kg)
$3.29 PAB 3.29
$4.44 $4.44
-25.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.34 PAB 2.34
$2.81 $2.81
-16.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.57 PAB 1.57
$2.51 $2.51
-37.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.08 PAB 6.08
$19.27 $19.27
-68.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.88 PAB 9.88
$19.67 $19.67
-49.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 PAB 1.39
$3.08 $3.08
-54.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 PAB 2.42
$3.68 $3.68
-34.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Panama
New York, NY
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.43 PAB 0.43
$3.02 $3.02
-85.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.96 PAB 20.96
$140 $140
-84.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.43 PAB 2.43
$3.07 $3.07
-20.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.82 PAB 1.82
$2.13 $2.13
-14.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.79 PAB 21.79
$41.21 $41.21
-47.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.18 PAB 1.18
$1.11 $1.11
6.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5K PAB 21.5K
$35.0K $35.0K
-38.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K PAB 22.2K
$25.4K $25.4K
-12.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Panama
New York, NY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$119 PAB 119
$217 $217
-45.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.03 PAB 27.03
$74.0 $74.0
-63.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.70 PAB 47.70
$72.5 $72.5
-34.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Panama
New York, NY
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.94 PAB 48.94
$120 $120
-59.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.16 PAB 30.16
$66.9 $66.9
-54.91%
Cinema Ticket
$7.84 PAB 7.84
$22.32 $22.32
-64.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Panama
New York, NY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$536 PAB 536
$3,425 $3,425
-84.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,069 PAB 8,069
$61.2K $61.2K
-86.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Panama
New York, NY
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5 PAB 53.5
$76.3 $76.3
-29.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.77 PAB 42.77
$55.5 $55.5
-22.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.4 PAB 87.4
$119 $119
-26.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 PAB 103
$131 $131
-20.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Panama
New York, NY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$944 PAB 944
$4,506 $4,506
-79.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$697 PAB 697
$3,155 $3,155
-77.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,728 PAB 1,728
$8,817 $8,817
-80.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,262 PAB 1,262
$5,532 $5,532
-77.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,941 PAB 2,941
$19.4K $19.4K
-84.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,673 PAB 1,673
$6,754 $6,754
-75.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Panama
New York, NY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$826 PAB 826
$5,290 $5,290
-84.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.37
6.82
-6.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Panama: October 5, 2026
Last update for New York, NY: October 3, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Panama $697 44%
New York, NY $3.2K 63.2% 353% $2.5K
Groceries & Markets
Panama $302 19.1%
New York, NY $546 11% 80.7% $244
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Panama $194 12.2%
New York, NY $364 7.3% 87.9% $170
Eating Out
Panama $164 10.3%
New York, NY $422 8.5% 158% $259
Clothing & Footwear
Panama $129 8.2%
New York, NY $172 3.4% 32.9% $43
Sport & Entertainment
Panama $65 4.1%
New York, NY $165 3.3% 155% $100
Getting Around
Panama $34 2.2%
New York, NY $165 3.3% 383% $131
Accommodation & Living
Panama $1.3K 38.9%
New York, NY $5.5K 56.6% 338% $4.3K
Groceries & Markets
Panama $696 21.5%
New York, NY $1.2K 12.8% 79.5% $553
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Panama $221 6.8%
New York, NY $438 4.5% 98.4% $217
Eating Out
Panama $548 16.9%
New York, NY $1.4K 14.8% 164% $898
Clothing & Footwear
Panama $287 8.9%
New York, NY $382 3.9% 33% $95
Sport & Entertainment
Panama $159 4.9%
New York, NY $397 4.1% 149% $238
Getting Around
Panama $69 2.1%
New York, NY $337 3.4% 386% $267
Good to know
🇵🇦 Panama
🇺🇸 New York, NY
Weather
Population
4,098,587
8,804,190
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Panama New York, NY 3,560 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
- Panama
- New York, NY
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
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