Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama and Santiago

For one person, living is cheaper in Santiago: $1,206 a month against $1,604 in Panama, rent and utilities included – about $4,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

77

Cost of Living Index in Panama
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Panama Living Index
58

Cost of Living Index in Santiago
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Santiago Living Index

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🇵🇦 Panama

$1,604

/mo nomad

Santiago

🇨🇱 Chile

$1,206

/mo nomad

😐 Solo nomad: Panama is 16.2% more expensive than Santiago without rent, and 33% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Panama is 15.2% more expensive than Santiago without rent, and 28.9% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.86 PAB 7.86

$10.19 CLP 9,931

-22.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.75 PAB 44.75

$52.2 CLP 50.9K

-14.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.89 PAB 7.89

$8.54 CLP 8,323

-7.61%

Cappuccino

$3.84 PAB 3.84

$3.19 CLP 3,115

20.38%

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

$1.59 PAB 1.59

$1.68 CLP 1,637

-5.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.41 PAB 1.41

$1.22 CLP 1,191

15.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.19 PAB 2.19

$4.21 CLP 4,101

-47.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.04 PAB 4.04

$4.66 CLP 4,539

-13.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 PAB 1.85

$1.32 CLP 1,283

40.15%

White Bread (500g)

$2.32 PAB 2.32

$1.80 CLP 1,756

28.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.99 PAB 2.99

$1.58 CLP 1,543

89.24%

Eggs

$2.48 PAB 2.48

$4.25 CLP 4,141

-41.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.28 PAB 12.28

$11.19 CLP 10.9K

9.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.94 PAB 6.94

$6.75 CLP 6,580

2.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.11 PAB 10.11

$10.67 CLP 10.4K

-5.25%

Apples (1kg)

$4.18 PAB 4.18

$2.04 CLP 1,991

104.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 PAB 1.48

$1.53 CLP 1,497

-3.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.65 PAB 3.65

$1.59 CLP 1,549

129.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.73 PAB 3.73

$1.75 CLP 1,708

113.14%

Potato (1kg)

$2.50 PAB 2.50

$1.08 CLP 1,051

131.48%

Onion (1kg)

$3.29 PAB 3.29

$1.51 CLP 1,476

117.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.34 PAB 2.34

$1.17 CLP 1,145

100.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.57 PAB 1.57

$1.07 CLP 1,041

46.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.08 PAB 6.08

$5.14 CLP 5,015

18.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.88 PAB 9.88

$5.88 CLP 5,732

68.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 PAB 1.39

$1.55 CLP 1,513

-10.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 PAB 2.42

$2.27 CLP 2,218

6.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.43 PAB 0.43

$0.85 CLP 829

-49.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.96 PAB 20.96

$41.50 CLP 40.5K

-49.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.43 PAB 2.43

$0.39 CLP 383

523.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 PAB 1.82

$0.84 CLP 820

116.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.79 PAB 21.79

$11.94 CLP 11.6K

82.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 PAB 1.18

$1.50 CLP 1,467

-21.33%

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

$21.5K PAB 21.5K

$18.1K CLP 17.7M

18.71%

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

$22.2K PAB 22.2K

$21.6K CLP 21.1M

2.71%

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

$119 PAB 119

$151 CLP 147.3K

-21.24%

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

$27.03 PAB 27.03

$12.04 CLP 11.7K

124.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.70 PAB 47.70

$18.93 CLP 18.5K

151.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.94 PAB 48.94

$33.81 CLP 33.0K

44.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.16 PAB 30.16

$11.72 CLP 11.4K

157.34%

Cinema Ticket

$7.84 PAB 7.84

$7.37 CLP 7,185

6.38%

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

$536 PAB 536

$434 CLP 423.3K

23.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,069 PAB 8,069

$11.0K CLP 10.7M

-26.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 PAB 53.5

$50.9 CLP 49.6K

5.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.77 PAB 42.77

$29.16 CLP 28.4K

46.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.4 PAB 87.4

$67.4 CLP 65.7K

29.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 PAB 103

$80.3 CLP 78.2K

28.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$944 PAB 944

$555 CLP 540.8K

70.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$697 PAB 697

$372 CLP 363.2K

87.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,728 PAB 1,728

$1,009 CLP 984.3K

71.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,262 PAB 1,262

$779 CLP 759.1K

62.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,941 PAB 2,941

$2,671 CLP 2.6M

10.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,673 PAB 1,673

$2,622 CLP 2.6M

-36.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$826 PAB 826

$791 CLP 771.7K

4.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.37

5.39

18.18%

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

Last update for Panama: October 5, 2026

Last update for Santiago: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Panama

$697 44%

Santiago

$372 31.6% 46.5% $324

Groceries & Markets

Panama

$302 19.1%

Santiago

$236 20% 21.8% $66

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Panama

$194 12.2%

Santiago

$182 15.5% 6% $12

Eating Out

Panama

$164 10.3%

Santiago

$187 15.9% 14.5% $24

Clothing & Footwear

Panama

$129 8.2%

Santiago

$102 8.7% 20.7% $27

Sport & Entertainment

Panama

$65 4.1%

Santiago

$49 4.1% 24.9% $16

Getting Around

Panama

$34 2.2%

Santiago

$50 4.2% 44.6% $15

Good to know

🇵🇦 Panama

🇨🇱 Santiago

🕒 Local time

06:20 6:20 AM

08:20 8:20 AM

2 h ahead of Panama

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

4,098,587

6,139,087 Capital

💱 Currency

Panamanian Balboa PAB B/.

Chilean Peso CLP $

📈 Exchange rate

1 PAB = 1 USD

1 PAB = 0.892 EUR

10,000 CLP = 10.26 USD

10,000 CLP = 9.15 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

CLP, USD, EUR to PAB – Panamanian Balboa Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇵🇦 Panamanian Balboa (B/.)

Panamanian Balboa exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1 PAB (1 PAB = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.12 PAB (1 PAB = 0.892 EUR).

Chilean Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 975 CLP (1,000 CLP = 1.03 USD). 1 EUR = 1,093 CLP (10,000 CLP = 9.15 EUR).

USD to PAB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Panama Santiago 4,810 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight

From you

Panama
Santiago

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 other spots: cost of living compared

Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama and Santiago

CLP, USD, EUR to PAB – Panamanian Balboa Converter

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

Panama

Santiago

Panama

Santiago

Panama vs other spots: cost of living compared

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