Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama and United States Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama and United States

Name: United States
Address: US

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $839 per month in Panama vs $2,643 in United States, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,204 per month in Panama vs $3,857 in United States, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,568 per month in Panama vs $5,070 in United States, rent included.

Panama is roughly 68% cheaper than United States on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Panama sits 37% below the global median, while United States is 97% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.83 PAB 9.83

$20.04 $20.04

-50.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.27 PAB 49.27

$76.0 $76.0

-35.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.71 PAB 7.71

$11.42 $11.42

-32.49%

Cappuccino

$3.58 PAB 3.58

$5.39 $5.39

-33.58%

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

$1.47 PAB 1.47

$2.55 $2.55

-42.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 PAB 1.28

$2.04 $2.04

-37.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.19 PAB 2.19

$6.14 $6.14

-64.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 PAB 3.69

$7.18 $7.18

-48.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 PAB 1.79

$1.04 $1.04

72.12%

White Bread (500g)

$2.48 PAB 2.48

$3.65 $3.65

-32.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.31 PAB 2.31

$4.73 $4.73

-51.16%

Eggs

$2.63 PAB 2.63

$4.38 $4.38

-39.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.15 PAB 11.15

$12.76 $12.76

-12.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.03 PAB 7.03

$12.42 $12.42

-43.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.03 PAB 9.03

$16.41 $16.41

-44.97%

Apples (1kg)

$3.91 PAB 3.91

$5.42 $5.42

-27.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.33 PAB 1.33

$1.65 $1.65

-19.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.88 PAB 2.88

$4.59 $4.59

-37.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.05 PAB 3.05

$4.91 $4.91

-37.88%

Potato (1kg)

$2.17 PAB 2.17

$2.92 $2.92

-25.68%

Onion (1kg)

$2.37 PAB 2.37

$3.13 $3.13

-24.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.07 PAB 2.07

$2.26 $2.26

-8.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.64 PAB 1.64

$2.30 $2.30

-28.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.08 PAB 6.08

$9.89 $9.89

-38.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.16 PAB 10.16

$15.10 $15.10

-32.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 PAB 1.25

$1.91 $1.91

-34.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 PAB 2.22

$3.66 $3.66

-39.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 PAB 0.52

$2.48 $2.48

-79.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.30 PAB 25.30

$64.8 $64.8

-60.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.02 PAB 2.02

$3.84 $3.84

-47.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.97 PAB 1.97

$1.76 $1.76

11.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.62 PAB 20.62

$30.58 $30.58

-32.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 PAB 0.88

$0.96 $0.96

-8.33%

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

$22.1K PAB 22.1K

$30.5K $30.5K

-27.50%

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

$20.7K PAB 20.7K

$26.4K $26.4K

-21.65%

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

$108 PAB 108

$204 $204

-46.95%

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

$29.06 PAB 29.06

$57.3 $57.3

-49.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.71 PAB 48.71

$71.2 $71.2

-31.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.82 PAB 49.82

$46.67 $46.67

6.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$33.48 PAB 33.48

$22.12 $22.12

51.36%

Cinema Ticket

$6.79 PAB 6.79

$13.84 $13.84

-50.94%

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

$451 PAB 451

$1,384 $1,384

-67.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.4K PAB 11.4K

$22.7K $22.7K

-49.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.60 PAB 46.60

$53.0 $53.0

-12.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.52 PAB 41.52

$43.17 $43.17

-3.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.5 PAB 83.5

$90.6 $90.6

-7.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 PAB 117

$114 $114

2.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$933 PAB 933

$1,766 $1,766

-47.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$728 PAB 728

$1,459 $1,459

-50.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,732 PAB 1,732

$2,832 $2,832

-38.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,363 PAB 1,363

$2,411 $2,411

-43.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,991 PAB 2,991

$3,287 $3,287

-9.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,673 PAB 1,673

$2,650 $2,650

-36.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$820 PAB 820

$4,379 $4,379

-81.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.3

6.51

-3.23%

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

Last update for Panama: June 2, 2026

Last update for United States: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $368 in Panama vs $1,637 in United States. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,157 in Panama City and $2,591 in Washington, DC.

Average salary: $720 in Panama vs $4,500 in United States. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 345% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 170% more in United States.

Public transport is 400% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 525% higher in United States, giving United States 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 United States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Panama is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 264% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

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

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Panama, contributing to the overall 264% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Panama, but in United States 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.