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 $2,642 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 $5,072 in United States, rent included.

The cost of living in Panama is roughly 68% lower than in United States on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Panama sits 37% below the global median, while United States is 98% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.05 PAB 10.05

$19.63 $19.63

-48.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.64 PAB 49.64

$75.4 $75.4

-34.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.37 PAB 7.37

$11.57 $11.57

-36.30%

Cappuccino

$3.53 PAB 3.53

$5.22 $5.22

-32.38%

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

$1.47 PAB 1.47

$2.49 $2.49

-40.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.24 PAB 1.24

$2.06 $2.06

-39.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.30 PAB 2.30

$5.91 $5.91

-61.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 PAB 3.69

$7.13 $7.13

-48.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.84 PAB 1.84

$1.09 $1.09

68.81%

White Bread (500g)

$2.44 PAB 2.44

$3.56 $3.56

-31.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.36 PAB 2.36

$4.74 $4.74

-50.21%

Eggs

$2.69 PAB 2.69

$4.34 $4.34

-38.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.25 PAB 11.25

$12.68 $12.68

-11.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.32 PAB 7.32

$12.28 $12.28

-40.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.24 PAB 9.24

$16.60 $16.60

-44.34%

Apples (1kg)

$4.03 PAB 4.03

$5.16 $5.16

-21.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.33 PAB 1.33

$1.70 $1.70

-21.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.89 PAB 2.89

$4.45 $4.45

-35.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.99 PAB 2.99

$4.80 $4.80

-37.71%

Potato (1kg)

$2.18 PAB 2.18

$2.93 $2.93

-25.60%

Onion (1kg)

$2.46 PAB 2.46

$3.09 $3.09

-20.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.12 PAB 2.12

$2.22 $2.22

-4.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 PAB 1.63

$2.25 $2.25

-27.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.77 PAB 5.77

$9.90 $9.90

-41.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.98 PAB 9.98

$15.28 $15.28

-34.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 PAB 1.21

$1.91 $1.91

-36.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 PAB 2.17

$3.58 $3.58

-39.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 PAB 0.52

$2.46 $2.46

-78.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.39 PAB 25.39

$64.6 $64.6

-60.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.01 PAB 2.01

$3.77 $3.77

-46.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.06 PAB 2.06

$1.71 $1.71

20.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.72 PAB 20.72

$30.08 $30.08

-31.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 PAB 0.91

$0.96 $0.96

-5.21%

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

$22.1K PAB 22.1K

$29.9K $29.9K

-26.05%

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

$21.4K PAB 21.4K

$26.1K $26.1K

-18.23%

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

$106 PAB 106

$210 $210

-49.52%

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

$28.57 PAB 28.57

$56.3 $56.3

-49.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.55 PAB 48.55

$72.9 $72.9

-33.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.5 PAB 50.5

$45.39 $45.39

11.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$33.26 PAB 33.26

$21.60 $21.60

53.98%

Cinema Ticket

$6.96 PAB 6.96

$14.04 $14.04

-50.43%

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

$445 PAB 445

$1,377 $1,377

-67.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.3K PAB 11.3K

$22.4K $22.4K

-49.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.40 PAB 47.40

$52.7 $52.7

-10.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.37 PAB 40.37

$42.41 $42.41

-4.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.5 PAB 83.5

$91.8 $91.8

-9.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 PAB 116

$114 $114

2.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$933 PAB 933

$1,765 $1,765

-47.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$722 PAB 722

$1,462 $1,462

-50.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,721 PAB 1,721

$2,849 $2,849

-39.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,333 PAB 1,333

$2,369 $2,369

-43.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,974 PAB 2,974

$3,364 $3,364

-11.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,701 PAB 1,701

$2,665 $2,665

-36.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$813 PAB 813

$4,378 $4,378

-81.44%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for United States: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $371 in Panama vs $1,635 in United States. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,158 in Panama City and $1,625 in Washington, MI.

Average salary: $713 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 341% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 170% more in United States.

Public transport is 400% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 531% higher in United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in United States.

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 259% 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 259% 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.