Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama and the United States

Name: United States
Address: US

For one person, living is cheaper in Panama: $1,590 a month against $2,701 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $13,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

78

Cost of Living Index in Panama
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Panama Living Index
133

Cost of Living Index in the United States
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United States Living Index

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🇵🇦 Panama

$1,590

/mo nomad

🇺🇸 United States

$2,701

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Panama and in the United States

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Panama and in the United States actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,590 per month in Panama vs $2,701 in the United States, rent included.

Panama $1,590
United States $2,701

A couple spends around $2,415 per month in Panama vs $3,980 in the United States, rent included.

Panama $2,415
United States $3,980

A family of three spends $3,241 per month in Panama vs $5,258 in the United States, rent included.

Panama $3,241
United States $5,258

The cost of living in Panama is roughly 41% lower than in the United States on average.

Both Panama and the United States are pricier than the global median – Panama by 18%, the United States by 100%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.80 PAB 7.80

$19.92 $19.92

-60.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.15 PAB 44.15

$81.0 $81.0

-45.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.87 PAB 7.87

$12.07 $12.07

-34.80%

Cappuccino

$3.86 PAB 3.86

$5.55 $5.55

-30.45%

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

$1.60 PAB 1.60

$2.67 $2.67

-40.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 PAB 1.40

$2.09 $2.09

-33.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 PAB 2.24

$5.96 $5.96

-62.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 PAB 3.96

$7.76 $7.76

-48.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 PAB 1.80

$1.05 $1.05

71.43%

White Bread (500g)

$2.29 PAB 2.29

$3.55 $3.55

-35.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.91 PAB 2.91

$4.64 $4.64

-37.28%

Eggs

$2.49 PAB 2.49

$4.18 $4.18

-40.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.07 PAB 12.07

$12.76 $12.76

-5.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.22 PAB 7.22

$12.63 $12.63

-42.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.43 PAB 10.43

$17.22 $17.22

-39.43%

Apples (1kg)

$4.18 PAB 4.18

$5.15 $5.15

-18.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 PAB 1.42

$1.64 $1.64

-13.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.61 PAB 3.61

$4.46 $4.46

-19.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.86 PAB 3.86

$4.98 $4.98

-22.49%

Potato (1kg)

$2.64 PAB 2.64

$2.84 $2.84

-7.04%

Onion (1kg)

$3.14 PAB 3.14

$3.09 $3.09

1.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 PAB 2.28

$2.19 $2.19

4.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.57 PAB 1.57

$2.27 $2.27

-30.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.87 PAB 5.87

$10.61 $10.61

-44.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.15 PAB 10.15

$14.71 $14.71

-31.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.34 PAB 1.34

$2.10 $2.10

-36.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 PAB 2.40

$3.82 $3.82

-37.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 PAB 0.44

$2.35 $2.35

-81.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.23 PAB 21.23

$64.1 $64.1

-66.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.49 PAB 2.49

$3.57 $3.57

-30.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 PAB 1.78

$1.85 $1.85

-3.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.40 PAB 22.40

$30.19 $30.19

-25.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 PAB 1.18

$1.07 $1.07

10.28%

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

$21.6K PAB 21.6K

$35.3K $35.3K

-38.90%

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

$22.4K PAB 22.4K

$25.9K $25.9K

-13.33%

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

$118 PAB 118

$217 $217

-45.50%

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

$26.75 PAB 26.75

$61.4 $61.4

-56.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.56 PAB 46.56

$74.4 $74.4

-37.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.98 PAB 48.98

$45.08 $45.08

8.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.75 PAB 29.75

$23.07 $23.07

28.96%

Cinema Ticket

$7.95 PAB 7.95

$14.79 $14.79

-46.25%

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

$553 PAB 553

$1,480 $1,480

-62.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,030 PAB 8,030

$25.5K $25.5K

-68.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 PAB 54.6

$53.0 $53.0

2.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.81 PAB 42.81

$42.75 $42.75

0.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.0 PAB 89.0

$94.3 $94.3

-5.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 PAB 105

$115 $115

-8.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$939 PAB 939

$1,678 $1,678

-44.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$701 PAB 701

$1,313 $1,313

-46.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,709 PAB 1,709

$2,649 $2,649

-35.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 PAB 1,258

$2,183 $2,183

-42.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,911 PAB 2,911

$3,374 $3,374

-13.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,643 PAB 1,643

$2,661 $2,661

-38.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$831 PAB 831

$4,404 $4,404

-81.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.37

6.55

-2.75%

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

Last update for Panama: October 11, 2026

Last update for the United States: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Panama

$701 44.1%

United States

$1.3K 48.6% 87.3% $612

Groceries & Markets

Panama

$303 19.1%

United States

$411 15.2% 35.5% $108

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Panama

$191 12%

United States

$352 13% 84.1% $161

Eating Out

Panama

$163 10.3%

United States

$327 12.1% 99.9% $163

Clothing & Footwear

Panama

$131 8.3%

United States

$137 5.1% 4.8% $6.3

Sport & Entertainment

Panama

$65 4.1%

United States

$75 2.8% 15.1% $9.8

Getting Around

Panama

$34 2.2%

United States

$86 3.2% 151% $52

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $336 in Panama vs $1,609 in the United States. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,257 in Panama City and $2,730 in Washington, DC.

Average salary: $686 in Panama vs $4,533 in the United States. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 379% higher in the United States.

Dining out costs 168% more in the United States.

Public transport is 800% more expensive in the United States.

Salaries are 561% higher in the United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the United States.

Good to know

🇵🇦 Panama

🇺🇸 United States

🕒 Local time

10:34 10:34 AM

11:34 11:34 AM

1 h ahead of Panama

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

4,098,587

340,110,988

💱 Currency

Panamanian Balboa PAB B/.

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 PAB = 1 USD

1 PAB = 0.89 EUR

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to PAB – Panamanian Balboa Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇵🇦 Panamanian Balboa (B/.)

Panamanian Balboa exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 1 PAB (1 PAB = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.12 PAB (1 PAB = 0.89 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

USD to PAB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Panama United States 3,060 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Panama
United States

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 United States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Panama is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 70% lower on average.

Housing costs more in the United States: a central one-bedroom averages $1,609 versus $336 in Panama.

Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in Panama, adding to the overall 70% price gap.

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