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: $1,604 a month against $2,785 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $14,200 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
133

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

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🇵🇦 Panama

$1,604

/mo nomad

🇺🇸 United States

$2,785

/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 $1,604 per month in Panama vs $2,784 in the United States, rent included.

Panama $1,604
United States $2,784

A couple spends around $2,454 per month in Panama vs $3,982 in the United States, rent included.

Panama $2,454
United States $3,982

A family of three spends $3,304 per month in Panama vs $5,179 in the United States, rent included.

Panama $3,304
United States $5,179

The cost of living in Panama is roughly 42% lower than in the United States on average.

Both Panama and the United States are pricier than the global median – Panama by 20%, the United States by 108%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.86 PAB 7.86

$20.22 $20.22

-61.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.75 PAB 44.75

$81.1 $81.1

-44.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.89 PAB 7.89

$12.12 $12.12

-34.90%

Cappuccino

$3.84 PAB 3.84

$5.36 $5.36

-28.36%

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

$1.59 PAB 1.59

$2.77 $2.77

-42.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.41 PAB 1.41

$2.09 $2.09

-32.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.19 PAB 2.19

$5.84 $5.84

-62.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.04 PAB 4.04

$7.92 $7.92

-48.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 PAB 1.85

$1.04 $1.04

77.88%

White Bread (500g)

$2.32 PAB 2.32

$3.56 $3.56

-34.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.99 PAB 2.99

$4.69 $4.69

-36.25%

Eggs

$2.48 PAB 2.48

$4.43 $4.43

-44.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.28 PAB 12.28

$12.91 $12.91

-4.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.94 PAB 6.94

$12.20 $12.20

-43.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.11 PAB 10.11

$17.00 $17.00

-40.53%

Apples (1kg)

$4.18 PAB 4.18

$5.31 $5.31

-21.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 PAB 1.48

$1.67 $1.67

-11.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.65 PAB 3.65

$4.49 $4.49

-18.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.73 PAB 3.73

$5.05 $5.05

-26.14%

Potato (1kg)

$2.50 PAB 2.50

$2.83 $2.83

-11.66%

Onion (1kg)

$3.29 PAB 3.29

$3.00 $3.00

9.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.34 PAB 2.34

$2.28 $2.28

2.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.57 PAB 1.57

$2.27 $2.27

-30.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.08 PAB 6.08

$10.33 $10.33

-41.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.88 PAB 9.88

$14.72 $14.72

-32.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 PAB 1.39

$2.05 $2.05

-32.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 PAB 2.42

$3.66 $3.66

-33.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.43 PAB 0.43

$2.33 $2.33

-81.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.96 PAB 20.96

$65.1 $65.1

-67.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.43 PAB 2.43

$3.60 $3.60

-32.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 PAB 1.82

$1.90 $1.90

-4.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.79 PAB 21.79

$29.81 $29.81

-26.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 PAB 1.18

$1.03 $1.03

14.56%

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

$21.5K PAB 21.5K

$35.1K $35.1K

-38.75%

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

$22.2K PAB 22.2K

$26.3K $26.3K

-15.54%

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

$119 PAB 119

$216 $216

-44.93%

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

$27.03 PAB 27.03

$62.3 $62.3

-56.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.70 PAB 47.70

$74.6 $74.6

-36.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.94 PAB 48.94

$44.70 $44.70

9.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.16 PAB 30.16

$22.55 $22.55

33.75%

Cinema Ticket

$7.84 PAB 7.84

$15.19 $15.19

-48.39%

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

$536 PAB 536

$1,440 $1,440

-62.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,069 PAB 8,069

$25.2K $25.2K

-68.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 PAB 53.5

$53.7 $53.7

-0.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.77 PAB 42.77

$42.44 $42.44

0.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.4 PAB 87.4

$93.4 $93.4

-6.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 PAB 103

$115 $115

-10.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$944 PAB 944

$1,622 $1,622

-41.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$697 PAB 697

$1,357 $1,357

-48.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,728 PAB 1,728

$2,681 $2,681

-35.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,262 PAB 1,262

$2,170 $2,170

-41.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,941 PAB 2,941

$3,294 $3,294

-10.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,673 PAB 1,673

$2,674 $2,674

-37.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$826 PAB 826

$4,242 $4,242

-80.54%

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 5, 2026

Last update for the United States: October 6, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Panama

$697 44%

United States

$1.4K 49.4% 94.7% $660

Groceries & Markets

Panama

$302 19.1%

United States

$411 15% 35.9% $109

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Panama

$194 12.2%

United States

$353 12.9% 82.2% $159

Eating Out

Panama

$164 10.3%

United States

$327 11.9% 99.8% $163

Clothing & Footwear

Panama

$129 8.2%

United States

$137 5% 6.1% $7.9

Sport & Entertainment

Panama

$65 4.1%

United States

$75 2.7% 16.2% $10

Getting Around

Panama

$34 2.2%

United States

$87 3.2% 156% $53

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $336 in Panama vs $1,605 in the United States. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,238 in Panama City and $2,726 in Washington, DC.

Average salary: $696 in Panama vs $4,534 in the United States. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 378% 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 551% higher in the United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the United States.

Good to know

🇵🇦 Panama

🇺🇸 United States

🕒 Local time

21:25 9:25 PM

22:25 10:25 PM

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 = 0.892 EUR

1 USD = 0.892 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 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1 PAB (1 PAB = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.12 PAB (1 PAB = 0.892 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 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 74% lower on average.

Housing costs more in the United States: a central one-bedroom averages $1,605 versus $336 in Panama.

Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in Panama, adding to the overall 74% 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.