Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Panama City Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Panama City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $1,874 in Panama City, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,054 per month in Phuket vs $2,736 in Panama City, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Phuket vs $3,597 in Panama City, rent included.

Phuket is about 34% cheaper than Panama City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Phuket sits 10% below the global median, while Panama City is 37% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 ฿147

$9.88 PAB 9.88

-55.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.26 ฿1,077

$48.10 PAB 48.10

-32.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.93 ฿298

$8.19 PAB 8.19

9.04%

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿96.6

$4.07 PAB 4.07

-28.75%

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

$0.88 ฿29.38

$2.04 PAB 2.04

-56.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.06

$1.53 PAB 1.53

-68.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ฿78.5

$3.36 PAB 3.36

-30.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿124

$4.08 PAB 4.08

-8.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ฿62.3

$1.85 PAB 1.85

1.08%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ฿48.94

$2.31 PAB 2.31

-36.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.8

$3.21 PAB 3.21

-51.71%

Eggs

$2.10 ฿70.1

$2.76 PAB 2.76

-23.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.59 ฿654

$12.66 PAB 12.66

54.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.42 ฿114

$6.33 PAB 6.33

-45.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 ฿380

$10.38 PAB 10.38

9.63%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 ฿99.6

$4.32 PAB 4.32

-31.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ฿56.2

$1.69 PAB 1.69

-0.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$3.83 PAB 3.83

-42.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 ฿72.1

$4.01 PAB 4.01

-46.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.9

$3.16 PAB 3.16

-51.90%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.67

$4.44 PAB 4.44

-69.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ฿37.67

$2.27 PAB 2.27

-50.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿18.24

$1.78 PAB 1.78

-69.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 ฿142

$6.18 PAB 6.18

-31.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.09 ฿637

$10.80 PAB 10.80

76.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿59.4

$1.36 PAB 1.36

30.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿92.9

$2.84 PAB 2.84

-2.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.23 ฿74.4

$0.36 PAB 0.36

519.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿759

$20.77 PAB 20.77

9.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿101

$2.51 PAB 2.51

20.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.15

$1.77 PAB 1.77

-42.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 ฿130

$22.17 PAB 22.17

-82.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.77

$1.20 PAB 1.20

24.17%

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

$26.6K ฿887.3K

$21.3K PAB 21.3K

24.81%

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

$27.0K ฿902.2K

$20.9K PAB 20.9K

29.41%

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

$102 ฿3,420

$132 PAB 132

-22.23%

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

$11.33 ฿378

$28.46 PAB 28.46

-60.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.40 ฿581

$47.82 PAB 47.82

-63.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 ฿1,738

$47.29 PAB 47.29

10.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿370

$33.03 PAB 33.03

-66.49%

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 ฿257

$8.19 PAB 8.19

-6.11%

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

$561 ฿18.7K

$549 PAB 549

2.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ฿384.1K

$9,597 PAB 9,597

19.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.0 ฿2,104

$59.2 PAB 59.2

6.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.52 ฿986

$46.56 PAB 46.56

-36.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 ฿3,272

$93.4 PAB 93.4

5.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 ฿2,954

$117 PAB 117

-24.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 ฿24.6K

$1,335 PAB 1,335

-44.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.1K

$913 PAB 913

-47.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,107 ฿70.3K

$2,141 PAB 2,141

-1.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,226 ฿40.9K

$1,489 PAB 1,489

-17.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,617 ฿120.7K

$3,140 PAB 3,140

15.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,603 ฿86.9K

$1,703 PAB 1,703

52.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.5K

$921 PAB 921

-46.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

6.39

-12.83%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Panama City: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $738 in Phuket versus $1,335 in Panama City. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 87% higher in Panama City, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket versus $48.00 in Panama City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $274 vs $316 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Phuket vs Panama City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Panama City is pricier by about 52%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $2,811 in Panama City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 16% more in Panama City, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket and $48.00 in Panama City. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,232, than in Panama City at $1,874. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Panama City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Phuket – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Panama City makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.