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 $1,250 per month in Phuket vs $1,814 in Panama City, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,284 per month in Phuket vs $2,728 in Panama City, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,317 per month in Phuket vs $3,643 in Panama City, rent included.

Phuket is about 31% cheaper than Panama City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Phuket sits 6% below the global median, while Panama City is 36% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.55 ฿153

$10.13 PAB 10.13

-55.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.18 ฿1,553

$49.65 PAB 49.65

-6.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿297

$8.06 PAB 8.06

9.68%

Cappuccino

$3.06 ฿103

$3.60 PAB 3.60

-15.00%

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

$0.73 ฿24.40

$1.72 PAB 1.72

-57.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ฿13.39

$1.36 PAB 1.36

-70.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ฿81.8

$2.95 PAB 2.95

-17.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 ฿127

$4.03 PAB 4.03

-6.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿76.0

$1.81 PAB 1.81

24.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ฿60.9

$2.46 PAB 2.46

-26.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ฿75.8

$2.41 PAB 2.41

-6.64%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.5

$2.93 PAB 2.93

-23.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.51 ฿656

$11.38 PAB 11.38

71.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿123

$7.06 PAB 7.06

-48.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.05 ฿439

$9.85 PAB 9.85

32.49%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿109

$3.37 PAB 3.37

-4.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.4

$1.51 PAB 1.51

7.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.38 ฿80.1

$2.86 PAB 2.86

-16.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿68.1

$3.12 PAB 3.12

-34.94%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿51.6

$2.23 PAB 2.23

-31.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.5

$2.76 PAB 2.76

-45.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.91

$2.18 PAB 2.18

-55.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.39

$1.53 PAB 1.53

-66.01%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.44 ฿149

$6.09 PAB 6.09

-27.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿616

$10.78 PAB 10.78

69.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.7

$1.28 PAB 1.28

45.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 ฿90.1

$2.36 PAB 2.36

13.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.41 ฿47.46

$0.44 PAB 0.44

220.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.70 ฿393

$22.10 PAB 22.10

-47.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.11 ฿105

$2.44 PAB 2.44

27.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿35.06

$1.77 PAB 1.77

-41.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.11 ฿474

$21.61 PAB 21.61

-34.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 ฿44.10

$0.95 PAB 0.95

37.89%

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

$27.8K ฿935.4K

$19.6K PAB 19.6K

41.87%

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

$33.2K ฿1.1M

$20.6K PAB 20.6K

61.49%

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

$122 ฿4,118

$122 PAB 122

0.31%

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

$13.59 ฿457

$29.88 PAB 29.88

-54.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.70 ฿629

$49.49 PAB 49.49

-62.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.5 ฿2,034

$45.36 PAB 45.36

33.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.98 ฿571

$32.73 PAB 32.73

-48.12%

Cinema Ticket

$9.07 ฿305

$7.85 PAB 7.85

15.54%

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

$706 ฿23.8K

$484 PAB 484

45.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿531.5K

$15.8K PAB 15.8K

-0.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 ฿1,969

$51.6 PAB 51.6

13.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.36 ฿1,189

$46.50 PAB 46.50

-23.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,883

$88.6 PAB 88.6

30.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.7 ฿2,816

$121 PAB 121

-30.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$626 ฿21.0K

$1,158 PAB 1,158

-45.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$445 ฿15.0K

$894 PAB 894

-50.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,040 ฿68.6K

$2,037 PAB 2,037

0.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿50.2K

$1,578 PAB 1,578

-5.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,483 ฿117.1K

$3,124 PAB 3,124

11.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,577 ฿86.7K

$1,693 PAB 1,693

52.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$500 ฿16.8K

$926 PAB 926

-46.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

6.23

-14.45%

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

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Last update for Panama City: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $626 in Phuket versus $1,158 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 85% 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 $46.00 in Phuket versus $50.0 in Panama City. Groceries tell a different story – $289 in Phuket vs $288 in Panama City – so Panama City wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 45%, 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 $1,875 per month in Phuket and $2,720 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.

Interestingly, groceries are about 0% cheaper in Panama City – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Phuket and $50.0 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 $1,250, than in Panama City at $1,814. 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.