Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Provo, UT and Panama City

For one person, living is cheaper in Panama City: $1,972 a month against $2,286 in Provo, UT, rent and utilities included – about $3,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Provo, UT, United States
Panama City, Panama
Provo, UT
🇺🇸 United States
$2,286
/mo nomad
Panama City
🇵🇦 Panama
$1,972
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Provo, UT and in Panama City

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

A single person spends $2,286 per month in Provo, UT vs $1,972 in Panama City, rent included.

  • Provo, UT $2,286
  • Panama City $1,972

A couple spends around $3,373 per month in Provo, UT vs $2,930 in Panama City, rent included.

  • Provo, UT $3,373
  • Panama City $2,930

A family of three spends $4,460 per month in Provo, UT vs $3,888 in Panama City, rent included.

  • Provo, UT $4,460
  • Panama City $3,888

Provo, UT costs about 16% more than Panama City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Provo, UT and Panama City sit above the global median – Provo, UT by 69%, Panama City by 46%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Provo, UT
Panama City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.17 $19.17
$11.37 PAB 11.37
68.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.6 $80.6
$46.69 PAB 46.69
72.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.93 $9.93
$7.98 PAB 7.98
24.44%
Cappuccino
$5.48 $5.48
$4.12 PAB 4.12
33.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 $2.04
$2.01 PAB 2.01
1.49%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87 $1.87
$1.57 PAB 1.57
19.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.12 $5.12
$3.28 PAB 3.28
56.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.17 $8.17
$3.88 PAB 3.88
110.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Provo, UT
Panama City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.82 PAB 1.82
-47.80%
White Bread (500g)
$3.39 $3.39
$2.61 PAB 2.61
29.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.23 $3.23
$3.45 PAB 3.45
-6.38%
Eggs
$4.01 $4.01
$2.68 PAB 2.68
49.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.94 $7.94
$12.42 PAB 12.42
-36.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.87 $5.87
$6.73 PAB 6.73
-12.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.22 $11.22
$10.44 PAB 10.44
7.47%
Apples (1kg)
$4.30 $4.30
$4.21 PAB 4.21
2.14%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 $1.45
$1.95 PAB 1.95
-25.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.68 $2.68
$4.07 PAB 4.07
-34.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.89 $2.89
$4.02 PAB 4.02
-28.11%
Potato (1kg)
$3.23 $3.23
$3.46 PAB 3.46
-6.65%
Onion (1kg)
$1.94 $1.94
$4.42 PAB 4.42
-56.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.76 $1.76
$2.43 PAB 2.43
-27.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.73 $2.73
$1.72 PAB 1.72
58.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.67 $10.67
$6.04 PAB 6.04
76.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.25 $16.25
$11.68 PAB 11.68
39.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.80 $2.80
$1.41 PAB 1.41
98.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 $2.92
$2.74 PAB 2.74
6.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Provo, UT
Panama City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.98 $2.98
$0.33 PAB 0.33
803.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$84.3 $84.3
$20.65 PAB 20.65
307.99%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.46 $3.46
$2.45 PAB 2.45
41.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.76 PAB 1.76
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.02 $13.02
$21.86 PAB 21.86
-40.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 $0.99
$1.20 PAB 1.20
-17.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.1K $33.1K
$24.6K PAB 24.6K
34.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$20.9K PAB 20.9K
25.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Provo, UT
Panama City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$130 $130
$132 PAB 132
-1.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.75 $44.75
$27.89 PAB 27.89
60.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.1 $62.1
$49.10 PAB 49.10
26.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Provo, UT
Panama City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.37 $22.37
$44.53 PAB 44.53
-49.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.75 $19.75
$34.01 PAB 34.01
-41.93%
Cinema Ticket
$10.86 $10.86
$8.70 PAB 8.70
24.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Provo, UT
Panama City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$940 $940
$537 PAB 537
75.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$20.5K PAB 20.5K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Provo, UT
Panama City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.63 $46.63
$65.8 PAB 65.8
-29.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.6 $55.6
$48.45 PAB 48.45
14.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$63.7 $63.7
$95.4 PAB 95.4
-33.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 $79.6
$114 PAB 114
-29.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Provo, UT
Panama City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,380 $1,380
$1,405 PAB 1,405
-1.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,168 $1,168
$994 PAB 994
17.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,887 $1,887
$2,221 PAB 2,221
-15.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,882 $1,882
$1,714 PAB 1,714
9.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,391 $2,391
$3,139 PAB 3,139
-23.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,360 $2,360
$1,724 PAB 1,724
36.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Provo, UT
Panama City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,552 $3,552
$936 PAB 936
279.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.19
6.39
12.52%

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

Last update for Provo, UT: November 2, 2026

Last update for Panama City: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Provo, UT
$1.2K
Panama City
$994 14.9% $174
Groceries & Markets
Provo, UT
$320
Panama City
$326 1.6% $5.2
Eating Out
Provo, UT
$306
Panama City
$203 33.8% $104
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Provo, UT
$236
Panama City
$209 11.7% $28
Clothing & Footwear
Provo, UT
$111
Panama City
$145 31.6% $35
Getting Around
Provo, UT
$100 *
Panama City
$33 66.6% $66
Sport & Entertainment
Provo, UT
$44
Panama City
$62 40.5% $18

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,380 in Provo, UT versus $1,405 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 in Provo, UT are about 3.8 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $81 in Provo, UT versus $47 in Panama City. Groceries tell a different story – $320 in Provo, UT vs $326 in Panama City – so Provo, UT wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Provo, UT
🇵🇦 Panama City
🕒 Local time
11:19 11:19 AM
13:19 1:19 PM
2 h ahead of Provo, UT
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
115,162
1,086,990 Capital
Exchange rates and currency converter

PAB, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Panamanian Balboa exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 1 PAB (1 PAB = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.12 PAB (1 PAB = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Provo, UT Panama City 4,710 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Provo, UT
  • Panama City

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
Provo, UT vs Panama City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Panama City cheaper than Provo, UT?
Yes – Provo, UT is pricier by about 16%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,429 per month in Provo, UT and $2,958 in Panama City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What is the rent difference between Provo, UT and Panama City?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $1,380 in Provo, UT and $1,405 in Panama City. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
What are total monthly expenses in Provo, UT and in Panama City?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,286 in Provo, UT and $1,972 in Panama City. That makes Panama City about 14% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $940 per month in Provo, UT and $537 in Panama City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is it better to live in Provo, UT or in Panama City?
It depends on your priorities. Panama City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,972 in Panama City to $2,286 in Provo, UT. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Panama City. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Provo, UT makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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