Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between San Ramon, CA and Panama City

For one person, living is cheaper in Panama City: $1,857 a month against $3,251 in San Ramon, CA, rent and utilities included – about $16,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

San Ramon, CA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,251
/mo nomad
Panama City
🇵🇦 Panama
$1,857
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in San Ramon, CA 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 San Ramon, CA and in Panama City actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,251 per month in San Ramon, CA vs $1,857 in Panama City, rent included.

  • San Ramon, CA $3,251
  • Panama City $1,857

A couple spends around $2,965 per month in San Ramon, CA vs $2,815 in Panama City, rent included.

  • San Ramon, CA $2,965
  • Panama City $2,815

A family of three spends $2,680 per month in San Ramon, CA vs $3,773 in Panama City, rent included.

  • San Ramon, CA $2,680
  • Panama City $3,773

San Ramon, CA costs about 75% more than Panama City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both San Ramon, CA and Panama City sit above the global median – San Ramon, CA by 140%, Panama City by 37%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Ramon, CA
Panama City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.22 $19.22
$11.68 PAB 11.68
64.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.8 $50.8
$47.76 PAB 47.76
6.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.87 $10.87
$8.12 PAB 8.12
33.87%
Cappuccino
$5.36 $5.36
$4.23 PAB 4.23
26.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03 $3.03
$1.92 PAB 1.92
57.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 $2.54
$1.58 PAB 1.58
60.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.19 $9.19
$3.31 PAB 3.31
177.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.89 $7.89
$3.98 PAB 3.98
98.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Ramon, CA
Panama City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.32 $1.32
$1.92 PAB 1.92
-31.25%
White Bread (500g)
$4.17 $4.17
$2.63 PAB 2.63
58.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.87 $4.87
$3.39 PAB 3.39
43.66%
Eggs
$3.89 $3.89
$2.67 PAB 2.67
45.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$24.97 $24.97
$12.21 PAB 12.21
104.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.84 $11.84
$6.91 PAB 6.91
71.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.29 $13.29
$10.58 PAB 10.58
25.61%
Apples (1kg)
$5.40 $5.40
$4.16 PAB 4.16
29.81%
Banana (1kg)
$3.22 $3.22
$1.97 PAB 1.97
63.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.79 $4.79
$4.06 PAB 4.06
17.98%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.87 $5.87
$4.18 PAB 4.18
40.43%
Potato (1kg)
$3.35 $3.35
$3.47 PAB 3.47
-3.46%
Onion (1kg)
$3.99 $3.99
$4.26 PAB 4.26
-6.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.96 $2.96
$2.44 PAB 2.44
21.31%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.65 $2.65
$1.69 PAB 1.69
56.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.57 $11.57
$5.83 PAB 5.83
98.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.93 $12.93
$11.43 PAB 11.43
13.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07 $2.07
$1.38 PAB 1.38
50.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.76 PAB 2.76
-8.33%
🚌 Getting Around
San Ramon, CA
Panama City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.33 PAB 0.33
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$20.63 PAB 20.63
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.06 $4.06
$2.55 PAB 2.55
59.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$5.12 $5.12
$1.78 PAB 1.78
187.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$22.17 PAB 22.17
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 $1.23
$1.24 PAB 1.24
-0.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.1K $28.1K
$24.4K PAB 24.4K
15.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2K $27.2K
$21.3K PAB 21.3K
27.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Ramon, CA
Panama City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$140 $140
$131 PAB 131
6.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.37 $39.37
$27.83 PAB 27.83
41.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.5 $63.5
$49.32 PAB 49.32
28.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Ramon, CA
Panama City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.11 $20.11
$45.69 PAB 45.69
-55.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$34.10 PAB 34.10
-
Cinema Ticket
$16.77 $16.77
$8.47 PAB 8.47
97.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Ramon, CA
Panama City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,796 $1,796
$553 PAB 553
224.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.3K $24.3K
$9,719 PAB 9,719
150.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Ramon, CA
Panama City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.41 $49.41
$66.4 PAB 66.4
-25.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.41 $39.41
$47.39 PAB 47.39
-16.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.6 $99.6
$95.7 PAB 95.7
4.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$61.0 $61.0
$113 PAB 113
-45.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Ramon, CA
Panama City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,375 $2,375
$1,322 PAB 1,322
79.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,016 $2,016
$874 PAB 874
130.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,946 $2,946
$2,153 PAB 2,153
36.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,580 PAB 1,580
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,097 PAB 3,097
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,698 PAB 1,698
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Ramon, CA
Panama City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$9,337 $9,337
$914 PAB 914
921.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.69
6.39
4.69%

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

Last update for San Ramon, CA: October 18, 2026

Last update for Panama City: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
San Ramon, CA
$2K
Panama City
$874 56.6% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
San Ramon, CA
$462
Panama City
$327 29.3% $135
Eating Out
San Ramon, CA
$335
Panama City
$207 38.1% $128
Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Ramon, CA
$243
Panama City
$208 14.1% $34
Clothing & Footwear
San Ramon, CA
$112
Panama City
$145 29.2% $33
Sport & Entertainment
San Ramon, CA
$54
Panama City
$63 16.8% $9
Getting Around
San Ramon, CA
$30 *
Panama City
$33 12.7% $3.8

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,375 in San Ramon, CA versus $1,322 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 922% higher in San Ramon, CA, 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 $51.0 in San Ramon, CA versus $48.00 in Panama City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $462 vs $327 – making Panama City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 San Ramon, CA
🇵🇦 Panama City
🕒 Local time
08:05 8:05 AM
10:05 10:05 AM
2 h ahead of San Ramon, CA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
75,995
1,086,990 Capital
Exchange rates and currency converter

PAB, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Panamanian Balboa exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 1 PAB (1 PAB = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.12 PAB (1 PAB = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • San Ramon, CA Panama City 5,310 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • San Ramon, CA
  • 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
San Ramon, CA vs Panama City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Panama City cheaper than San Ramon, CA?
Yes – San Ramon, CA is pricier by about 75%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,876 per month in San Ramon, CA and $2,786 in Panama City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Panama City, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in San Ramon, CA and in Panama City?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,251 in San Ramon, CA and $1,857 in Panama City. That's a gap of about 75%.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,796 per month in San Ramon, CA and $553 in Panama City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in San Ramon, CA or in Panama City?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Panama City, where all-in costs run around $1,857, than in San Ramon, CA at $3,251. In Panama City it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Ramon, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is San Ramon, CA or Panama City more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Panama City – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, San Ramon, CA or Panama City?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Panama City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, San Ramon, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

San Ramon, CA vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?