Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Santiago and Panama

For one person, living is cheaper in Santiago: $1,206 a month against $1,604 in Panama, rent and utilities included – about $4,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Santiago
🇨🇱 Chile
$1,206
/mo nomad
🇵🇦 Panama
$1,604
/mo nomad
🙂 Solo nomad: Santiago is 13.9% cheaper than Panama without rent, and 24.8% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Santiago is 13.2% cheaper than Panama without rent, and 22.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santiago
Panama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.19 CLP 9,931
$7.86 PAB 7.86
29.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.2 CLP 50.9K
$44.75 PAB 44.75
16.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.54 CLP 8,323
$7.89 PAB 7.89
8.24%
Cappuccino
$3.19 CLP 3,115
$3.84 PAB 3.84
-16.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 CLP 1,637
$1.59 PAB 1.59
5.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22 CLP 1,191
$1.41 PAB 1.41
-13.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.21 CLP 4,101
$2.19 PAB 2.19
92.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66 CLP 4,539
$4.04 PAB 4.04
15.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santiago
Panama
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.32 CLP 1,283
$1.85 PAB 1.85
-28.65%
White Bread (500g)
$1.80 CLP 1,756
$2.32 PAB 2.32
-22.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.58 CLP 1,543
$2.99 PAB 2.99
-47.16%
Eggs
$4.25 CLP 4,141
$2.48 PAB 2.48
71.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.19 CLP 10.9K
$12.28 PAB 12.28
-8.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.75 CLP 6,580
$6.94 PAB 6.94
-2.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.67 CLP 10.4K
$10.11 PAB 10.11
5.54%
Apples (1kg)
$2.04 CLP 1,991
$4.18 PAB 4.18
-51.20%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 CLP 1,497
$1.48 PAB 1.48
3.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.59 CLP 1,549
$3.65 PAB 3.65
-56.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.75 CLP 1,708
$3.73 PAB 3.73
-53.08%
Potato (1kg)
$1.08 CLP 1,051
$2.50 PAB 2.50
-56.80%
Onion (1kg)
$1.51 CLP 1,476
$3.29 PAB 3.29
-54.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 CLP 1,145
$2.34 PAB 2.34
-50.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 CLP 1,041
$1.57 PAB 1.57
-31.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.14 CLP 5,015
$6.08 PAB 6.08
-15.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.88 CLP 5,732
$9.88 PAB 9.88
-40.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55 CLP 1,513
$1.39 PAB 1.39
11.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 CLP 2,218
$2.42 PAB 2.42
-6.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Santiago
Panama
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.85 CLP 829
$0.43 PAB 0.43
97.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.50 CLP 40.5K
$20.96 PAB 20.96
98.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.39 CLP 383
$2.43 PAB 2.43
-83.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.84 CLP 820
$1.82 PAB 1.82
-53.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.94 CLP 11.6K
$21.79 PAB 21.79
-45.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 CLP 1,467
$1.18 PAB 1.18
27.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K CLP 17.7M
$21.5K PAB 21.5K
-15.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.6K CLP 21.1M
$22.2K PAB 22.2K
-2.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santiago
Panama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$151 CLP 147.3K
$119 PAB 119
26.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.04 CLP 11.7K
$27.03 PAB 27.03
-55.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.93 CLP 18.5K
$47.70 PAB 47.70
-60.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santiago
Panama
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.81 CLP 33.0K
$48.94 PAB 48.94
-30.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.72 CLP 11.4K
$30.16 PAB 30.16
-61.14%
Cinema Ticket
$7.37 CLP 7,185
$7.84 PAB 7.84
-5.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santiago
Panama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$434 CLP 423.3K
$536 PAB 536
-18.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.0K CLP 10.7M
$8,069 PAB 8,069
36.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santiago
Panama
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.9 CLP 49.6K
$53.5 PAB 53.5
-4.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.16 CLP 28.4K
$42.77 PAB 42.77
-31.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$67.4 CLP 65.7K
$87.4 PAB 87.4
-22.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.3 CLP 78.2K
$103 PAB 103
-22.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santiago
Panama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$555 CLP 540.8K
$944 PAB 944
-41.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$372 CLP 363.2K
$697 PAB 697
-46.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,009 CLP 984.3K
$1,728 PAB 1,728
-41.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$779 CLP 759.1K
$1,262 PAB 1,262
-38.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,671 CLP 2.6M
$2,941 PAB 2,941
-9.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,622 CLP 2.6M
$1,673 PAB 1,673
56.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santiago
Panama
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$791 CLP 771.7K
$826 PAB 826
-4.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.39
6.37
-15.38%

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

Last update for Santiago: October 4, 2026

Last update for Panama: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Santiago
$372
Panama
$697 87% $324
Groceries & Markets
Santiago
$236
Panama
$302 28% $66
Eating Out
Santiago
$187
Panama
$164 12.7% $24
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santiago
$182
Panama
$194 6.4% $12
Clothing & Footwear
Santiago
$102
Panama
$129 26.1% $27
Getting Around
Santiago
$50
Panama
$34 30.8% $15
Sport & Entertainment
Santiago
$49
Panama
$65 33.1% $16
Good to know
🇨🇱 Santiago
🇵🇦 Panama
🕒 Local time
08:26 8:26 AM
06:26 6:26 AM
2 h behind Santiago
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
6,139,087 Capital
4,098,587
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PAB, USD, EUR to CLP – Chilean Peso Converter

Chilean Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 975 CLP (1,000 CLP = 1.03 USD). 1 EUR = 1,093 CLP (10,000 CLP = 9.15 EUR).

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).

On the map
Between locations
  • Santiago Panama 4,810 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Santiago
  • Panama

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

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