Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Panama City, FL Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Panama City, FL

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,886 in Seattle, WA versus $2,593 in Panama City, FL.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,699 in Seattle, WA versus $3,574 in Panama City, FL.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,513 in Seattle, WA versus $4,555 in Panama City, FL.

Living in Seattle, WA is roughly 50% more expensive than in Panama City, FL, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Seattle, WA 182% above, Panama City, FL 88% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.37 $25.37

$17.66 $17.66

43.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$80.6 $80.6

25.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.80 $14.80

$11.96 $11.96

23.75%

Cappuccino

$6.63 $6.63

$4.96 $4.96

33.67%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$2.64 $2.64

16.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.02 $2.02

46.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.94 $7.94

$4.93 $4.93

61.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.88 $7.88

$6.90 $6.90

14.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$0.93 $0.93

31.18%

White Bread (500g)

$5.14 $5.14

$3.63 $3.63

41.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.16 $6.16

$1.93 $1.93

219.17%

Eggs

$5.08 $5.08

$2.90 $2.90

75.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.31 $21.31

$11.55 $11.55

84.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.42 $18.42

$9.99 $9.99

84.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.04 $23.04

$13.86 $13.86

66.23%

Apples (1kg)

$6.04 $6.04

$4.17 $4.17

44.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 $1.88

$1.56 $1.56

20.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.20 $5.20

$4.32 $4.32

20.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.37 $6.37

$4.47 $4.47

42.51%

Potato (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$3.80 $3.80

-0.53%

Onion (1kg)

$3.30 $3.30

$3.55 $3.55

-7.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.70 $1.70

68.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 $2.66

$2.25 $2.25

18.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.91 $13.91

$9.14 $9.14

52.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.05 $15.05

$11.98 $11.98

25.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.17 $4.17

$1.69 $1.69

146.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.64 $5.64

$1.95 $1.95

189.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.97 $2.97

$1.53 $1.53

94.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$107 $107

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.53 $2.53

1.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.59 $1.59

3.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.49 $29.49

$51.0 $51.0

-42.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 $1.46

$0.87 $0.87

67.82%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$37.4K $37.4K

-3.61%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

0.25%

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

$306 $306

$174 $174

76.32%

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

$70.2 $70.2

$43.46 $43.46

61.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$87.4 $87.4

$59.0 $59.0

48.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.9 $79.9

$39.44 $39.44

102.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.74 $34.74

Cinema Ticket

$17.85 $17.85

$14.64 $14.64

21.93%

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

$3,018 $3,018

$972 $972

210.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$13.9K $13.9K

123.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.6 $76.6

$60.2 $60.2

27.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$35.26 $35.26

52.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 $126

$99.2 $99.2

26.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$162 $162

$107 $107

51.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,456 $2,456

$1,673 $1,673

46.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,981 $1,981

$1,498 $1,498

32.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,881 $4,881

$2,746 $2,746

77.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,625 $3,625

$1,878 $1,878

93.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,376 $7,376

$3,709 $3,709

98.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,007 $5,007

$3,688 $3,688

35.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,165 $6,165

$3,992 $3,992

54.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

6.1

5.74%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: September 7, 2026

Last update for Panama City, FL: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,456 in Seattle, WA and $1,673 in Panama City, FL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 54% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $101 in Seattle, WA vs $81.0 in Panama City, FL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $551 vs $349 per month, with Panama City, FL cheaper across the board.

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

Seattle, WA vs Panama City, FL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Panama City, FL wins on cost – living expenses run 50% lower than in Seattle, WA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Panama City, FL the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 54% higher in Seattle, WA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,456 in Seattle, WA versus $1,673 in Panama City, FL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 58% higher in Seattle, WA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,886 per month in Seattle, WA versus $2,593 in Panama City, FL – a 50% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Panama City, FL is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both work as nomad bases, but Panama City, FL delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,593 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Panama City, FL hard to pass up.

Expats usually find Panama City, FL gentler on the wallet – expenses run 50% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.