Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Panama

For one person, living is cheaper in Panama: $1,604 a month against $3,744 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $25,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Seattle, WA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,744
/mo nomad
🇵🇦 Panama
$1,604
/mo nomad
😐 Solo nomad: Seattle, WA is 102.8% more expensive than Panama without rent, and 133.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Seattle, WA is 99.1% more expensive than Panama without rent, and 131.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Seattle, WA
Panama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.56 $24.56
$7.86 PAB 7.86
212.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$99.5 $99.5
$44.75 PAB 44.75
122.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.30 $15.30
$7.89 PAB 7.89
93.92%
Cappuccino
$6.62 $6.62
$3.84 PAB 3.84
72.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25 $3.25
$1.59 PAB 1.59
104.40%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$1.41 PAB 1.41
120.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.77 $7.77
$2.19 PAB 2.19
254.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.93 $7.93
$4.04 PAB 4.04
96.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
Panama
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 $1.21
$1.85 PAB 1.85
-34.59%
White Bread (500g)
$4.94 $4.94
$2.32 PAB 2.32
112.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.17 $6.17
$2.99 PAB 2.99
106.35%
Eggs
$4.96 $4.96
$2.48 PAB 2.48
100.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.00 $19.00
$12.28 PAB 12.28
54.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$18.69 $18.69
$6.94 PAB 6.94
169.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.14 $23.14
$10.11 PAB 10.11
128.88%
Apples (1kg)
$5.93 $5.93
$4.18 PAB 4.18
41.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.94 $1.94
$1.48 PAB 1.48
31.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.19 $5.19
$3.65 PAB 3.65
42.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.55 $6.55
$3.73 PAB 3.73
75.60%
Potato (1kg)
$3.62 $3.62
$2.50 PAB 2.50
44.80%
Onion (1kg)
$3.16 $3.16
$3.29 PAB 3.29
-3.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.91 $2.91
$2.34 PAB 2.34
24.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.38 $2.38
$1.57 PAB 1.57
51.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.36 $12.36
$6.08 PAB 6.08
103.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.02 $15.02
$9.88 PAB 9.88
52.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.30 $4.30
$1.39 PAB 1.39
209.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.69 $5.69
$2.42 PAB 2.42
135.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Seattle, WA
Panama
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.05 $3.05
$0.43 PAB 0.43
609.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$109 $109
$20.96 PAB 20.96
418.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.64 $2.64
$2.43 PAB 2.43
8.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.74 $1.74
$1.82 PAB 1.82
-4.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.02 $30.02
$21.79 PAB 21.79
37.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.46 $1.46
$1.18 PAB 1.18
23.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K $36.7K
$21.5K PAB 21.5K
70.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K $25.7K
$22.2K PAB 22.2K
15.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
Panama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$299 $299
$119 PAB 119
151.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$69.7 $69.7
$27.03 PAB 27.03
157.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$90.1 $90.1
$47.70 PAB 47.70
88.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
Panama
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$80.0 $80.0
$48.94 PAB 48.94
63.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.62 $35.62
$30.16 PAB 30.16
18.10%
Cinema Ticket
$17.33 $17.33
$7.84 PAB 7.84
121.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seattle, WA
Panama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,986 $2,986
$536 PAB 536
457.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.3K $31.3K
$8,069 PAB 8,069
287.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
Panama
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7 $77.7
$53.5 PAB 53.5
45.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.9 $54.9
$42.77 PAB 42.77
28.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$126 $126
$87.4 PAB 87.4
44.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$165 $165
$103 PAB 103
59.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
Panama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,407 $2,407
$944 PAB 944
154.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,963 $1,963
$697 PAB 697
181.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,788 $4,788
$1,728 PAB 1,728
177.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,561 $3,561
$1,262 PAB 1,262
182.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,430 $7,430
$2,941 PAB 2,941
152.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,010 $5,010
$1,673 PAB 1,673
199.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Seattle, WA
Panama
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,280 $6,280
$826 PAB 826
660.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.85
6.37
7.54%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 6, 2026

Last update for Panama: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
$2K
Panama
$697 64.5% $1.3K
Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
$541
Panama
$302 44.1% $239
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
$459
Panama
$194 57.8% $266
Eating Out
Seattle, WA
$402
Panama
$164 59.3% $238
Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
$191
Panama
$129 32.2% $61
Getting Around
Seattle, WA
$132
Panama
$34 74.1% $98
Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
$115
Panama
$65 43.6% $50
Good to know
🇺🇸 Seattle, WA
🇵🇦 Panama
🕒 Local time
01:28 1:28 AM
03:28 3:28 AM
2 h ahead of Seattle, WA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
737,015
4,098,587
Exchange rates and currency converter

PAB, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 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
  • Seattle, WA Panama 5,880 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Seattle, WA
  • 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

Seattle, WA vs other spots: cost of living compared

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