Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Sparks, NV, United States and Panama City

For one person, living is cheaper in Panama City: $1,857 a month against $2,493 in Sparks, NV, United States, rent and utilities included – about $7,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

121

Cost of Living Index in Sparks, NV, United States
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Sparks, NV, United States Living Index
90

Cost of Living Index in Panama City
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Panama City Living Index

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Sparks, NV, United States

🇺🇸 United States

$2,493

/mo nomad

Panama City

🇵🇦 Panama

$1,857

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Sparks, NV, United States 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 Sparks, NV, United States and in Panama City actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,493 per month in Sparks, NV, United States vs $1,857 in Panama City, rent included.

Sparks, NV, United States $2,493
Panama City $1,857

A couple spends around $3,793 per month in Sparks, NV, United States vs $2,815 in Panama City, rent included.

Sparks, NV, United States $3,793
Panama City $2,815

A family of three spends $5,093 per month in Sparks, NV, United States vs $3,773 in Panama City, rent included.

Sparks, NV, United States $5,093
Panama City $3,773

Sparks, NV, United States costs about 34% more than Panama City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Sparks, NV, United States and Panama City sit above the global median – Sparks, NV, United States by 84%, Panama City by 37%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.26 $24.26

$11.68 PAB 11.68

107.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$67.1 $67.1

$47.76 PAB 47.76

40.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.34 $11.34

$8.12 PAB 8.12

39.66%

Cappuccino

$5.24 $5.24

$4.23 PAB 4.23

23.88%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$1.92 PAB 1.92

42.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.58 PAB 1.58

24.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.65 $5.65

$3.31 PAB 3.31

70.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.59 $6.59

$3.98 PAB 3.98

65.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 $1.06

$1.92 PAB 1.92

-44.79%

White Bread (500g)

$3.56 $3.56

$2.63 PAB 2.63

35.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.28 $4.28

$3.39 PAB 3.39

26.25%

Eggs

$4.05 $4.05

$2.67 PAB 2.67

51.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.47 $12.47

$12.21 PAB 12.21

2.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.61 $11.61

$6.91 PAB 6.91

68.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.87 $16.87

$10.58 PAB 10.58

59.45%

Apples (1kg)

$4.91 $4.91

$4.16 PAB 4.16

18.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 $1.65

$1.97 PAB 1.97

-16.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.23 $4.23

$4.06 PAB 4.06

4.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.84 $4.84

$4.18 PAB 4.18

15.79%

Potato (1kg)

$2.85 $2.85

$3.47 PAB 3.47

-17.87%

Onion (1kg)

$2.94 $2.94

$4.26 PAB 4.26

-30.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.35 $2.35

$2.44 PAB 2.44

-3.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.30 $2.30

$1.69 PAB 1.69

36.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.81 $9.81

$5.83 PAB 5.83

68.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.96 $14.96

$11.43 PAB 11.43

30.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 $1.94

$1.38 PAB 1.38

40.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 $3.57

$2.76 PAB 2.76

29.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.04 $2.04

$0.33 PAB 0.33

518.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$62.3 $62.3

$20.63 PAB 20.63

201.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.77 $2.77

$2.55 PAB 2.55

8.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.78 PAB 1.78

-4.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.88 $29.88

$22.17 PAB 22.17

34.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.24 PAB 1.24

-16.94%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$24.4K PAB 24.4K

7.20%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$21.3K PAB 21.3K

21.16%

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

$199 $199

$131 PAB 131

51.94%

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

$73.4 $73.4

$27.83 PAB 27.83

163.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.0 $53.0

$49.32 PAB 49.32

7.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.35 $42.35

$45.69 PAB 45.69

-7.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.10 PAB 34.10

Cinema Ticket

$14.00 $14.00

$8.47 PAB 8.47

65.29%

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

$1,356 $1,356

$553 PAB 553

145.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.2K $23.2K

$9,719 PAB 9,719

138.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 $53.4

$66.4 PAB 66.4

-19.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.09 $46.09

$47.39 PAB 47.39

-2.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.5 $89.5

$95.7 PAB 95.7

-6.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 $105

$113 PAB 113

-6.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,410 $1,410

$1,322 PAB 1,322

6.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,132 $1,132

$874 PAB 874

29.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,507 $2,507

$2,153 PAB 2,153

16.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,123 $2,123

$1,580 PAB 1,580

34.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,669 $2,669

$3,097 PAB 3,097

-13.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,375 $2,375

$1,698 PAB 1,698

39.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,290 $4,290

$914 PAB 914

369.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.57

6.39

2.82%

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

Last update for Sparks, NV, United States: October 17, 2026

Last update for Panama City: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Sparks, NV, United States

$1.1K 45.4%

Panama City

$874 47.1% 22.8% $258

Groceries & Markets

Sparks, NV, United States

$399 16%

Panama City

$327 17.6% 18.2% $73

Eating Out

Sparks, NV, United States

$351 14.1%

Panama City

$207 11.2% 41% $144

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Sparks, NV, United States

$326 13.1%

Panama City

$208 11.2% 36% $117

Clothing & Footwear

Sparks, NV, United States

$132 5.3%

Panama City

$145 7.8% 9.4% $12

Getting Around

Sparks, NV, United States

$82 3.3%

Panama City

$33 1.8% 59.1% $48

Sport & Entertainment

Sparks, NV, United States

$70 2.8%

Panama City

$63 3.4% 11% $7.7

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,410 in Sparks, NV, United States 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 369% higher in Sparks, NV, United States, 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 $67.0 in Sparks, NV, United States versus $48.00 in Panama City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $399 vs $327 – making Panama City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Sparks, NV, United States

🇵🇦 Panama City

🕒 Local time

08:45 8:45 AM

10:45 10:45 AM

2 h ahead of Sparks, NV, United States

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

104,246

1,086,990 Capital

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

Panamanian Balboa PAB B/.

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

1 PAB = 1 USD

1 PAB = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

PAB, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

🇵🇦 Panamanian Balboa (B/.)

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

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).

PAB to USD in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Sparks, NV, United States Panama City 5,240 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight

From you

Sparks, NV, United States
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

Sparks, NV, United States vs Panama City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Sparks, NV, United States is pricier by about 34%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,739 per month in Sparks, NV, United States and $2,786 in Panama City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Groceries cost about 22% more in Sparks, NV, United States, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $67.0 in Sparks, NV, United States and $48.00 in Panama City. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Panama City, where all-in costs run around $1,857, than in Sparks, NV, United States at $2,493. In Panama City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sparks, NV, United States it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Panama City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sparks, NV, United States makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.