Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Thornton, CO and Panama City

For one person, living is cheaper in Panama City: $1,972 a month against $2,865 in Thornton, CO, rent and utilities included – about $10,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

138

Cost of Living Index in Thornton, CO
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Thornton, CO Living Index
95

Cost of Living Index in Panama City
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Panama City Living Index

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Thornton, CO

🇺🇸 United States

$2,865

/mo nomad

Panama City

🇵🇦 Panama

$1,972

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,865 per month in Thornton, CO vs $1,972 in Panama City, rent included.

Thornton, CO $2,865
Panama City $1,972

A couple spends around $3,950 per month in Thornton, CO vs $2,930 in Panama City, rent included.

Thornton, CO $3,950
Panama City $2,930

A family of three spends $5,035 per month in Thornton, CO vs $3,888 in Panama City, rent included.

Thornton, CO $5,035
Panama City $3,888

Thornton, CO costs about 45% more than Panama City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Thornton, CO and Panama City sit above the global median – Thornton, CO by 112%, Panama City by 46%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.96 $19.96

$11.37 PAB 11.37

75.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.4 $84.4

$46.69 PAB 46.69

80.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.02 $13.02

$7.98 PAB 7.98

63.16%

Cappuccino

$6.14 $6.14

$4.12 PAB 4.12

49.03%

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

$2.85 $2.85

$2.01 PAB 2.01

41.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 $2.31

$1.57 PAB 1.57

47.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.87 $6.87

$3.28 PAB 3.28

109.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.36 $7.36

$3.88 PAB 3.88

89.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.82 PAB 1.82

-40.66%

White Bread (500g)

$3.29 $3.29

$2.61 PAB 2.61

26.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.47 $4.47

$3.45 PAB 3.45

29.57%

Eggs

$5.03 $5.03

$2.68 PAB 2.68

87.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.80 $14.80

$12.42 PAB 12.42

19.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.26 $13.26

$6.73 PAB 6.73

97.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.42 $19.42

$10.44 PAB 10.44

86.02%

Apples (1kg)

$5.26 $5.26

$4.21 PAB 4.21

24.94%

Banana (1kg)

$2.10 $2.10

$1.95 PAB 1.95

7.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.45 $4.45

$4.07 PAB 4.07

9.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.73 $4.73

$4.02 PAB 4.02

17.66%

Potato (1kg)

$2.39 $2.39

$3.46 PAB 3.46

-30.92%

Onion (1kg)

$2.54 $2.54

$4.42 PAB 4.42

-42.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.30 $2.30

$2.43 PAB 2.43

-5.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.72 PAB 1.72

48.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.39 $10.39

$6.04 PAB 6.04

72.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.69 $19.69

$11.68 PAB 11.68

68.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.75 $2.75

$1.41 PAB 1.41

95.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.61 $4.61

$2.74 PAB 2.74

68.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 PAB 0.33

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.65 PAB 20.65

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.57 $3.57

$2.45 PAB 2.45

45.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.54 $1.54

$1.76 PAB 1.76

-12.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.56 $24.56

$21.86 PAB 21.86

12.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.20 PAB 1.20

-10.00%

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

$27.7K $27.7K

$24.6K PAB 24.6K

12.96%

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

$26.4K $26.4K

$20.9K PAB 20.9K

26.18%

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

$166 $166

$132 PAB 132

25.82%

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

$76.0 $76.0

$27.89 PAB 27.89

172.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.2 $88.2

$49.10 PAB 49.10

79.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.1 $56.1

$44.53 PAB 44.53

25.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.98 $9.98

$34.01 PAB 34.01

-70.66%

Cinema Ticket

$15.17 $15.17

$8.70 PAB 8.70

74.37%

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

$1,539 $1,539

$537 PAB 537

186.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.8K $20.8K

$20.5K PAB 20.5K

1.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 $58.7

$65.8 PAB 65.8

-10.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.28 $40.28

$48.45 PAB 48.45

-16.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 $83.0

$95.4 PAB 95.4

-13.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 $126

$114 PAB 114

11.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,770 $1,770

$1,405 PAB 1,405

25.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,511 $1,511

$994 PAB 994

51.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,616 $2,616

$2,221 PAB 2,221

17.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,993 $1,993

$1,714 PAB 1,714

16.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,139 PAB 3,139

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,724 PAB 1,724

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,179 $5,179

$936 PAB 936

453.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

6.39

4.38%

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

Last update for Thornton, CO: October 31, 2026

Last update for Panama City: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Thornton, CO

$1.5K 52.7%

Panama City

$994 50.4% 34.2% $517

Groceries & Markets

Thornton, CO

$445 15.5%

Panama City

$326 16.5% 26.9% $120

Eating Out

Thornton, CO

$342 11.9%

Panama City

$203 10.3% 40.7% $139

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Thornton, CO

$330 11.5%

Panama City

$209 10.6% 36.7% $121

Clothing & Footwear

Thornton, CO

$139 4.9%

Panama City

$145 7.4% 4.8% $6.7

Sport & Entertainment

Thornton, CO

$86 3%

Panama City

$62 3.1% 28.3% $24

Getting Around

Thornton, CO

$11 * 0.4%

Panama City

$33 1.7% 195% $22

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,770 in Thornton, CO versus $1,405 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 in Thornton, CO are about 5.5 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $84 in Thornton, CO versus $47 in Panama City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $445 vs $326 – making Panama City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Thornton, CO

🇵🇦 Panama City

🕒 Local time

10:51 10:51 AM

12:51 12:51 PM

2 h ahead of Thornton, CO

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

139,478

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 November 6, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Panamanian Balboa exchange rates as of November 6, 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

Thornton, CO Panama City 4,260 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight

From you

Thornton, CO
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

Thornton, CO vs Panama City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Thornton, CO is pricier by about 45%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,297 per month in Thornton, CO and $2,958 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,405 there versus $1,770 in Thornton, CO.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,865 in Thornton, CO and $1,972 in Panama City. That makes Panama City about 31% cheaper.

Kindergarten costs $1,539 per month in Thornton, CO and $537 in Panama City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Panama City, where all-in costs run around $1,972, than in Thornton, CO at $2,865. In Panama City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Thornton, CO 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 or specific career opportunities are the priority, Thornton, CO makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.