Cost of Living Comparison Between United Kingdom and Panama Cost of Living Comparison Between United Kingdom and Panama

Name: Panama
Address: PA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,401 per month in United Kingdom vs $802 in Panama, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,517 per month in United Kingdom vs $1,197 in Panama, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,632 per month in United Kingdom vs $1,591 in Panama, rent included.

The cost of living in United Kingdom is about 199% higher than in Panama on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

United Kingdom sits 76% above the global median, while Panama is 41% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.78 £16.28

$7.88 PAB 7.88

176.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$86.7 £64.8

$44.24 PAB 44.24

95.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.00 £8.22

$8.10 PAB 8.10

35.80%

Cappuccino

$4.79 £3.58

$4.03 PAB 4.03

18.86%

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

$2.60 £1.94

$1.62 PAB 1.62

60.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 £1.37

$1.33 PAB 1.33

37.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.60 £4.93

$2.23 PAB 2.23

195.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.83 £5.10

$3.89 PAB 3.89

75.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 £1.30

$1.87 PAB 1.87

-7.49%

White Bread (500g)

$1.73 £1.29

$2.29 PAB 2.29

-24.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.26 £1.69

$2.86 PAB 2.86

-20.98%

Eggs

$4.12 £3.08

$2.53 PAB 2.53

62.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.52 £7.11

$12.38 PAB 12.38

-23.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.42 £7.04

$6.94 PAB 6.94

35.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.83 £11.08

$10.04 PAB 10.04

47.71%

Apples (1kg)

$3.10 £2.32

$4.27 PAB 4.27

-27.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 £1.26

$1.45 PAB 1.45

16.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.88 £2.15

$3.23 PAB 3.23

-10.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.36 £2.51

$3.56 PAB 3.56

-5.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.85 £1.38

$2.52 PAB 2.52

-26.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.57 £1.17

$3.19 PAB 3.19

-50.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.26 £0.94

$2.17 PAB 2.17

-41.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 £1.27

$1.59 PAB 1.59

6.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$23.75 £17.75

$5.95 PAB 5.95

299.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.95 £8.18

$9.91 PAB 9.91

10.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.95 £2.21

$1.39 PAB 1.39

112.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 £2.58

$2.33 PAB 2.33

48.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.34 £2.50

$0.49 PAB 0.49

581.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$106 £78.9

$21.20 PAB 21.20

397.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.44 £4.06

$2.46 PAB 2.46

121.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.29 £1.71

$1.84 PAB 1.84

24.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.80 £20.03

$22.35 PAB 22.35

19.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.96 £1.47

$1.07 PAB 1.07

83.18%

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

$39.2K £29.3K

$21.6K PAB 21.6K

81.57%

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

$40.9K £30.6K

$22.6K PAB 22.6K

81.12%

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

$328 £245

$117 PAB 117

179.17%

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

$18.19 £13.60

$26.75 PAB 26.75

-32.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.01 £32.14

$46.64 PAB 46.64

-7.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.44 £34.70

$49.56 PAB 49.56

-6.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.15 £13.56

$28.52 PAB 28.52

-36.36%

Cinema Ticket

$13.61 £10.17

$7.78 PAB 7.78

74.94%

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

$1,773 £1,325

$537 PAB 537

229.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.4K £17.5K

$7,756 PAB 7,756

201.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$92.7 £69.3

$49.93 PAB 49.93

85.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.67 £34.88

$38.34 PAB 38.34

21.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 £76.9

$89.8 PAB 89.8

14.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 £75.7

$118 PAB 118

-14.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,372 £1,025

$914 PAB 914

50.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,111 £830

$702 PAB 702

58.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,206 £1,648

$1,680 PAB 1,680

31.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,808 £1,351

$1,241 PAB 1,241

45.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,687 £4,250

$3,040 PAB 3,040

87.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,425 £3,307

$1,657 PAB 1,657

167.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,419 £2,555

$827 PAB 827

313.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

6.35

-16.06%

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

Last update for United Kingdom: September 13, 2026

Last update for Panama: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,274 in United Kingdom vs $340 in Panama. For reference, capital cities sit at $2,976 in London and $1,335 in Panama City.

Average salary: $3,281 in United Kingdom vs $714 in Panama. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 275% higher in United Kingdom.

Dining out costs 200% more in United Kingdom.

Public transport is 2767% more expensive in United Kingdom.

Salaries are 360% higher in United Kingdom, and purchasing power comes out stronger in United Kingdom.

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

United Kingdom vs Panama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Panama is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 179% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in United Kingdom, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but United Kingdom consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Panama, contributing to the overall 179% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Panama, but in United Kingdom it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

Panama is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.