Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between the United States and Panama

Name: Panama
Address: PA

For one person, living is cheaper in Panama: $1,590 a month against $2,701 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $13,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

133

Cost of Living Index in the United States
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United States Living Index
78

Cost of Living Index in Panama
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Panama Living Index

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🇺🇸 United States

$2,701

/mo nomad

🇵🇦 Panama

$1,590

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in the United States and in Panama

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in the United States and in Panama actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,701 per month in the United States vs $1,590 in Panama, rent included.

United States $2,701
Panama $1,590

A couple spends around $3,980 per month in the United States vs $2,415 in Panama, rent included.

United States $3,980
Panama $2,415

A family of three spends $5,258 per month in the United States vs $3,241 in Panama, rent included.

United States $5,258
Panama $3,241

The cost of living in the United States is about 70% higher than in Panama on average.

Both the United States and Panama are pricier than the global median – the United States by 100%, Panama by 18%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.92 $19.92

$7.80 PAB 7.80

155.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.0 $81.0

$44.15 PAB 44.15

83.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.07 $12.07

$7.87 PAB 7.87

53.37%

Cappuccino

$5.55 $5.55

$3.86 PAB 3.86

43.78%

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

$2.67 $2.67

$1.60 PAB 1.60

66.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$1.40 PAB 1.40

49.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.96 $5.96

$2.24 PAB 2.24

166.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.76 $7.76

$3.96 PAB 3.96

95.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.80 PAB 1.80

-41.67%

White Bread (500g)

$3.55 $3.55

$2.29 PAB 2.29

55.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.64 $4.64

$2.91 PAB 2.91

59.45%

Eggs

$4.18 $4.18

$2.49 PAB 2.49

67.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.76 $12.76

$12.07 PAB 12.07

5.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.63 $12.63

$7.22 PAB 7.22

74.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.22 $17.22

$10.43 PAB 10.43

65.10%

Apples (1kg)

$5.15 $5.15

$4.18 PAB 4.18

23.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.42 PAB 1.42

15.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$3.61 PAB 3.61

23.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.98 $4.98

$3.86 PAB 3.86

29.02%

Potato (1kg)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.64 PAB 2.64

7.58%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$3.14 PAB 3.14

-1.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.28 PAB 2.28

-3.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.27 $2.27

$1.57 PAB 1.57

44.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.61 $10.61

$5.87 PAB 5.87

80.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.71 $14.71

$10.15 PAB 10.15

44.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 $2.10

$1.34 PAB 1.34

56.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.82 $3.82

$2.40 PAB 2.40

59.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.35 $2.35

$0.44 PAB 0.44

434.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.1 $64.1

$21.23 PAB 21.23

201.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.57 $3.57

$2.49 PAB 2.49

43.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.78 PAB 1.78

3.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.19 $30.19

$22.40 PAB 22.40

34.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.18 PAB 1.18

-9.32%

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

$35.3K $35.3K

$21.6K PAB 21.6K

63.67%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$22.4K PAB 22.4K

15.38%

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

$217 $217

$118 PAB 118

83.50%

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

$61.4 $61.4

$26.75 PAB 26.75

129.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.4 $74.4

$46.56 PAB 46.56

59.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.08 $45.08

$48.98 PAB 48.98

-7.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.07 $23.07

$29.75 PAB 29.75

-22.45%

Cinema Ticket

$14.79 $14.79

$7.95 PAB 7.95

86.04%

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

$1,480 $1,480

$553 PAB 553

167.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.5K $25.5K

$8,030 PAB 8,030

216.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.0 $53.0

$54.6 PAB 54.6

-2.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.75 $42.75

$42.81 PAB 42.81

-0.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 $94.3

$89.0 PAB 89.0

6.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 $115

$105 PAB 105

9.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,678 $1,678

$939 PAB 939

78.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,313 $1,313

$701 PAB 701

87.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,649 $2,649

$1,709 PAB 1,709

55.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,183 $2,183

$1,258 PAB 1,258

73.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,374 $3,374

$2,911 PAB 2,911

15.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,661 $2,661

$1,643 PAB 1,643

61.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,404 $4,404

$831 PAB 831

430.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

6.37

2.83%

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

Last update for the United States: October 10, 2026

Last update for Panama: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

United States

$1.3K 48.6%

Panama

$701 44.1% 46.6% $612

Groceries & Markets

United States

$411 15.2%

Panama

$303 19.1% 26.2% $108

Monthly Utilities & Internet

United States

$352 13%

Panama

$191 12% 45.7% $161

Eating Out

United States

$327 12.1%

Panama

$163 10.3% 50% $163

Clothing & Footwear

United States

$137 5.1%

Panama

$131 8.3% 4.6% $6.3

Getting Around

United States

$86 3.2%

Panama

$34 2.2% 60.2% $52

Sport & Entertainment

United States

$75 2.8%

Panama

$65 4.1% 13.1% $9.8

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,609 in the United States vs $336 in Panama. For reference, capital cities sit at $2,730 in Washington, DC and $1,257 in Panama City.

Average salary: $4,533 in the United States vs $686 in Panama. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 379% higher in the United States.

Dining out costs 168% more in the United States.

Public transport is 800% more expensive in the United States.

Salaries are 561% higher in the United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the United States.

Good to know

🇺🇸 United States

🇵🇦 Panama

🕒 Local time

16:05 4:05 PM

15:05 3:05 PM

1 h behind the United States

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

340,110,988

4,098,587

💱 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 18, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Panamanian Balboa exchange rates as of October 18, 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

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Between locations

United States Panama 3,060 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

United States
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

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

Panama is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 70% lower on average.

Housing costs more in the United States: a central one-bedroom averages $1,609 versus $336 in Panama.

Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in Panama, adding to the overall 70% price gap.

$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Panama, but in the United States 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.