Cost of Living

Panama City, Panama

Live cost-of-living data for Panama City — rent, groceries, transport, healthcare and more, sourced and cross-checked by AI and refreshed regularly.

CheapestNew York = 100
31/ 10069% cheaper than New York
+10% rent since Jul 2026
$1,300/mo
Median Income
60/100
Safety
15%
Income Tax
tropical
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

Each score runs 0–100, where higher means pricier. Representative prices shown per category.

Housing
60/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$1,320/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$900/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$2,151/month
Food & Groceries
50/100
Milk (1 liter)$1/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$1.8/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$1.2/kg
Transportation
40/100
Monthly Transit Pass$21/month
One-Way Ticket$0.35/trip
Taxi (1 km)$1.2/km
Utilities
45/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$124/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$38/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$25/month
Healthcare
65/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$40/visit
Dentist Visit$80/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$12/course
Education
60/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$600/month
International Primary School (yearly)$14,000/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$450/course
Entertainment
50/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$10/ticket
Theater Ticket$35/ticket
Museum Entry$12/ticket
Clothing
55/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$60/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$38/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$85/pair
Personal Care
45/100
Haircut (Men)$18/cut
Haircut (Women)$35/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$4.5/bottle
Dining Out
50/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$12/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$50/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$8/meal
Childcare
55/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$700/month
Babysitter (per hour)$12/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$18/pack
Fitness & Sports
50/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$45/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$18/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$7/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

75 Mbps
Internet Speed
$200
Coworking/Month
good
Café WiFi
moderate
English Level
growing
Nomad Community
55/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: Casco Viejo, San Francisco, El Cangrejo

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Panama City cheap to live in?

Panama City has a cost of living index of 31/100, where New York = 100. It is 69% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $1,100–$1,540 per month.

How much does rent cost in Panama City?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Panama City costs approximately $1,320/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $900/month.

Is Panama City good for digital nomads?

Panama City has a growing digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 75 Mbps, café wifi reliability is good, and coworking spaces run about $200/month. English proficiency is moderate.

What is the average salary in Panama City?

The median net monthly salary in Panama City is approximately $1,300 USD. The income tax rate is around 15%.

How does Panama City compare to New York for cost of living?

Panama City (cost index 31) is 69% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $1,725/month by moving from New York to Panama City.

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