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
30/ 10070% cheaper than New York
+5% rent since Jul 2026
$650/mo
Median Income
62/100
Safety
15%
Income Tax
tropical monsoon
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

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

Housing
58/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$1,260/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$630/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$2,520/month
Food & Groceries
52/100
Milk (1 liter)$1.1/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$2.2/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$1.8/kg
Transportation
48/100
Monthly Transit Pass$21/month
One-Way Ticket$0.35/trip
Taxi (1 km)$1.2/km
Utilities
52/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$135/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$32/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$28/month
Healthcare
65/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$60/visit
Dentist Visit$85/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$12/course
Education
58/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$550/month
International Primary School (yearly)$13,500/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$450/course
Entertainment
54/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$10/ticket
Theater Ticket$35/ticket
Museum Entry$12/ticket
Clothing
56/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$62/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$38/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$85/pair
Personal Care
48/100
Haircut (Men)$18/cut
Haircut (Women)$38/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$4.8/bottle
Dining Out
53/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$12/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$50/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$8/meal
Childcare
62/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$750/month
Babysitter (per hour)$13/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$18/pack
Fitness & Sports
52/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$42/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$18/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$7/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

95 Mbps
Internet Speed
$380
Coworking/Month
good
Café WiFi
moderate
English Level
growing
Nomad Community
72/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: El Cangrejo, Punta Pacifica, Costa del Este

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Panama City cheap to live in?

Panama City has a cost of living index of 30/100, where New York = 100. It is 70% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $1,060–$1,484 per month.

How much does rent cost in Panama City?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Panama City costs approximately $1,260/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $630/month.

Is Panama City good for digital nomads?

Panama City has a growing digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 95 Mbps, café wifi reliability is good, and coworking spaces run about $380/month. English proficiency is moderate.

What is the average salary in Panama City?

The median net monthly salary in Panama City is approximately $650 USD. The income tax rate is around 15%.

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

Panama City (cost index 30) is 70% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $1,750/month by moving from New York to Panama City.

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