Cost of living comparison
Panama is 15.5% cheaper than Costa Rica.
If you lived in Panama instead of Costa Rica, you would:
pay 16.3% less for restaurants
Costa Rica
|
Panama
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$9.05
CRC4,634.51
|
$8.30
PAB8.30
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$8.98
CRC4,598.17
|
$7.60
PAB7.60
|
|
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$1.93
CRC988.19
|
$1.55
PAB1.55
|
|
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.48
CRC760.18
|
$1.16
PAB1.16
|
|
pay 3.4% less for groceries
Costa Rica
|
Panama
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.46
CRC1,257.19
|
$2.19
PAB2.19
|
|
Local cheese (8 oz) |
$3.95
CRC2,024.38
|
$5.28
PAB5.28
|
|
Milk (1 gallon) |
$6.91
CRC3,539.66
|
$6.34
PAB6.34
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.22
CRC1,646.27
|
$2.42
PAB2.42
|
|
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.09
CRC2,095.66
|
$3.15
PAB3.15
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$1.97
CRC1,007.29
|
$1.87
PAB1.87
|
|
Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.62
CRC317.51
|
$0.56
PAB0.56
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.08
CRC553.22
|
$1.31
PAB1.31
|
|
Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.17
CRC598.47
|
$1.32
PAB1.32
|
|
Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.09
CRC557.53
|
$0.96
PAB0.96
|
|
Onions (1 lb) |
$1.06
CRC541.61
|
$0.95
PAB0.95
|
|
pay 26.5% less for transportation
Costa Rica
|
Panama
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$5.70
CRC2,916.21
|
$3.90
PAB3.90
|
|
Monthly public transit pass |
$45.78
CRC23,439.34
|
$23.33
PAB23.33
|
|
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$30,441.08
CRC15,586,640.87
|
$21,000.00
PAB21,000.00
|
|
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$14.02
CRC7,178.15
|
$14.78
PAB14.78
|
|
pay 1.3% less for housing
Costa Rica
|
Panama
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$45.97
CRC23,535.83
|
$46.90
PAB46.90
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$731.28
CRC374,434.50
|
$697.93
PAB697.93
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$520.21
CRC266,363.85
|
$496.06
PAB496.06
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$63.96
CRC32,747.47
|
$65.23
PAB65.23
|
|
pay 33.1% less for childcare
Costa Rica
|
Panama
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$476.14
CRC243,795.21
|
$327.08
PAB327.08
|
|
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$9,916.17
CRC5,077,343.17
|
$6,443.94
PAB6,443.94
|
|
pay 1.0% less for entertainment and sports
Costa Rica
|
Panama
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$2.97
CRC1,519.29
|
$1.85
PAB1.85
|
|
Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.43
CRC1,757.07
|
$3.35
PAB3.35
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$4.33
CRC2,216.84
|
$6.70
PAB6.70
|
|
Monthly membership at local gym |
$56.36
CRC28,859.57
|
$58.09
PAB58.09
|
|
Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$7.46
CRC3,817.84
|
$5.75
PAB5.75
|
|
pay 26.6% less for clothing
Costa Rica
|
Panama
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$71.44
CRC36,577.22
|
$43.92
PAB43.92
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$46.89
CRC24,010.05
|
$40.61
PAB40.61
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$105.63
CRC54,084.09
|
$66.54
PAB66.54
|
|
Men's business shoes (leather) |
$95.19
CRC48,739.24
|
$78.30
PAB78.30
|
|
Change currency:
ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY
Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Panama or Costa Rica. It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.