Cost of living comparison
Panama is 14.2% cheaper than Costa Rica.
If you lived in Panama instead of Costa Rica, you would:
pay 15.3% less for restaurants
Costa Rica
|
Panama
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$9.42
₡4,718
|
$7.70
PAB7.70
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$8.16
₡4,090
|
$7.45
PAB7.45
|
|
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$1.73
₡865
|
$1.54
PAB1.54
|
|
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.50
₡754
|
$1.16
PAB1.16
|
|
pay 4.3% less for groceries
Costa Rica
|
Panama
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.87
₡938
|
$1.94
PAB1.94
|
|
Local cheese (8 oz) |
$4.15
₡2,080
|
$5.35
PAB5.35
|
|
Milk (1 gallon) |
$6.45
₡3,233
|
$6.06
PAB6.06
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.63
₡1,319
|
$2.20
PAB2.20
|
|
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$3.92
₡1,963
|
$2.67
PAB2.67
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$1.85
₡926
|
$1.75
PAB1.75
|
|
Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.66
₡331
|
$0.55
PAB0.55
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.26
₡630
|
$1.06
PAB1.06
|
|
Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.97
₡484
|
$1.23
PAB1.23
|
|
Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.92
₡463
|
$0.89
PAB0.89
|
|
Onions (1 lb) |
$1.08
₡542
|
$0.96
PAB0.96
|
|
pay 16.8% less for transportation
Costa Rica
|
Panama
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$5.58
₡2,798
|
$4.07
PAB4.07
|
|
Monthly public transit pass |
$44.09
₡22,092
|
$27.50
PAB27.50
|
|
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$25,829.98
₡12,943,429
|
$20,583.33
PAB20,583.33
|
|
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$13.39
₡6,708
|
$15.79
PAB15.79
|
|
pay 9.8% less for housing
Costa Rica
|
Panama
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$53.15
₡26,632
|
$49.92
PAB49.92
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$813.71
₡407,752
|
$696.35
PAB696.35
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$522.16
₡261,657
|
$440.76
PAB440.76
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$64.83
₡32,486
|
$62.88
PAB62.88
|
|
pay 31.9% less for childcare
Costa Rica
|
Panama
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$366.72
₡183,762
|
$228.54
PAB228.54
|
|
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$8,358.53
₡4,188,466
|
$6,185.93
PAB6,185.93
|
|
pay 11.8% less for entertainment and sports
Costa Rica
|
Panama
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$2.88
₡1,444
|
$1.75
PAB1.75
|
|
Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$2.93
₡1,466
|
$3.22
PAB3.22
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$4.48
₡2,246
|
$5.43
PAB5.43
|
|
Monthly membership at local gym |
$55.95
₡28,037
|
$45.25
PAB45.25
|
|
Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$7.18
₡3,597
|
$4.88
PAB4.88
|
|
pay 9.6% less for clothing
Costa Rica
|
Panama
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$66.61
₡33,377
|
$48.38
PAB48.38
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$44.99
₡22,547
|
$38.88
PAB38.88
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$101.09
₡50,658
|
$82.05
PAB82.05
|
|
Men's business shoes (leather) |
$77.50
₡38,835
|
$94.12
PAB94.12
|
|
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