Cost of living comparison

compared to

Panama vs. Dominican Republic Cost of Living Summary

Panama is 38.1% more expensive than Dominican Republic overall.

Restaurants: pay 46.6% more in Panama
Groceries: pay 57.8% more in Panama
Transportation: pay 14.3% less in Panama
Housing: pay 66.1% more in Panama
Childcare: pay 79.3% more in Panama
Entertainment and Sports: pay 32.7% more in Panama
Clothing: pay 1.4% less in Panama

The cost of childcare, housing, groceries, restaurants, and entertainment and sports in Panama are more expensive than in Dominican Republic. Expenses including transportation and clothing are lower in Panama. Notably, childcare is significantly more expensive in Panama.

Panama vs. Dominican Republic Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Panama instead of Dominican Republic, you would:

Display currency: USD

pay 46.6% more for restaurants

	Dominican Republic	Panama
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant	$6.57 DOP410.40	$8.35 PAB8.35	+27.1%
Fast food combo meal McDonalds, or similar	$7.06 DOP441.19	$7.75 PAB7.75	+9.7%
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz)	$0.92 DOP57.76	$1.37 PAB1.37	+48.5%
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz)	$0.60 DOP37.61	$1.21 PAB1.21	+100.9%
Average			+46.6%

Dominican Republic vs. Panama - Cost of restaurants

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pay 57.8% more for groceries

	Dominican Republic	Panama
Bread 1 loaf	$1.44 DOP89.98	$2.21 PAB2.21	+53.6%
Local cheese (8 oz)	$3.10 DOP193.39	$6.02 PAB6.02	+94.5%
Milk (1 gallon)	$4.52 DOP282.20	$6.86 PAB6.86	+51.8%
Eggs 1 dozen	$1.74 DOP108.73	$2.47 PAB2.47	+41.8%
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb)	$2.20 DOP137.15	$3.58 PAB3.58	+62.9%
Apples (1 lb)	$1.17 DOP73.35	$2.13 PAB2.13	+81.8%
Bananas (1 lb)	$0.37 DOP23.25	$0.60 PAB0.60	+60.9%
Oranges (1 lb)	$1.09 DOP68.38	$1.40 PAB1.40	+28.3%
Tomatoes (1 lb)	$0.70 DOP43.90	$1.51 PAB1.51	+114.2%
Potatoes (1 lb)	$0.67 DOP41.99	$0.96 PAB0.96	+42.6%
Onions (1 lb)	$0.96 DOP60.03	$0.99 PAB0.99	+3.1%
Average			+57.8%

Dominican Republic vs. Panama - Cost of groceries

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pay 14.3% less for transportation

	Dominican Republic	Panama
Gasoline (1 gallon)	$4.63 DOP289.40	$3.87 PAB3.87	-16.6%
Monthly public transit pass	$31.27 DOP1,953.45	$23.75 PAB23.75	-24.1%
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition)	$27,585.12 DOP1,723,103.52	$23,416.67 PAB23,416.67	-15.1%
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles)	$20.50 DOP1,280.68	$20.20 PAB20.20	-1.5%
Average			-14.3%

Dominican Republic vs. Panama - Cost of transportation

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pay 66.1% more for housing

	Dominican Republic	Panama
Internet connection 50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl	$31.80 DOP1,986.14	$48.39 PAB48.39	+52.2%
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area	$495.90 DOP30,976.64	$765.94 PAB765.94	+54.5%
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center	$352.53 DOP22,021.04	$630.77 PAB630.77	+78.9%
Utilities for two (700 sq ft apartment) including electric, gas, water, heating	$49.81 DOP3,111.25	$89.09 PAB89.09	+78.9%
Average			+66.1%

Dominican Republic vs. Panama - Cost of housing

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pay 79.3% more for childcare

	Dominican Republic	Panama
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly	$203.07 DOP12,685.05	$363.00 PAB363.00	+78.8%
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters	$5,232.64 DOP326,857.01	$9,411.11 PAB9,411.11	+79.9%
Average			+79.3%

Dominican Republic vs. Panama - Cost of childcare

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pay 32.7% more for entertainment and sports

	Dominican Republic	Panama
Domestic/local beer (1 pint)	$2.40 DOP149.71	$1.95 PAB1.95	-18.6%
Cappuccino in mid-range area	$1.93 DOP120.59	$3.54 PAB3.54	+83.4%
Pack of cigarettes Marlboro or similar	$4.53 DOP283.04	$5.48 PAB5.48	+21.0%
Monthly membership at local gym	$28.27 DOP1,765.76	$51.47 PAB51.47	+82.1%
Movie ticket to theater/cinema	$6.24 DOP389.50	$5.97 PAB5.97	-4.3%
Average			+32.7%

Dominican Republic vs. Panama - Cost of entertainment and sports

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pay 1.4% less for clothing

	Dominican Republic	Panama
Regular jeans Levi's brand	$44.65 DOP2,788.98	$43.33 PAB43.33	-2.9%
Regular dress from H&M or similar store	$43.79 DOP2,735.23	$34.17 PAB34.17	-22.0%
Running shoes Nike or Adidas	$75.83 DOP4,736.94	$80.40 PAB80.40	+6.0%
Men's business shoes (leather)	$93.99 DOP5,871.20	$106.46 PAB106.46	+13.3%
Average			-1.4%

Dominican Republic vs. Panama - Cost of clothing

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The statistics used to build this comparison are calculated using data from users just like you. We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Learn more about our data sources. Page last updated: December 2025

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