Cost of living comparison

compared to

Panama City vs. Manila Cost of Living Summary

Panama City is 95.3% more expensive than Manila.

Restaurants: pay 98.0% more in Panama City
Groceries: pay 18.3% more in Panama City
Transportation: pay 3.1 times more in Panama City
Housing: pay 2.2 times more in Panama City
Childcare: pay 2.2 times more in Panama City
Entertainment and Sports: pay 47.4% more in Panama City
Clothing: pay 56.9% more in Panama City

The cost of transportation, housing, childcare, restaurants, clothing, and entertainment and sports in Panama City are more expensive than in Manila. Notably, transportation, housing, and childcare are significantly more expensive in Panama City.

Panama City vs. Manila Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Panama City instead of Manila, you would:

Display currency: USD

pay 98.0% more for restaurants

	Manila	Panama City
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant	$6.02 ₱353.05	$10.00 PAB10.00	+66.1%
Fast food combo meal McDonalds, or similar	$4.30 ₱252.18	$8.00 PAB8.00	+86.0%
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz)	$0.97 ₱56.95	$1.70 PAB1.70	+74.8%
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz)	$0.50 ₱29.53	$1.33 PAB1.33	+165.1%
Average			+98.0%

Manila vs. Panama City - Cost of restaurants

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pay 18.3% more for groceries

	Manila	Panama City
Bread 1 loaf	$1.33 ₱78.20	$2.56 PAB2.56	+92.0%
Local cheese (8 oz)	$4.28 ₱250.71	$5.81 PAB5.81	+35.9%
Milk (1 gallon)	$7.32 ₱429.22	$6.82 PAB6.82	-6.8%
Eggs 1 dozen	$2.21 ₱129.78	$2.84 PAB2.84	+28.5%
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb)	$2.28 ₱133.88	$3.29 PAB3.29	+44.3%
Apples (1 lb)	$1.52 ₱88.87	$1.65 PAB1.65	+8.6%
Bananas (1 lb)	$0.82 ₱48.21	$0.70 PAB0.70	-14.4%
Oranges (1 lb)	$1.64 ₱95.97	$1.40 PAB1.40	-14.6%
Tomatoes (1 lb)	$1.02 ₱60.03	$1.46 PAB1.46	+42.8%
Potatoes (1 lb)	$1.17 ₱68.60	$1.00 PAB1.00	-14.8%
Onions (1 lb)	$1.37 ₱80.59	$1.37 PAB1.37	-0.6%
Average			+18.3%

Manila vs. Panama City - Cost of groceries

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pay 3.1 times more for transportation

	Manila	Panama City
Gasoline (1 gallon)	$4.18 ₱245.08	$3.44 PAB3.44	-17.7%
Monthly public transit pass	$13.76 ₱806.96	$22.50 PAB22.50	+63.5%
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition)	$25,288.58 ₱1,482,795.87	$19,750.00 PAB19,750.00	-21.9%
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles)	$2.92 ₱171.48	$26.50 PAB26.50	+806.1%
Average			+207.5%

Manila vs. Panama City - Cost of transportation

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pay 2.2 times more for housing

	Manila	Panama City
Internet connection 50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl	$27.10 ₱1,589.12	$49.20 PAB49.20	+81.5%
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area	$512.96 ₱30,077.69	$1,164.71 PAB1,164.71	+127.1%
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center	$251.74 ₱14,760.64	$953.85 PAB953.85	+278.9%
Utilities for two (700 sq ft apartment) including electric, gas, water, heating	$100.49 ₱5,892.28	$95.90 PAB95.90	-4.6%
Average			+120.7%

Manila vs. Panama City - Cost of housing

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pay 2.2 times more for childcare

	Manila	Panama City
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly	$138.58 ₱8,125.68	$476.00 PAB476.00	+243.5%
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters	$17,035.39 ₱998,869.80	$15,733.33 PAB15,733.33	-7.6%
Average			+118.0%

Manila vs. Panama City - Cost of childcare

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pay 47.4% more for entertainment and sports

	Manila	Panama City
Domestic/local beer (1 pint)	$1.46 ₱85.74	$3.00 PAB3.00	+105.2%
Cappuccino in mid-range area	$2.59 ₱151.71	$3.61 PAB3.61	+39.5%
Pack of cigarettes Marlboro or similar	$3.27 ₱191.65	$5.92 PAB5.92	+81.3%
Monthly membership at local gym	$42.13 ₱2,470.49	$43.86 PAB43.86	+4.1%
Movie ticket to theater/cinema	$7.48 ₱438.79	$8.00 PAB8.00	+6.9%
Average			+47.4%

Manila vs. Panama City - Cost of entertainment and sports

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pay 56.9% more for clothing

	Manila	Panama City
Regular jeans Levi's brand	$49.23 ₱2,886.45	$50.00 PAB50.00	+1.6%
Regular dress from H&M or similar store	$29.70 ₱1,741.30	$47.50 PAB47.50	+59.9%
Running shoes Nike or Adidas	$80.85 ₱4,740.84	$89.55 PAB89.55	+10.8%
Men's business shoes (leather)	$49.70 ₱2,913.92	$126.88 PAB126.88	+155.3%
Average			+56.9%

Manila vs. Panama City - 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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