Cost of living comparison

compared to

Seoul vs. Panama City Cost of Living Summary

Seoul is 4.3% more expensive than Panama City.

Restaurants
pay 20.4% less in Seoul
Groceries
pay 49.5% more in Seoul
Transportation
pay 24.9% more in Seoul
Housing
pay 24.0% less in Seoul
Childcare
pay 6.7% more in Seoul
Entertainment and Sports
pay 7.0% more in Seoul
Clothing
pay 13.9% less in Seoul

The cost of groceries, transportation, entertainment and sports, and childcare in Seoul are more expensive than in Panama City. Expenses including housing, restaurants, and clothing are lower in Seoul.

Seoul vs. Panama City Cost Breakdown

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

pay 20.4% less for restaurants

 
Panama City
Seoul
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $10.00
PAB10.00
$8.49
₩12,530
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$8.00
PAB8.00
$6.30
₩9,293
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $1.70
PAB1.70
$1.64
₩2,418

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pay 49.5% more for groceries

 
Panama City
Seoul
Bread
1 loaf
$2.56
PAB2.56
$3.24
₩4,778
Local cheese (8 oz) $5.81
PAB5.81
$6.79
₩10,024
Milk (1 gallon) $6.82
PAB6.82
$7.85
₩11,581

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pay 24.9% more for transportation

 
Panama City
Seoul
Gasoline (1 gallon) $3.44
PAB3.44
$4.43
₩6,538
Monthly public transit pass $22.50
PAB22.50
$45.99
₩67,872
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $19,750.00
PAB19,750.00
$25,072.36
₩37,000,789

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pay 24.0% less for housing

 
Panama City
Seoul
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$49.20
PAB49.20
$20.56
₩30,336
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $1,164.71
PAB1,164.71
$925.55
₩1,365,897
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $953.85
PAB953.85
$559.33
₩825,436

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pay 6.7% more for childcare

 
Panama City
Seoul
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $476.00
PAB476.00
$360.15
₩531,492
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $15,733.33
PAB15,733.33
$21,667.04
₩31,975,346

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pay 7.0% more for entertainment and sports

 
Panama City
Seoul
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $3.00
PAB3.00
$3.54
₩5,221
Cappuccino in mid-range area $3.61
PAB3.61
$3.70
₩5,457
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$5.92
PAB5.92
$3.18
₩4,699

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pay 13.9% less for clothing

 
Panama City
Seoul
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$50.00
PAB50.00
$49.77
₩73,441
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$47.50
PAB47.50
$39.49
₩58,279
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$89.55
PAB89.55
$74.94
₩110,597

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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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