Cost of living comparison

compared to

Beijing vs. Panama City Cost of Living Summary

Beijing is 16.1% cheaper than Panama City.

Restaurants
pay 72.7% less in Beijing
Groceries
pay 34.4% less in Beijing
Transportation
pay 31.8% less in Beijing
Housing
pay 65.3% less in Beijing
Childcare
pay 83.1% more in Beijing
Entertainment and Sports
pay 30.7% less in Beijing
Clothing
pay 38.8% more in Beijing

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

Beijing vs. Panama City Cost Breakdown

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

pay 72.7% less for restaurants

 
Panama City
Beijing
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $20.00
 
$4.21
CN¥29.74
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$10.50
 
$4.91
CN¥34.69
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $2.12
 
$0.48
CN¥3.39

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pay 34.4% less for groceries

 
Panama City
Beijing
Bread
1 loaf
$3.48
 
$1.71
CN¥12.07
Local cheese (8 oz) $5.49
 
$7.47
CN¥52.80
Milk (1 gallon) $4.38
 
$6.64
CN¥46.96

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pay 31.8% less for transportation

 
Panama City
Beijing
Gasoline (1 gallon) $2.89
 
$4.21
CN¥29.77
Monthly public transit pass $135.00
 
$31.54
CN¥223.02
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $23,000.00
 
$18,225.66
CN¥128,857.25

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pay 65.3% less for housing

 
Panama City
Beijing
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$66.08
 
$12.93
CN¥91.43
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $1,700.00
 
$935.23
CN¥6,612.19
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $1,500.00
 
$504.41
CN¥3,566.20

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pay 83.1% more for childcare

 
Panama City
Beijing
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $400.00
 
$710.76
CN¥5,025.17
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $12,338.67
 
$23,242.73
CN¥164,328.40

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pay 30.7% less for entertainment and sports

 
Panama City
Beijing
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $5.00
 
$1.12
CN¥7.93
Cappuccino in mid-range area $5.10
 
$2.90
CN¥20.52
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$8.00
 
$4.21
CN¥29.74

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pay 38.8% more for clothing

 
Panama City
Beijing
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$32.67
 
$62.30
CN¥440.46
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$35.00
 
$36.37
CN¥257.16
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$60.00
 
$81.74
CN¥577.91

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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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