China vs. Panama Cost of Living Summary

China is 13.2% cheaper than Panama overall.

Restaurants
pay 61.1% less in China
Groceries
pay 37.5% less in China
Transportation
pay 18.0% less in China
Housing
pay 59.2% less in China
Childcare
pay 2.2 times more in China
Entertainment and Sports
pay 22.0% less in China
Clothing
pay 10.7% less in China

Expenses including restaurants, housing, groceries, entertainment and sports, transportation, and clothing are lower in China. Notably, childcare is significantly more expensive in China.

China vs. Panama Cost Breakdown

If you lived in China instead of Panama, you would:

pay 61.1% less for restaurants

 
Panama
China
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $8.45
PAB8.45
$2.85
CN¥20.52
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$7.90
PAB7.90
$5.07
CN¥36.41
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $1.54
PAB1.54
$0.49
CN¥3.52

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pay 37.5% less for groceries

 
Panama
China
Bread
1 loaf
$2.19
PAB2.19
$1.59
CN¥11.44
Local cheese (8 oz) $5.66
PAB5.66
$5.85
CN¥42.04
Milk (1 gallon) $6.43
PAB6.43
$6.86
CN¥49.30

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pay 18.0% less for transportation

 
Panama
China
Gasoline (1 gallon) $3.92
PAB3.92
$4.44
CN¥31.94
Monthly public transit pass $25.00
PAB25.00
$22.47
CN¥161.49
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $18,916.67
PAB18,916.67
$19,071.53
CN¥137,063.30

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pay 59.2% less for housing

 
Panama
China
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$47.61
PAB47.61
$11.70
CN¥84.05
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $747.76
PAB747.76
$328.33
CN¥2,359.65
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $567.84
PAB567.84
$205.78
CN¥1,478.90

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pay 2.2 times more for childcare

 
Panama
China
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $302.08
PAB302.08
$459.70
CN¥3,303.76
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $6,548.17
PAB6,548.17
$18,318.08
CN¥131,648.38

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pay 22.0% less for entertainment and sports

 
Panama
China
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $1.95
PAB1.95
$1.09
CN¥7.84
Cappuccino in mid-range area $3.39
PAB3.39
$3.07
CN¥22.04
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$5.38
PAB5.38
$3.23
CN¥23.24

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pay 10.7% less for clothing

 
Panama
China
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$47.41
PAB47.41
$48.23
CN¥346.58
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$34.81
PAB34.81
$31.67
CN¥227.61
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$81.21
PAB81.21
$72.53
CN¥521.23

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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: February 2025
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