Cost of living comparison

compared to

Colombia vs. Panama Cost of Living Summary

Colombia is 27.1% cheaper than Panama overall.

Restaurants: pay 33.1% less in Colombia
Groceries: pay 40.7% less in Colombia
Transportation: pay 0.9% more in Colombia
Housing: pay 47.1% less in Colombia
Childcare: pay 37.1% less in Colombia
Entertainment and Sports: pay 45.8% less in Colombia
Clothing: pay 13.5% more in Colombia

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

Colombia vs. Panama Cost Breakdown

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

Display currency: USD

pay 33.1% less for restaurants

	Panama	Colombia
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant	$8.35 PAB8.35	$4.36 COP16,288.52	-47.8%
Fast food combo meal McDonalds, or similar	$7.75 PAB7.75	$7.74 COP28,896.54	-0.2%
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz)	$1.37 PAB1.37	$0.88 COP3,292.66	-35.8%
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz)	$1.21 PAB1.21	$0.62 COP2,318.65	-48.7%
Average			-33.1%

Panama vs. Colombia - Cost of restaurants

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pay 40.7% less for groceries

	Panama	Colombia
Bread 1 loaf	$2.21 PAB2.21	$1.36 COP5,068.74	-38.7%
Local cheese (8 oz)	$6.02 PAB6.02	$2.49 COP9,296.82	-58.7%
Milk (1 gallon)	$6.86 PAB6.86	$4.35 COP16,249.26	-36.6%
Eggs 1 dozen	$2.47 PAB2.47	$2.23 COP8,319.47	-9.8%
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb)	$3.58 PAB3.58	$2.47 COP9,207.70	-31.1%
Apples (1 lb)	$2.13 PAB2.13	$1.21 COP4,507.99	-43.4%
Bananas (1 lb)	$0.60 PAB0.60	$0.52 COP1,935.88	-13.4%
Oranges (1 lb)	$1.40 PAB1.40	$0.62 COP2,298.97	-56.2%
Tomatoes (1 lb)	$1.51 PAB1.51	$0.53 COP1,985.88	-64.7%
Potatoes (1 lb)	$0.96 PAB0.96	$0.52 COP1,947.85	-45.6%
Onions (1 lb)	$0.99 PAB0.99	$0.50 COP1,886.12	-49.0%
Average			-40.7%

Panama vs. Colombia - Cost of groceries

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pay 0.9% more for transportation

	Panama	Colombia
Gasoline (1 gallon)	$3.87 PAB3.87	$3.91 COP14,594.01	+1.1%
Monthly public transit pass	$23.75 PAB23.75	$33.68 COP125,802.06	+41.8%
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition)	$23,416.67 PAB23,416.67	$18,639.00 COP69,616,040.01	-20.4%
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles)	$20.20 PAB20.20	$16.37 COP61,139.55	-19.0%
Average			+0.9%

Panama vs. Colombia - Cost of transportation

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pay 47.1% less for housing

	Panama	Colombia
Internet connection 50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl	$48.39 PAB48.39	$23.34 COP87,183.25	-51.8%
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area	$765.94 PAB765.94	$313.67 COP1,171,552.83	-59.0%
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center	$630.77 PAB630.77	$251.62 COP939,805.47	-60.1%
Utilities for two (700 sq ft apartment) including electric, gas, water, heating	$89.09 PAB89.09	$73.60 COP274,900.38	-17.4%
Average			-47.1%

Panama vs. Colombia - Cost of housing

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pay 37.1% less for childcare

	Panama	Colombia
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly	$363.00 PAB363.00	$234.03 COP874,092.15	-35.5%
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters	$9,411.11 PAB9,411.11	$5,761.13 COP21,517,631.78	-38.8%
Average			-37.1%

Panama vs. Colombia - Cost of childcare

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pay 45.8% less for entertainment and sports

	Panama	Colombia
Domestic/local beer (1 pint)	$1.95 PAB1.95	$1.20 COP4,491.76	-38.3%
Cappuccino in mid-range area	$3.54 PAB3.54	$1.59 COP5,956.32	-55.0%
Pack of cigarettes Marlboro or similar	$5.48 PAB5.48	$2.56 COP9,556.21	-53.3%
Monthly membership at local gym	$51.47 PAB51.47	$25.07 COP93,650.79	-51.3%
Movie ticket to theater/cinema	$5.97 PAB5.97	$4.12 COP15,392.12	-30.9%
Average			-45.8%

Panama vs. Colombia - Cost of entertainment and sports

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pay 13.5% more for clothing

	Panama	Colombia
Regular jeans Levi's brand	$43.33 PAB43.33	$61.30 COP228,961.50	+41.5%
Regular dress from H&M or similar store	$34.17 PAB34.17	$40.34 COP150,673.34	+18.1%
Running shoes Nike or Adidas	$80.40 PAB80.40	$95.01 COP354,859.55	+18.2%
Men's business shoes (leather)	$106.46 PAB106.46	$81.28 COP303,568.15	-23.7%
Average			+13.5%

Panama vs. Colombia - 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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