Cost of living comparison
Costa Rica is 21.3% more expensive than Panama.
If you lived in Costa Rica instead of Panama, you would:
pay 18.6% more for restaurants
Panama
|
Costa Rica
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$7.70
PAB7.70
|
$9.42
₡4,763
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$7.45
PAB7.45
|
$8.16
₡4,129
|
|
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$1.54
PAB1.54
|
$1.73
₡874
|
|
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.16
PAB1.16
|
$1.50
₡761
|
|
pay 7.8% more for groceries
Panama
|
Costa Rica
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.94
PAB1.94
|
$1.87
₡947
|
|
Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.35
PAB5.35
|
$4.15
₡2,100
|
|
Milk (1 gallon) |
$6.06
PAB6.06
|
$6.45
₡3,264
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.20
PAB2.20
|
$2.63
₡1,331
|
|
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$2.67
PAB2.67
|
$3.92
₡1,982
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$1.75
PAB1.75
|
$1.85
₡935
|
|
Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.55
PAB0.55
|
$0.66
₡335
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.06
PAB1.06
|
$1.26
₡636
|
|
Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.23
PAB1.23
|
$0.97
₡488
|
|
Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.89
PAB0.89
|
$0.92
₡467
|
|
Onions (1 lb) |
$0.96
PAB0.96
|
$1.08
₡547
|
|
pay 27.0% more for transportation
Panama
|
Costa Rica
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.07
PAB4.07
|
$5.58
₡2,825
|
|
Monthly public transit pass |
$27.50
PAB27.50
|
$44.09
₡22,303
|
|
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$20,583.33
PAB20,583.33
|
$25,829.98
₡13,066,552
|
|
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$15.79
PAB15.79
|
$13.39
₡6,772
|
|
pay 11.2% more for housing
Panama
|
Costa Rica
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$49.92
PAB49.92
|
$53.15
₡26,885
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$696.35
PAB696.35
|
$813.71
₡411,630
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$440.76
PAB440.76
|
$522.16
₡264,146
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$62.88
PAB62.88
|
$64.83
₡32,795
|
|
pay 47.8% more for childcare
Panama
|
Costa Rica
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$228.54
PAB228.54
|
$366.72
₡185,510
|
|
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$6,185.93
PAB6,185.93
|
$8,358.53
₡4,228,308
|
|
pay 21.8% more for entertainment and sports
Panama
|
Costa Rica
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$1.75
PAB1.75
|
$2.88
₡1,458
|
|
Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.22
PAB3.22
|
$2.93
₡1,480
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$5.43
PAB5.43
|
$4.48
₡2,268
|
|
Monthly membership at local gym |
$45.25
PAB45.25
|
$55.95
₡28,304
|
|
Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$4.88
PAB4.88
|
$7.18
₡3,631
|
|
pay 14.7% more for clothing
Panama
|
Costa Rica
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$48.38
PAB48.38
|
$66.61
₡33,694
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$38.88
PAB38.88
|
$44.99
₡22,761
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$82.05
PAB82.05
|
$101.09
₡51,140
|
|
Men's business shoes (leather) |
$94.12
PAB94.12
|
$77.50
₡39,204
|
|
Change currency:
ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY
Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Costa Rica or Panama. It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.