Cost of living comparison

compared to

Japan vs. Panama Cost of Living Summary

Japan is 4.3% more expensive than Panama overall.

Restaurants: pay 28.6% less in Japan
Groceries: pay 8.4% more in Japan
Transportation: pay 46.1% more in Japan
Housing: pay 17.4% less in Japan
Childcare: pay 10.8% more in Japan
Entertainment and Sports: pay 22.9% more in Japan
Clothing: pay 12.3% less in Japan

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

Japan vs. Panama Cost Breakdown

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

Display currency: USD

pay 28.6% less for restaurants

	Panama	Japan
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant	$8.35 PAB8.35	$6.60 ¥1,042	-20.9%
Fast food combo meal McDonalds, or similar	$7.75 PAB7.75	$5.10 ¥804	-34.2%
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz)	$1.37 PAB1.37	$1.07 ¥168	-22.4%
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz)	$1.21 PAB1.21	$0.76 ¥120	-37.1%
Average			-28.6%

Panama vs. Japan - Cost of restaurants

Improve prices · Change currency (USD)

pay 8.4% more for groceries

	Panama	Japan
Bread 1 loaf	$2.21 PAB2.21	$1.50 ¥237	-32.2%
Local cheese (8 oz)	$6.02 PAB6.02	$5.07 ¥799	-15.9%
Milk (1 gallon)	$6.86 PAB6.86	$5.67 ¥894	-17.4%
Eggs 1 dozen	$2.47 PAB2.47	$2.08 ¥328	-15.8%
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb)	$3.58 PAB3.58	$2.93 ¥462	-18.2%
Apples (1 lb)	$2.13 PAB2.13	$2.14 ¥337	+0.1%
Bananas (1 lb)	$0.60 PAB0.60	$1.12 ¥176	+86.8%
Oranges (1 lb)	$1.40 PAB1.40	$1.69 ¥267	+20.5%
Tomatoes (1 lb)	$1.51 PAB1.51	$2.13 ¥336	+41.5%
Potatoes (1 lb)	$0.96 PAB0.96	$1.22 ¥192	+27.0%
Onions (1 lb)	$0.99 PAB0.99	$1.15 ¥182	+16.4%
Average			+8.4%

Panama vs. Japan - Cost of groceries

Improve prices · Change currency (USD)

pay 46.1% more for transportation

	Panama	Japan
Gasoline (1 gallon)	$3.87 PAB3.87	$4.39 ¥692	+13.5%
Monthly public transit pass	$23.75 PAB23.75	$59.14 ¥9,330	+149.0%
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition)	$23,416.67 PAB23,416.67	$22,599.51 ¥3,564,994	-3.5%
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles)	$20.20 PAB20.20	$25.32 ¥3,995	+25.4%
Average			+46.1%

Panama vs. Japan - Cost of transportation

Improve prices · Change currency (USD)

pay 17.4% less for housing

	Panama	Japan
Internet connection 50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl	$48.39 PAB48.39	$33.91 ¥5,350	-29.9%
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area	$765.94 PAB765.94	$543.18 ¥85,685	-29.1%
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center	$630.77 PAB630.77	$353.61 ¥55,781	-43.9%
Utilities for two (700 sq ft apartment) including electric, gas, water, heating	$89.09 PAB89.09	$118.72 ¥18,727	+33.3%
Average			-17.4%

Panama vs. Japan - Cost of housing

Improve prices · Change currency (USD)

pay 10.8% more for childcare

	Panama	Japan
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly	$363.00 PAB363.00	$296.89 ¥46,833	-18.2%
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters	$9,411.11 PAB9,411.11	$13,159.48 ¥2,075,862	+39.8%
Average			+10.8%

Panama vs. Japan - Cost of childcare

Improve prices · Change currency (USD)

pay 22.9% more for entertainment and sports

	Panama	Japan
Domestic/local beer (1 pint)	$1.95 PAB1.95	$2.60 ¥411	+33.6%
Cappuccino in mid-range area	$3.54 PAB3.54	$3.03 ¥477	-14.5%
Pack of cigarettes Marlboro or similar	$5.48 PAB5.48	$3.89 ¥613	-29.1%
Monthly membership at local gym	$51.47 PAB51.47	$59.54 ¥9,392	+15.7%
Movie ticket to theater/cinema	$5.97 PAB5.97	$12.46 ¥1,966	+108.8%
Average			+22.9%

Panama vs. Japan - Cost of entertainment and sports

Improve prices · Change currency (USD)

pay 12.3% less for clothing

	Panama	Japan
Regular jeans Levi's brand	$43.33 PAB43.33	$44.79 ¥7,066	+3.4%
Regular dress from H&M or similar store	$34.17 PAB34.17	$32.04 ¥5,054	-6.2%
Running shoes Nike or Adidas	$80.40 PAB80.40	$57.37 ¥9,050	-28.6%
Men's business shoes (leather)	$106.46 PAB106.46	$87.37 ¥13,783	-17.9%
Average			-12.3%

Panama vs. Japan - Cost of clothing

Improve prices · Change currency (USD)

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

More cost comparisons

Panama vs.

Australia

Panama vs.

Peru

Panama vs.

Ecuador

Panama vs.

Iceland

Panama vs.

China

Panama vs.

Greece

Panama vs.

Vietnam

Panama vs.

United Kingdom

Share this

Compare by city

For example, try comparing the cost of living in Panama City vs. Tokyo

Help us improve these prices

MyLifeElsewhere is a collaborative project. Please enter price information for your location to help assist us in making these comparisons more accurate. Learn more

Add prices for Panama

Add prices for Japan

ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY

Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Japan or Panama. It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.