Cost of living comparison

compared to

Panama City vs. Port Vila Cost of Living Summary

Panama City is 8.9% cheaper than Port Vila.

Restaurants: pay 25.1% less in Panama City
Groceries: pay 28.2% less in Panama City
Transportation: pay 17.6% more in Panama City
Housing: pay 54.8% less in Panama City
Childcare: pay 54.3% more in Panama City
Entertainment and Sports: pay 36.2% less in Panama City
Clothing: pay 10.4% more in Panama City

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

Panama City vs. Port Vila Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Panama City instead of Port Vila, you would:

Display currency: USD

pay 25.1% less for restaurants

	Port Vila	Panama City
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant	$12.52 VUV1,530	$10.00 PAB10.00	-20.1%
Fast food combo meal McDonalds, or similar	$9.56 VUV1,168	$8.00 PAB8.00	-16.3%
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz)	$2.55 VUV311	$1.70 PAB1.70	-33.4%
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz)	$1.93 VUV236	$1.33 PAB1.33	-30.8%
Average			-25.1%

Port Vila vs. Panama City - Cost of restaurants

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pay 28.2% less for groceries

	Port Vila	Panama City
Bread 1 loaf	$2.54 VUV310	$2.56 PAB2.56	+0.8%
Local cheese (8 oz)	$10.02 VUV1,224	$5.81 PAB5.81	-42.0%
Milk (1 gallon)	$9.06 VUV1,107	$6.82 PAB6.82	-24.7%
Eggs 1 dozen	$5.26 VUV642	$2.84 PAB2.84	-45.9%
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb)	$8.33 VUV1,018	$3.29 PAB3.29	-60.5%
Apples (1 lb)	$2.11 VUV258	$1.65 PAB1.65	-21.9%
Bananas (1 lb)	$0.88 VUV108	$0.70 PAB0.70	-20.3%
Oranges (1 lb)	$2.73 VUV333	$1.40 PAB1.40	-48.7%
Tomatoes (1 lb)	$2.46 VUV301	$1.46 PAB1.46	-40.6%
Potatoes (1 lb)	$1.96 VUV240	$1.00 PAB1.00	-49.3%
Onions (1 lb)	$0.95 VUV117	$1.37 PAB1.37	+43.1%
Average			-28.2%

Port Vila vs. Panama City - Cost of groceries

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pay 17.6% more for transportation

	Port Vila	Panama City
Gasoline (1 gallon)	$7.11 VUV869	$3.44 PAB3.44	-51.6%
Monthly public transit pass	$66.78 VUV8,158	$22.50 PAB22.50	-66.3%
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition)	$22,956.84 VUV2,804,408	$19,750.00 PAB19,750.00	-14.0%
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles)	$8.77 VUV1,071	$26.50 PAB26.50	+202.3%
Average			+17.6%

Port Vila vs. Panama City - Cost of transportation

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pay 54.8% less for housing

	Port Vila	Panama City
Internet connection 50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl	$226.79 VUV27,704	$49.20 PAB49.20	-78.3%
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area	$1,906.11 VUV232,851	$1,164.71 PAB1,164.71	-38.9%
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center	$1,278.71 VUV156,207	$953.85 PAB953.85	-25.4%
Utilities for two (700 sq ft apartment) including electric, gas, water, heating	$406.43 VUV49,650	$95.90 PAB95.90	-76.4%
Average			-54.8%

Port Vila vs. Panama City - Cost of housing

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pay 54.3% more for childcare

	Port Vila	Panama City
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly	$617.75 VUV75,464	$476.00 PAB476.00	-22.9%
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters	$6,795.22 VUV830,105	$15,733.33 PAB15,733.33	+131.5%
Average			+54.3%

Port Vila vs. Panama City - Cost of childcare

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pay 36.2% less for entertainment and sports

	Port Vila	Panama City
Domestic/local beer (1 pint)	$4.81 VUV588	$3.00 PAB3.00	-37.7%
Cappuccino in mid-range area	$5.70 VUV696	$3.61 PAB3.61	-36.6%
Pack of cigarettes Marlboro or similar	$9.18 VUV1,122	$5.92 PAB5.92	-35.5%
Monthly membership at local gym	$67.52 VUV8,248	$43.86 PAB43.86	-35.0%
Movie ticket to theater/cinema	$12.52 VUV1,530	$8.00 PAB8.00	-36.1%
Average			-36.2%

Port Vila vs. Panama City - Cost of entertainment and sports

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pay 10.4% more for clothing

	Port Vila	Panama City
Regular jeans Levi's brand	$33.39 VUV4,079	$50.00 PAB50.00	+49.7%
Regular dress from H&M or similar store	$66.78 VUV8,158	$47.50 PAB47.50	-28.9%
Running shoes Nike or Adidas	??	$89.55 PAB89.55
Men's business shoes (leather)	??	$126.88 PAB126.88
Average			+10.4%

Port Vila vs. Panama City - 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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