Cost of living comparison
Panama is 17.1% cheaper than Costa Rica overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 17.9% less in Panama
- Groceries
-
pay 0.4% less in Panama
- Transportation
-
pay 29.8% less in Panama
- Housing
-
pay 0.1% less in Panama
- Childcare
-
pay 41.1% less in Panama
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 12.1% less in Panama
- Clothing
-
pay 18.1% less in Panama
Expenses including childcare, transportation, clothing, restaurants, entertainment and sports, and groceries are lower in Panama.
If you lived in Panama instead of Costa Rica, you would:
pay 17.9% less for restaurants
|
Costa Rica
|
Panama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$9.75
CRC4,858.31
|
$8.45
PAB8.45
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.08
CRC4,526.38
|
$7.90
PAB7.90
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.01
CRC1,002.12
|
$1.54
PAB1.54
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.49
CRC743.42
|
$1.17
PAB1.17
|
|
pay 0.4% less for groceries
|
Costa Rica
|
Panama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.53
CRC1,262.09
|
$2.19
PAB2.19
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$3.76
CRC1,875.42
|
$5.66
PAB5.66
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$6.98
CRC3,476.94
|
$6.43
PAB6.43
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.21
CRC1,601.03
|
$2.53
PAB2.53
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$3.97
CRC1,979.18
|
$3.54
PAB3.54
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.79
CRC891.86
|
$2.12
PAB2.12
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.62
CRC307.47
|
$0.61
PAB0.61
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.22
CRC606.28
|
$1.29
PAB1.29
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.22
CRC608.89
|
$1.16
PAB1.16
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.09
CRC545.42
|
$0.98
PAB0.98
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.11
CRC555.10
|
$1.01
PAB1.01
|
|
pay 29.8% less for transportation
|
Costa Rica
|
Panama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$5.63
CRC2,804.63
|
$3.92
PAB3.92
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$49.00
CRC24,422.09
|
$25.00
PAB25.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$35,063.37
CRC17,476,309.95
|
$18,916.67
PAB18,916.67
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$15.62
CRC7,786.44
|
$16.61
PAB16.61
|
|
pay 0.1% less for housing
|
Costa Rica
|
Panama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$48.50
CRC24,173.62
|
$47.61
PAB47.61
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$778.04
CRC387,790.07
|
$747.76
PAB747.76
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$547.50
CRC272,886.97
|
$567.84
PAB567.84
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$68.26
CRC34,021.06
|
$69.20
PAB69.20
|
|
pay 41.1% less for childcare
|
Costa Rica
|
Panama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$519.07
CRC258,714.02
|
$302.08
PAB302.08
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$10,987.74
CRC5,476,518.54
|
$6,548.17
PAB6,548.17
|
|
pay 12.1% less for entertainment and sports
|
Costa Rica
|
Panama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$2.73
CRC1,359.27
|
$1.95
PAB1.95
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.65
CRC1,821.35
|
$3.39
PAB3.39
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$4.58
CRC2,283.92
|
$5.38
PAB5.38
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$59.46
CRC29,636.38
|
$57.20
PAB57.20
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$8.63
CRC4,299.33
|
$5.33
PAB5.33
|
|
pay 18.1% less for clothing
|
Costa Rica
|
Panama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$65.32
CRC32,558.66
|
$47.41
PAB47.41
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$44.54
CRC22,199.83
|
$34.81
PAB34.81
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$110.39
CRC55,018.43
|
$81.21
PAB81.21
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$97.22
CRC48,454.89
|
$100.42
PAB100.42
|
|
Change currency:
Help us improve these prices
ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY
Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Panama or Costa Rica. It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.