Cost of living comparison
Panama is 23.6% more expensive than Jamaica overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 17.9% more in Panama
- Groceries
-
pay 12.0% less in Panama
- Transportation
-
pay 33.0% less in Panama
- Housing
-
pay 12.9% more in Panama
- Childcare
-
pay 2.4 times more in Panama
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 13.6% less in Panama
- Clothing
-
pay 56.7% more in Panama
The cost of childcare, clothing, restaurants, and housing in Panama are more expensive than in Jamaica. Expenses including transportation, entertainment and sports, and groceries are lower in Panama. Notably, childcare is significantly more expensive in Panama.
If you lived in Panama instead of Jamaica, you would:
pay 17.9% more for restaurants
|
Jamaica
|
Panama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$7.25
JMD1,139.11
|
$8.45
PAB8.45
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$7.80
JMD1,226.24
|
$7.90
PAB7.90
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$1.33
JMD209.11
|
$1.54
PAB1.54
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.85
JMD132.97
|
$1.17
PAB1.17
|
|
pay 12.0% less for groceries
|
Jamaica
|
Panama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.62
JMD412.17
|
$2.19
PAB2.19
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.91
JMD929.74
|
$5.66
PAB5.66
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$13.43
JMD2,110.41
|
$6.43
PAB6.43
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.35
JMD526.21
|
$2.53
PAB2.53
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$2.97
JMD466.56
|
$3.54
PAB3.54
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.46
JMD387.01
|
$2.12
PAB2.12
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$1.21
JMD189.43
|
$0.61
PAB0.61
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.71
JMD268.67
|
$1.29
PAB1.29
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.22
JMD191.40
|
$1.16
PAB1.16
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.92
JMD144.40
|
$0.98
PAB0.98
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.77
JMD120.37
|
$1.01
PAB1.01
|
|
pay 33.0% less for transportation
|
Jamaica
|
Panama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.83
JMD759.84
|
$3.92
PAB3.92
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$37.59
JMD5,909.58
|
$25.00
PAB25.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$40,601.97
JMD6,382,342.18
|
$18,916.67
PAB18,916.67
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$22.62
JMD3,555.59
|
$16.61
PAB16.61
|
|
pay 12.9% more for housing
|
Jamaica
|
Panama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$48.42
JMD7,611.79
|
$47.61
PAB47.61
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$594.87
JMD93,508.60
|
$747.76
PAB747.76
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$355.79
JMD55,927.35
|
$567.84
PAB567.84
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$101.67
JMD15,981.26
|
$69.20
PAB69.20
|
|
pay 2.4 times more for childcare
|
Jamaica
|
Panama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$194.86
JMD30,631.30
|
$302.08
PAB302.08
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$2,060.17
JMD323,844.77
|
$6,548.17
PAB6,548.17
|
|
pay 13.6% less for entertainment and sports
|
Jamaica
|
Panama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$2.65
JMD416.02
|
$1.95
PAB1.95
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.05
JMD479.31
|
$3.39
PAB3.39
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$8.65
JMD1,359.20
|
$5.38
PAB5.38
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$41.08
JMD6,456.76
|
$57.20
PAB57.20
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$11.65
JMD1,831.97
|
$5.33
PAB5.33
|
|
pay 56.7% more for clothing
|
Jamaica
|
Panama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$24.19
JMD3,801.83
|
$47.41
PAB47.41
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$21.83
JMD3,430.84
|
$34.81
PAB34.81
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$66.00
JMD10,374.59
|
$81.21
PAB81.21
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$67.67
JMD10,637.24
|
$100.42
PAB100.42
|
|
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