Cost of living comparison

Kingston, Jamaica

compared to

Panama City, Panama

Panama City vs. Kingston Cost of Living Summary

Panama City is 38.3% more expensive than Kingston.

Restaurants: pay 40.4% more in Panama City
Groceries: pay 21.1% less in Panama City
Transportation: pay 36.9% less in Panama City
Housing: pay 18.3% more in Panama City
Childcare: pay 3.4 times more in Panama City
Entertainment and Sports: pay 27.4% less in Panama City
Clothing: pay 58.5% more in Panama City

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

Panama City vs. Kingston Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Panama City instead of Kingston, you would:

Display currency: USD

pay 40.4% more for restaurants

	Kingston	Panama City
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant	$7.52 JMD1,189.33	$13.25 PAB13.25	+76.2%
Fast food combo meal McDonalds, or similar	$8.62 JMD1,362.78	$8.00 PAB8.00	-7.1%
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz)	$1.41 JMD223.38	$1.86 PAB1.86	+31.5%
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz)	$0.88 JMD138.76	$1.41 PAB1.41	+60.9%
Average			+40.4%

Kingston vs. Panama City - Cost of restaurants

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pay 21.1% less for groceries

	Kingston	Panama City
Bread 1 loaf	$3.54 JMD560.21	$2.51 PAB2.51	-29.3%
Local cheese (8 oz)	$6.58 JMD1,040.04	$6.39 PAB6.39	-2.9%
Milk (1 gallon)	$15.26 JMD2,413.28	$6.80 PAB6.80	-55.4%
Eggs 1 dozen	$4.27 JMD675.61	$2.68 PAB2.68	-37.3%
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb)	$2.97 JMD469.49	$3.41 PAB3.41	+14.8%
Apples (1 lb)	$2.70 JMD427.34	$1.48 PAB1.48	-45.1%
Bananas (1 lb)	$1.39 JMD219.21	$0.72 PAB0.72	-47.8%
Oranges (1 lb)	$1.82 JMD288.39	$1.24 PAB1.24	-32.0%
Tomatoes (1 lb)	$1.59 JMD251.99	$1.40 PAB1.40	-12.3%
Potatoes (1 lb)	$1.04 JMD164.84	$0.98 PAB0.98	-5.6%
Onions (1 lb)	$0.95 JMD150.03	$1.15 PAB1.15	+20.8%
Average			-21.1%

Kingston vs. Panama City - Cost of groceries

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pay 36.9% less for transportation

	Kingston	Panama City
Gasoline (1 gallon)	$4.83 JMD764.61	$3.69 PAB3.69	-23.7%
Monthly public transit pass	$37.59 JMD5,946.67	$25.00 PAB25.00	-33.5%
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition)	$42,920.30 JMD6,789,117.82	$19,750.00 PAB19,750.00	-54.0%
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles)	$26.32 JMD4,162.67	$16.71 PAB16.71	-36.5%
Average			-36.9%

Kingston vs. Panama City - Cost of transportation

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pay 18.3% more for housing

	Kingston	Panama City
Internet connection 50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl	$52.89 JMD8,365.79	$52.10 PAB52.10	-1.5%
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area	$874.50 JMD138,328.25	$1,023.81 PAB1,023.81	+17.1%
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center	$425.21 JMD67,258.95	$755.88 PAB755.88	+77.8%
Utilities for two (700 sq ft apartment) including electric, gas, water, heating	$118.83 JMD18,796.15	$94.84 PAB94.84	-20.2%
Average			+18.3%

Kingston vs. Panama City - Cost of housing

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pay 3.4 times more for childcare

	Kingston	Panama City
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly	$227.66 JMD36,010.41	$439.17 PAB439.17	+92.9%
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters	$2,105.29 JMD333,013.66	$10,092.67 PAB10,092.67	+379.4%
Average			+236.1%

Kingston vs. Panama City - Cost of childcare

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pay 27.4% less for entertainment and sports

	Kingston	Panama City
Domestic/local beer (1 pint)	$3.13 JMD495.56	$3.00 PAB3.00	-4.2%
Cappuccino in mid-range area	$4.28 JMD677.47	$3.59 PAB3.59	-16.2%
Pack of cigarettes Marlboro or similar	$8.77 JMD1,387.56	$5.50 PAB5.50	-37.3%
Monthly membership at local gym	$69.97 JMD11,067.42	$47.27 PAB47.27	-32.4%
Movie ticket to theater/cinema	$13.16 JMD2,081.34	$7.00 PAB7.00	-46.8%
Average			-27.4%

Kingston vs. Panama City - Cost of entertainment and sports

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pay 58.5% more for clothing

	Kingston	Panama City
Regular jeans Levi's brand	$26.32 JMD4,162.67	$53.91 PAB53.91	+104.9%
Regular dress from H&M or similar store	$25.59 JMD4,047.04	$37.78 PAB37.78	+47.7%
Running shoes Nike or Adidas	$71.01 JMD11,232.60	$87.62 PAB87.62	+23.4%
Men's business shoes (leather)	$68.92 JMD10,902.23	$108.75 PAB108.75	+57.8%
Average			+58.5%

Kingston 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: April 2025

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See the cost of living in Jamaica vs. Panama. This provides a comparison of the average cost of living from cities within Jamaica and Panama.

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