Cost of living comparison

Lusaka, Zambia

compared to

Panama City, Panama

Panama City vs. Lusaka Cost of Living Summary

Panama City is 2.1 times more expensive than Lusaka.

Restaurants: pay 2.7 times more in Panama City
Groceries: pay 67.8% more in Panama City
Transportation: pay 32.3% more in Panama City
Housing: pay 3.2 times more in Panama City
Childcare: pay 2.0 times more in Panama City
Entertainment and Sports: pay 2.0 times more in Panama City
Clothing: pay 80.5% more in Panama City

The cost of housing, restaurants, entertainment and sports, childcare, clothing, and groceries in Panama City are more expensive than in Lusaka. Notably, housing, restaurants, and entertainment and sports are significantly more expensive in Panama City.

Panama City vs. Lusaka Cost Breakdown

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

Display currency: USD

pay 2.7 times more for restaurants

	Lusaka	Panama City
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant	$7.21 ZMW177.72	$13.25 PAB13.25	+83.7%
Fast food combo meal McDonalds, or similar	$3.82 ZMW94.18	$8.00 PAB8.00	+109.3%
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz)	$0.71 ZMW17.59	$1.86 PAB1.86	+160.3%
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz)	$0.33 ZMW8.15	$1.41 PAB1.41	+326.5%
Average			+169.9%

Lusaka vs. Panama City - Cost of restaurants

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pay 67.8% more for groceries

	Lusaka	Panama City
Bread 1 loaf	$0.74 ZMW18.23	$2.51 PAB2.51	+238.8%
Local cheese (8 oz)	$3.64 ZMW89.61	$6.39 PAB6.39	+75.7%
Milk (1 gallon)	$4.85 ZMW119.59	$6.80 PAB6.80	+40.1%
Eggs 1 dozen	$1.92 ZMW47.43	$2.68 PAB2.68	+39.1%
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb)	$1.80 ZMW44.28	$3.41 PAB3.41	+89.6%
Apples (1 lb)	$1.20 ZMW29.60	$1.48 PAB1.48	+23.4%
Bananas (1 lb)	$0.60 ZMW14.88	$0.72 PAB0.72	+19.8%
Oranges (1 lb)	$1.27 ZMW31.18	$1.24 PAB1.24	-2.0%
Tomatoes (1 lb)	$0.56 ZMW13.88	$1.40 PAB1.40	+148.1%
Potatoes (1 lb)	$0.96 ZMW23.56	$0.98 PAB0.98	+2.9%
Onions (1 lb)	$0.67 ZMW16.61	$1.15 PAB1.15	+70.1%
Average			+67.8%

Lusaka vs. Panama City - Cost of groceries

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pay 32.3% more for transportation

	Lusaka	Panama City
Gasoline (1 gallon)	$4.77 ZMW117.45	$3.69 PAB3.69	-22.6%
Monthly public transit pass	$37.04 ZMW912.79	$25.00 PAB25.00	-32.5%
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition)	$8,004.53 ZMW197,281.92	$19,750.00 PAB19,750.00	+146.7%
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles)	$12.13 ZMW298.95	$16.71 PAB16.71	+37.7%
Average			+32.3%

Lusaka vs. Panama City - Cost of transportation

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pay 3.2 times more for housing

	Lusaka	Panama City
Internet connection 50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl	$125.92 ZMW3,103.44	$52.10 PAB52.10	-58.6%
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area	$214.42 ZMW5,284.72	$1,023.81 PAB1,023.81	+377.5%
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center	$114.96 ZMW2,833.31	$755.88 PAB755.88	+557.5%
Utilities for two (700 sq ft apartment) including electric, gas, water, heating	$83.50 ZMW2,058.01	$94.84 PAB94.84	+13.6%
Average			+222.5%

Lusaka vs. Panama City - Cost of housing

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pay 2.0 times more for childcare

	Lusaka	Panama City
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly	$176.79 ZMW4,357.20	$439.17 PAB439.17	+148.4%
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters	$6,570.42 ZMW161,936.58	$10,092.67 PAB10,092.67	+53.6%
Average			+101.0%

Lusaka vs. Panama City - Cost of childcare

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pay 2.0 times more for entertainment and sports

	Lusaka	Panama City
Domestic/local beer (1 pint)	$0.97 ZMW23.83	$3.00 PAB3.00	+210.3%
Cappuccino in mid-range area	$2.07 ZMW51.10	$3.59 PAB3.59	+73.1%
Pack of cigarettes Marlboro or similar	$2.49 ZMW61.35	$5.50 PAB5.50	+121.0%
Monthly membership at local gym	$41.21 ZMW1,015.73	$47.27 PAB47.27	+14.7%
Movie ticket to theater/cinema	$3.50 ZMW86.25	$7.00 PAB7.00	+100.0%
Average			+103.8%

Lusaka vs. Panama City - Cost of entertainment and sports

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pay 80.5% more for clothing

	Lusaka	Panama City
Regular jeans Levi's brand	$18.43 ZMW454.35	$53.91 PAB53.91	+192.4%
Regular dress from H&M or similar store	$18.78 ZMW462.96	$37.78 PAB37.78	+101.1%
Running shoes Nike or Adidas	$90.18 ZMW2,222.51	$87.62 PAB87.62	-2.8%
Men's business shoes (leather)	$82.76 ZMW2,039.76	$108.75 PAB108.75	+31.4%
Average			+80.5%

Lusaka 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: June 2025

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