Cost of living comparison
Panama is 69.9% more expensive than Malaysia overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 2.5 times more in Panama
- Groceries
-
pay 58.1% more in Panama
- Transportation
-
pay 68.9% more in Panama
- Housing
-
pay 2.2 times more in Panama
- Childcare
-
pay 41.7% more in Panama
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 21.9% more in Panama
- Clothing
-
pay 25.7% more in Panama
The cost of restaurants, housing, transportation, groceries, childcare, and clothing in Panama are more expensive than in Malaysia. Notably, restaurants and housing are significantly more expensive in Panama.
If you lived in Panama instead of Malaysia, you would:
pay 2.5 times more for restaurants
|
Malaysia
|
Panama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$2.98
MYR13.17
|
$8.45
PAB8.45
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$4.23
MYR18.70
|
$7.90
PAB7.90
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.68
MYR3.00
|
$1.54
PAB1.54
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.38
MYR1.69
|
$1.17
PAB1.17
|
|
pay 58.1% more for groceries
|
Malaysia
|
Panama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$0.91
MYR4.04
|
$2.19
PAB2.19
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.65
MYR33.83
|
$5.66
PAB5.66
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$6.39
MYR28.25
|
$6.43
PAB6.43
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$1.97
MYR8.72
|
$2.53
PAB2.53
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$1.83
MYR8.10
|
$3.54
PAB3.54
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.17
MYR5.19
|
$2.12
PAB2.12
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.57
MYR2.52
|
$0.61
PAB0.61
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.21
MYR5.37
|
$1.29
PAB1.29
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.63
MYR2.79
|
$1.16
PAB1.16
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.43
MYR1.91
|
$0.98
PAB0.98
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.51
MYR2.25
|
$1.01
PAB1.01
|
|
pay 68.9% more for transportation
|
Malaysia
|
Panama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$1.77
MYR7.83
|
$3.92
PAB3.92
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$15.69
MYR69.38
|
$25.00
PAB25.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$34,330.57
MYR151,826.97
|
$18,916.67
PAB18,916.67
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$6.94
MYR30.68
|
$16.61
PAB16.61
|
|
pay 2.2 times more for housing
|
Malaysia
|
Panama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$26.31
MYR116.38
|
$47.61
PAB47.61
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$322.80
MYR1,427.59
|
$747.76
PAB747.76
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$212.35
MYR939.12
|
$567.84
PAB567.84
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$33.00
MYR145.94
|
$69.20
PAB69.20
|
|
pay 41.7% more for childcare
|
Malaysia
|
Panama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$163.68
MYR723.87
|
$302.08
PAB302.08
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$6,626.64
MYR29,306.32
|
$6,548.17
PAB6,548.17
|
|
pay 21.9% more for entertainment and sports
|
Malaysia
|
Panama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$3.66
MYR16.18
|
$1.95
PAB1.95
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$2.54
MYR11.23
|
$3.39
PAB3.39
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$4.07
MYR17.98
|
$5.38
PAB5.38
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$36.32
MYR160.63
|
$57.20
PAB57.20
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$4.00
MYR17.68
|
$5.33
PAB5.33
|
|
pay 25.7% more for clothing
|
Malaysia
|
Panama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$53.15
MYR235.05
|
$47.41
PAB47.41
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$30.13
MYR133.24
|
$34.81
PAB34.81
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$65.18
MYR288.24
|
$81.21
PAB81.21
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$57.93
MYR256.22
|
$100.42
PAB100.42
|
|
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