Cost of living comparison

Nuku'alofa, Tonga

compared to

Panama City, Panama

Panama City vs. Nuku'alofa Cost of Living Summary

Panama City is 4.5 times more expensive than Nuku'alofa.

Restaurants: pay 9.2% less in Panama City
Groceries: pay 7.4% more in Panama City
Transportation: pay 21.4% more in Panama City
Housing: pay 46.5% less in Panama City
Childcare: pay 21.4 times more in Panama City
Entertainment and Sports: pay 13.7% less in Panama City
Clothing: pay 5.7 times more in Panama City

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

Panama City vs. Nuku'alofa Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Panama City instead of Nuku'alofa, you would:

Display currency: USD

pay 9.2% less for restaurants

	Nuku'alofa	Panama City
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant	$8.40 TOP20.23	$13.25 PAB13.25	+57.7%
Fast food combo meal McDonalds, or similar	$10.50 TOP25.29	$8.00 PAB8.00	-23.8%
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz)	$2.66 TOP6.41	$1.86 PAB1.86	-30.2%
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz)	$2.38 TOP5.73	$1.41 PAB1.41	-40.7%
Average			-9.2%

Nuku'alofa vs. Panama City - Cost of restaurants

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pay 7.4% more for groceries

	Nuku'alofa	Panama City
Bread 1 loaf	$1.05 TOP2.53	$2.51 PAB2.51	+138.6%
Local cheese (8 oz)	$4.55 TOP10.96	$6.39 PAB6.39	+40.3%
Milk (1 gallon)	$5.99 TOP14.42	$6.80 PAB6.80	+13.5%
Eggs 1 dozen	$5.15 TOP12.41	$2.68 PAB2.68	-48.1%
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb)	$2.70 TOP6.50	$3.41 PAB3.41	+26.2%
Apples (1 lb)	$1.27 TOP3.06	$1.48 PAB1.48	+16.7%
Bananas (1 lb)	$1.27 TOP3.06	$0.72 PAB0.72	-43.1%
Oranges (1 lb)	$1.33 TOP3.21	$1.24 PAB1.24	-7.0%
Tomatoes (1 lb)	$1.71 TOP4.13	$1.40 PAB1.40	-18.5%
Potatoes (1 lb)	$1.46 TOP3.52	$0.98 PAB0.98	-32.7%
Onions (1 lb)	$1.21 TOP2.91	$1.15 PAB1.15	-5.0%
Average			+7.4%

Nuku'alofa vs. Panama City - Cost of groceries

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pay 21.4% more for transportation

	Nuku'alofa	Panama City
Gasoline (1 gallon)	$5.57 TOP13.40	$3.69 PAB3.69	-33.7%
Monthly public transit pass	$42.01 TOP101.15	$25.00 PAB25.00	-40.5%
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition)	$5,881.34 TOP14,160.85	$19,750.00 PAB19,750.00	+235.8%
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles)	$69.32 TOP166.90	$16.71 PAB16.71	-75.9%
Average			+21.4%

Nuku'alofa vs. Panama City - Cost of transportation

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pay 46.5% less for housing

	Nuku'alofa	Panama City
Internet connection 50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl	$126.03 TOP303.45	$52.10 PAB52.10	-58.7%
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area	??	$1,023.81 PAB1,023.81
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center	??	$755.88 PAB755.88
Utilities for two (700 sq ft apartment) including electric, gas, water, heating	$144.56 TOP348.07	$94.84 PAB94.84	-34.4%
Average			-46.5%

Nuku'alofa vs. Panama City - Cost of housing

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pay 21.4 times more for childcare

	Nuku'alofa	Panama City
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly	$159.64 TOP384.37	$439.17 PAB439.17	+175.1%
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters	$252.06 TOP606.89	$10,092.67 PAB10,092.67	+3904.1%
Average			+2039.6%

Nuku'alofa vs. Panama City - Cost of childcare

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pay 13.7% less for entertainment and sports

	Nuku'alofa	Panama City
Domestic/local beer (1 pint)	$3.36 TOP8.09	$3.00 PAB3.00	-10.7%
Cappuccino in mid-range area	$2.94 TOP7.08	$3.59 PAB3.59	+22.1%
Pack of cigarettes Marlboro or similar	$10.29 TOP24.78	$5.50 PAB5.50	-46.6%
Monthly membership at local gym	$31.51 TOP75.86	$47.27 PAB47.27	+50.0%
Movie ticket to theater/cinema	$42.01 TOP101.15	$7.00 PAB7.00	-83.3%
Average			-13.7%

Nuku'alofa vs. Panama City - Cost of entertainment and sports

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pay 5.7 times more for clothing

	Nuku'alofa	Panama City
Regular jeans Levi's brand	$4.20 TOP10.11	$53.91 PAB53.91	+1183.3%
Regular dress from H&M or similar store	$17.85 TOP42.99	$37.78 PAB37.78	+111.6%
Running shoes Nike or Adidas	$21.00 TOP50.57	$87.62 PAB87.62	+317.1%
Men's business shoes (leather)	$29.41 TOP70.80	$108.75 PAB108.75	+269.8%
Average			+470.4%

Nuku'alofa 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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