Cost of living comparison

Panama

compared to

Arkansas, USA

Arkansas vs. Panama Cost of Living Summary

Arkansas is 68.4% more expensive than Panama overall.

Restaurants: pay 58.1% more in Arkansas
Groceries: pay 10.2% more in Arkansas
Transportation: pay 15.4% more in Arkansas
Housing: pay 70.8% more in Arkansas
Childcare: pay 3.4 times more in Arkansas
Entertainment and Sports: pay 78.1% more in Arkansas
Clothing: pay 4.8% more in Arkansas

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

Arkansas vs. Panama Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Arkansas instead of Panama, you would:

Display currency: USD

pay 58.1% more for restaurants

	Panama	Arkansas
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant	$8.45 PAB8.45	$15.17	+79.5%
Fast food combo meal McDonalds, or similar	$7.90 PAB7.90	$10.46	+32.4%
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz)	$1.54 PAB1.54	$2.44	+58.1%
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz)	$1.17 PAB1.17	$1.90	+62.6%
Average			+58.1%

Panama vs. Arkansas - Cost of restaurants

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pay 10.2% more for groceries

	Panama	Arkansas
Bread 1 loaf	$2.19 PAB2.19	$2.98	+36.1%
Local cheese (8 oz)	$5.66 PAB5.66	$4.73	-16.4%
Milk (1 gallon)	$6.43 PAB6.43	$3.83	-40.3%
Eggs 1 dozen	$2.53 PAB2.53	$2.98	+17.8%
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb)	$3.54 PAB3.54	$3.79	+6.9%
Apples (1 lb)	$2.12 PAB2.12	$2.13	+0.8%
Bananas (1 lb)	$0.61 PAB0.61	$0.67	+8.6%
Oranges (1 lb)	$1.29 PAB1.29	$1.47	+13.9%
Tomatoes (1 lb)	$1.16 PAB1.16	$1.69	+45.7%
Potatoes (1 lb)	$0.98 PAB0.98	$1.23	+25.1%
Onions (1 lb)	$1.01 PAB1.01	$1.14	+13.5%
Average			+10.2%

Panama vs. Arkansas - Cost of groceries

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pay 15.4% more for transportation

	Panama	Arkansas
Gasoline (1 gallon)	$3.92 PAB3.92	$2.96	-24.4%
Monthly public transit pass	$25.00 PAB25.00	$35.50	+42.0%
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition)	$18,916.67 PAB18,916.67	$29,279.05	+54.8%
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles)	$16.61 PAB16.61	$14.85	-10.6%
Average			+15.4%

Panama vs. Arkansas - Cost of transportation

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pay 70.8% more for housing

	Panama	Arkansas
Internet connection 50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl	$47.61 PAB47.61	$64.15	+34.8%
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area	$747.76 PAB747.76	$1,193.14	+59.6%
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center	$567.84 PAB567.84	$915.13	+61.2%
Utilities for two (700 sq ft apartment) including electric, gas, water, heating	$69.20 PAB69.20	$157.55	+127.7%
Average			+70.8%

Panama vs. Arkansas - Cost of housing

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pay 3.4 times more for childcare

	Panama	Arkansas
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly	$302.08 PAB302.08	$1,045.28	+246.0%
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters	$6,548.17 PAB6,548.17	$22,080.00	+237.2%
Average			+241.6%

Panama vs. Arkansas - Cost of childcare

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pay 78.1% more for entertainment and sports

	Panama	Arkansas
Domestic/local beer (1 pint)	$1.95 PAB1.95	$5.33	+173.5%
Cappuccino in mid-range area	$3.39 PAB3.39	$5.13	+51.4%
Pack of cigarettes Marlboro or similar	$5.38 PAB5.38	$7.77	+44.6%
Monthly membership at local gym	$57.20 PAB57.20	$45.86	-19.8%
Movie ticket to theater/cinema	$5.33 PAB5.33	$12.83	+140.6%
Average			+78.1%

Panama vs. Arkansas - Cost of entertainment and sports

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pay 4.8% more for clothing

	Panama	Arkansas
Regular jeans Levi's brand	$47.41 PAB47.41	$46.46	-2.0%
Regular dress from H&M or similar store	$34.81 PAB34.81	$39.79	+14.3%
Running shoes Nike or Adidas	$81.21 PAB81.21	$86.01	+5.9%
Men's business shoes (leather)	$100.42 PAB100.42	$101.19	+0.8%
Average			+4.8%

Panama vs. Arkansas - 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: May 2025

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