Cost of living comparison

Panama

compared to

United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates vs. Panama Cost of Living Summary

United Arab Emirates is 41.3% more expensive than Panama overall.

Restaurants: pay 21.6% less in United Arab Emirates
Groceries: pay 26.6% less in United Arab Emirates
Transportation: pay 36.6% more in United Arab Emirates
Housing: pay 82.0% more in United Arab Emirates
Childcare: pay 46.3% more in United Arab Emirates
Entertainment and Sports: pay 2.4 times more in United Arab Emirates
Clothing: pay 33.2% more in United Arab Emirates

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

United Arab Emirates vs. Panama Cost Breakdown

If you lived in United Arab Emirates instead of Panama, you would:

Display currency: USD

pay 21.6% less for restaurants

	Panama	United Arab Emirates
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant	$8.45 PAB8.45	$8.01 AED29.44	-5.2%
Fast food combo meal McDonalds, or similar	$7.90 PAB7.90	$8.22 AED30.19	+4.0%
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz)	$1.54 PAB1.54	$1.02 AED3.73	-34.1%
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz)	$1.17 PAB1.17	$0.57 AED2.09	-51.3%
Average			-21.6%

Panama vs. United Arab Emirates - Cost of restaurants

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pay 26.6% less for groceries

	Panama	United Arab Emirates
Bread 1 loaf	$2.19 PAB2.19	$1.26 AED4.64	-42.3%
Local cheese (8 oz)	$5.66 PAB5.66	$5.08 AED18.66	-10.3%
Milk (1 gallon)	$6.43 PAB6.43	$6.80 AED24.96	+5.7%
Eggs 1 dozen	$2.53 PAB2.53	$2.47 AED9.07	-2.3%
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb)	$3.54 PAB3.54	$3.33 AED12.22	-6.1%
Apples (1 lb)	$2.12 PAB2.12	$0.94 AED3.47	-55.4%
Bananas (1 lb)	$0.61 PAB0.61	$0.74 AED2.72	+20.9%
Oranges (1 lb)	$1.29 PAB1.29	$0.72 AED2.64	-44.3%
Tomatoes (1 lb)	$1.16 PAB1.16	$0.56 AED2.07	-51.2%
Potatoes (1 lb)	$0.98 PAB0.98	$0.45 AED1.64	-54.6%
Onions (1 lb)	$1.01 PAB1.01	$0.47 AED1.74	-53.1%
Average			-26.6%

Panama vs. United Arab Emirates - Cost of groceries

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pay 36.6% more for transportation

	Panama	United Arab Emirates
Gasoline (1 gallon)	$3.92 PAB3.92	$3.06 AED11.23	-22.1%
Monthly public transit pass	$25.00 PAB25.00	$48.60 AED178.50	+94.4%
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition)	$18,916.67 PAB18,916.67	$42,240.06 AED155,149.86	+123.3%
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles)	$16.61 PAB16.61	$8.46 AED31.07	-49.1%
Average			+36.6%

Panama vs. United Arab Emirates - Cost of transportation

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pay 82.0% more for housing

	Panama	United Arab Emirates
Internet connection 50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl	$47.61 PAB47.61	$95.75 AED351.70	+101.1%
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area	$747.76 PAB747.76	$1,395.59 AED5,126.05	+86.6%
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center	$567.84 PAB567.84	$985.52 AED3,619.88	+73.6%
Utilities for two (700 sq ft apartment) including electric, gas, water, heating	$69.20 PAB69.20	$115.48 AED424.16	+66.9%
Average			+82.0%

Panama vs. United Arab Emirates - Cost of housing

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pay 46.3% more for childcare

	Panama	United Arab Emirates
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly	$302.08 PAB302.08	$507.75 AED1,865.01	+68.1%
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters	$6,548.17 PAB6,548.17	$8,162.28 AED29,980.46	+24.6%
Average			+46.3%

Panama vs. United Arab Emirates - Cost of childcare

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pay 2.4 times more for entertainment and sports

	Panama	United Arab Emirates
Domestic/local beer (1 pint)	$1.95 PAB1.95	$10.55 AED38.75	+441.0%
Cappuccino in mid-range area	$3.39 PAB3.39	$5.03 AED18.46	+48.4%
Pack of cigarettes Marlboro or similar	$5.38 PAB5.38	$6.23 AED22.88	+15.9%
Monthly membership at local gym	$57.20 PAB57.20	$84.91 AED311.88	+48.4%
Movie ticket to theater/cinema	$5.33 PAB5.33	$12.83 AED47.13	+140.6%
Average			+138.9%

Panama vs. United Arab Emirates - Cost of entertainment and sports

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pay 33.2% more for clothing

	Panama	United Arab Emirates
Regular jeans Levi's brand	$47.41 PAB47.41	$64.14 AED235.60	+35.3%
Regular dress from H&M or similar store	$34.81 PAB34.81	$64.91 AED238.43	+86.5%
Running shoes Nike or Adidas	$81.21 PAB81.21	$93.31 AED342.72	+14.9%
Men's business shoes (leather)	$100.42 PAB100.42	$96.50 AED354.44	-3.9%
Average			+33.2%

Panama vs. United Arab Emirates - 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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