Cost of living comparison
Panama City is 6.4% cheaper than San Jose.
- Restaurants
-
pay 1.4% less in Panama City
- Groceries
-
pay 5.1% less in Panama City
- Transportation
-
pay 27.2% less in Panama City
- Housing
-
pay 37.1% more in Panama City
- Childcare
-
pay 17.3% less in Panama City
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 8.0% less in Panama City
- Clothing
-
pay 22.6% less in Panama City
Expenses including transportation, clothing, childcare, entertainment and sports, groceries, and restaurants are lower in Panama City.
If you lived in Panama City instead of San Jose, you would:
pay 1.4% less for restaurants
|
San Jose
|
Panama City
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$10.83
CRC5,545.54
|
$13.25
PAB13.25
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.72
CRC4,975.59
|
$8.00
PAB8.00
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$1.99
CRC1,020.88
|
$1.86
PAB1.86
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.46
CRC748.07
|
$1.41
PAB1.41
|
|
pay 5.1% less for groceries
|
San Jose
|
Panama City
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.60
CRC1,329.57
|
$2.51
PAB2.51
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$4.26
CRC2,183.73
|
$6.39
PAB6.39
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$7.23
CRC3,703.37
|
$6.80
PAB6.80
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.26
CRC1,670.54
|
$2.68
PAB2.68
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.41
CRC2,256.39
|
$3.41
PAB3.41
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.95
CRC998.78
|
$1.48
PAB1.48
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.63
CRC322.72
|
$0.72
PAB0.72
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.59
CRC814.67
|
$1.24
PAB1.24
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.35
CRC690.28
|
$1.40
PAB1.40
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.30
CRC665.40
|
$0.98
PAB0.98
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.19
CRC609.82
|
$1.15
PAB1.15
|
|
pay 27.2% less for transportation
|
San Jose
|
Panama City
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$5.49
CRC2,810.00
|
$3.69
PAB3.69
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$38.02
CRC19,469.71
|
$25.00
PAB25.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$36,925.49
CRC18,907,249.89
|
$19,750.00
PAB19,750.00
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$15.94
CRC8,162.46
|
$16.71
PAB16.71
|
|
pay 37.1% more for housing
|
San Jose
|
Panama City
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$53.59
CRC27,442.49
|
$52.10
PAB52.10
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$742.08
CRC379,972.73
|
$1,023.81
PAB1,023.81
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$463.60
CRC237,381.45
|
$755.88
PAB755.88
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$63.06
CRC32,286.86
|
$94.84
PAB94.84
|
|
pay 17.3% less for childcare
|
San Jose
|
Panama City
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$521.49
CRC267,023.44
|
$439.17
PAB439.17
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$12,425.72
CRC6,362,438.05
|
$10,092.67
PAB10,092.67
|
|
pay 8.0% less for entertainment and sports
|
San Jose
|
Panama City
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$2.92
CRC1,492.68
|
$3.00
PAB3.00
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.69
CRC1,890.09
|
$3.59
PAB3.59
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$5.05
CRC2,587.31
|
$5.50
PAB5.50
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$59.70
CRC30,569.21
|
$47.27
PAB47.27
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$9.72
CRC4,975.59
|
$7.00
PAB7.00
|
|
pay 22.6% less for clothing
|
San Jose
|
Panama City
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$73.59
CRC37,678.91
|
$53.91
PAB53.91
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$50.81
CRC26,017.87
|
$37.78
PAB37.78
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$125.98
CRC64,508.36
|
$87.62
PAB87.62
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$117.31
CRC60,069.07
|
$108.75
PAB108.75
|
|
Change currency:
Compare countries by overall cost of living
Help us improve these prices
ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY
Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Panama City or San Jose. It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.