Cost of living comparison
Panama is 40.9% more expensive than South Africa overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 44.7% more in Panama
- Groceries
-
pay 76.2% more in Panama
- Transportation
-
pay 3.1% more in Panama
- Housing
-
pay 42.7% more in Panama
- Childcare
-
pay 67.9% more in Panama
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 46.4% more in Panama
- Clothing
-
pay 5.3% more in Panama
The cost of groceries, childcare, entertainment and sports, restaurants, housing, and clothing in Panama are more expensive than in South Africa. Notably, groceries is significantly more expensive in Panama.
If you lived in Panama instead of South Africa, you would:
pay 44.7% more for restaurants
|
South Africa
|
Panama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$8.97
ZAR171.62
|
$8.45
PAB8.45
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$4.77
ZAR91.25
|
$7.90
PAB7.90
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.95
ZAR18.26
|
$1.54
PAB1.54
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.74
ZAR14.17
|
$1.17
PAB1.17
|
|
pay 76.2% more for groceries
|
South Africa
|
Panama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$0.99
ZAR18.95
|
$2.19
PAB2.19
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$3.67
ZAR70.30
|
$5.66
PAB5.66
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.20
ZAR80.31
|
$6.43
PAB6.43
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.23
ZAR42.60
|
$2.53
PAB2.53
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$2.03
ZAR38.80
|
$3.54
PAB3.54
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$0.68
ZAR12.95
|
$2.12
PAB2.12
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.62
ZAR11.81
|
$0.61
PAB0.61
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$0.64
ZAR12.28
|
$1.29
PAB1.29
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.70
ZAR13.36
|
$1.16
PAB1.16
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.55
ZAR10.59
|
$0.98
PAB0.98
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.61
ZAR11.64
|
$1.01
PAB1.01
|
|
pay 3.1% more for transportation
|
South Africa
|
Panama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.99
ZAR95.43
|
$3.92
PAB3.92
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$52.31
ZAR1,000.62
|
$25.00
PAB25.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$20,607.77
ZAR394,192.37
|
$18,916.67
PAB18,916.67
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$8.55
ZAR163.52
|
$16.61
PAB16.61
|
|
pay 42.7% more for housing
|
South Africa
|
Panama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$41.37
ZAR791.33
|
$47.61
PAB47.61
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$382.55
ZAR7,317.62
|
$747.76
PAB747.76
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$326.35
ZAR6,242.48
|
$567.84
PAB567.84
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$80.40
ZAR1,537.88
|
$69.20
PAB69.20
|
|
pay 67.9% more for childcare
|
South Africa
|
Panama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$174.12
ZAR3,330.56
|
$302.08
PAB302.08
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$4,033.53
ZAR77,154.68
|
$6,548.17
PAB6,548.17
|
|
pay 46.4% more for entertainment and sports
|
South Africa
|
Panama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$2.11
ZAR40.32
|
$1.95
PAB1.95
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$1.88
ZAR36.01
|
$3.39
PAB3.39
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$2.90
ZAR55.55
|
$5.38
PAB5.38
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$29.50
ZAR564.30
|
$57.20
PAB57.20
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$6.62
ZAR126.65
|
$5.33
PAB5.33
|
|
pay 5.3% more for clothing
|
South Africa
|
Panama
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$47.72
ZAR912.71
|
$47.41
PAB47.41
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$32.06
ZAR613.24
|
$34.81
PAB34.81
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$90.39
ZAR1,728.99
|
$81.21
PAB81.21
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$81.37
ZAR1,556.42
|
$100.42
PAB100.42
|
|
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