San Francisco vs Panama City Cost of Living

San Francisco (United States) · Overall index 95.1Panama City (Panama) · Overall index 40.0

Summary

  • Overall, Panama City is 58% cheaper than San Francisco.
  • Rent in Panama City is 69% cheaper than in San Francisco.
  • Transport in Panama City is 60% cheaper than in San Francisco.
ItemSan FranciscoPanama CityDiff
Rent-69%
1-bedroom apartment, city centre (monthly)$3,208$1,121-65%
1-bedroom apartment, outside centre (monthly)$2,609$792-70%
3-bedroom apartment, city centre (monthly)$7,487$2,348-69%
3-bedroom apartment, outside centre (monthly)$4,864$1,423-71%
Groceries-52%
Milk (1L)$1.31$0.67-49%
White bread (500g)$4.2$1.92-54%
Rice (1kg)$5.82$2.74-53%
Eggs (12)$4.57$2.24-51%
Local cheese (1kg)$16.3$6.58-60%
Chicken fillets (1kg)$12.6$6.43-49%
Beef round (1kg)$22.3$9.41-58%
Apples (1kg)$5.88$2.78-53%
Bananas (1kg)$2.46$1.05-57%
Oranges (1kg)$4.54$2.23-51%
Tomatoes (1kg)$5.5$2.63-52%
Potatoes (1kg)$3.06$1.41-54%
Onions (1kg)$2.72$1.57-42%
Lettuce (1 head)$2.75$1.29-53%
Water (1.5L bottle)$2.41$1.33-45%
Bottle of wine (mid-range)$15.4$7.7-50%
Transport-60%
Public transport, one-way ticket$3.1$1.18-62%
Public transport, monthly pass$139$49.4-64%
Taxi, base fare$4.48$1.87-58%
Taxi, per km$1.91$0.77-60%
Gasoline (1L)$0.99$0.44-56%
New compact car (e.g., VW Golf)$27,640$11,760-57%
Dining out-57%
Meal, inexpensive restaurant$21.5$10.8-50%
Meal for 2, mid-range restaurant (3 courses)$115$49-57%
Fast food combo meal$11.6$5.25-55%
Cappuccino$5.52$2.6-53%
Coke/Pepsi (0.33L, restaurant)$3.04$1.1-64%
Domestic beer (0.5L, restaurant)$8.59$3.28-62%
Imported beer (0.33L, restaurant)$8.71$3.8-56%
Water (0.33L, restaurant)$2.32$0.97-58%
Telecom-47%
Mobile plan, calls + 10GB+ data (monthly)$68.5$39.3-43%
Broadband internet 60Mbps+ (monthly)$71.8$37-48%
Prepaid mobile tariff (1 min)$0.37$0.17-54%
Video streaming subscription (monthly)$15.8$9.09-42%
Utilities & household-54%
Basic utilities, 85m² apartment (monthly)$176$84.6-52%
Electricity (1 kWh)$0.23$0.1-57%
Tap water (1m³)$5.1$2.61-49%
Natural gas (1m³)$1.47$0.71-52%
Waste collection (monthly)$25.8$11-57%
Fitness club (monthly)$94.8$43.3-54%
Cinema ticket (1 seat)$17.5$8.58-51%
Men's haircut$33.2$15.7-53%
Domestic cleaning (1 hour)$29.6$13-56%
Private kindergarten (monthly)$2,199$984-55%

3,336 total data points · Price data as of 2026-07-01 · Exchange rates as of 2026-07-15

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