Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and San Jose 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Consumer Prices in San Jose are 15.0% higher than in Panama City (without rent) | |
| Consumer Prices Including Rent in San Jose are 3.2% higher than in Panama City | |
| Rent Prices in San Jose are 23.0% lower than in Panama City | |
| Restaurant Prices in San Jose are 1.9% lower than in Panama City | |
| Groceries Prices in San Jose are 20.6% higher than in Panama City | |
| Local Purchasing Power in San Jose is 0.9% higher than in Panama City | |
Restaurants | Panama City Edit |
San Jose Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant |
11.75 $ (5,889.38 ₡) |
10.00 $ (5,012.24 ₡) |
-14.9 % |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course |
60.00 $ (30,073.42 ₡) |
59.85 $ (30,000.00 ₡) |
-0.2 % |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) |
8.25 $ (4,135.09 ₡) |
9.98 $ (5,000.00 ₡) |
+20.9 % |
| Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) |
3.00 $ (1,503.67 ₡) |
3.49 $ (1,750.00 ₡) |
+16.4 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
4.00 $ (2,004.89 ₡) |
5.19 $ (2,600.00 ₡) |
+29.7 % |
| Cappuccino (regular) |
3.72 $ (1,862.69 ₡) |
3.53 $ (1,771.24 ₡) |
-4.9 % |
| Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) |
1.81 $ (904.75 ₡) |
1.99 $ (995.91 ₡) |
+10.1 % |
| Water (12 oz small bottle) |
1.33 $ (668.77 ₡) |
1.47 $ (734.72 ₡) |
+9.9 % |
Markets | Panama City Edit |
San Jose Edit | |
| Milk (regular), (1 gallon) |
6.58 $ (3,299.00 ₡) |
7.53 $ (3,774.49 ₡) |
+14.4 % |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) |
2.21 $ (1,106.61 ₡) |
2.34 $ (1,172.67 ₡) |
+6.0 % |
| Rice (white), (1 lb) |
0.93 $ (463.93 ₡) |
1.09 $ (544.62 ₡) |
+17.4 % |
| Eggs (regular) (12) |
2.52 $ (1,260.79 ₡) |
3.41 $ (1,710.70 ₡) |
+35.7 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
4.93 $ (2,472.57 ₡) |
4.27 $ (2,141.97 ₡) |
-13.4 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
3.39 $ (1,698.32 ₡) |
4.63 $ (2,321.39 ₡) |
+36.7 % |
| Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) |
4.06 $ (2,037.24 ₡) |
6.86 $ (3,436.72 ₡) |
+68.7 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
1.36 $ (683.09 ₡) |
2.09 $ (1,049.42 ₡) |
+53.6 % |
| Banana (1 lb) |
0.65 $ (323.52 ₡) |
0.62 $ (311.91 ₡) |
-3.6 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
1.30 $ (649.13 ₡) |
1.33 $ (664.51 ₡) |
+2.4 % |
| Tomato (1 lb) |
1.43 $ (716.26 ₡) |
1.22 $ (612.70 ₡) |
-14.5 % |
| Potato (1 lb) |
0.94 $ (471.39 ₡) |
1.21 $ (604.26 ₡) |
+28.2 % |
| Onion (1 lb) |
0.96 $ (478.81 ₡) |
1.02 $ (510.57 ₡) |
+6.6 % |
| Lettuce (1 head) |
2.18 $ (1,091.49 ₡) |
1.15 $ (576.06 ₡) |
-47.2 % |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) |
1.44 $ (722.82 ₡) |
2.35 $ (1,178.05 ₡) |
+63.0 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
8.50 $ (4,260.40 ₡) |
15.96 $ (8,000.00 ₡) |
+87.8 % |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) |
1.23 $ (615.70 ₡) |
2.45 $ (1,229.35 ₡) |
+99.7 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
1.93 $ (967.07 ₡) |
2.98 $ (1,494.36 ₡) |
+54.5 % |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) |
6.00 $ (3,007.34 ₡) |
4.69 $ (2,350.00 ₡) |
-21.9 % |
Transportation | Panama City Edit |
San Jose Edit | |
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) |
0.35 $ (175.43 ₡) |
0.90 $ (450.00 ₡) |
+156.5 % |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) |
25.00 $ (12,530.59 ₡) |
39.03 $ (19,565.22 ₡) |
+56.1 % |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) |
2.25 $ (1,127.75 ₡) |
1.71 $ (855.00 ₡) |
-24.2 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) |
2.41 $ (1,209.96 ₡) |
2.41 $ (1,209.96 ₡) |
0.0 % |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) |
20.00 $ (10,024.47 ₡) |
7.11 $ (3,562.50 ₡) |
-64.5 % |
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
3.71 $ (1,861.59 ₡) |
5.71 $ (2,861.92 ₡) |
+53.7 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) |
22,250.00 $ (11,152,225.32 ₡) |
32,320.90 $ (16,200,000.00 ₡) |
+45.3 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) |
20,494.44 $ (10,272,299.43 ₡) |
32,914.66 $ (16,497,603.60 ₡) |
+60.6 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Panama City Edit |
San Jose Edit | |
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment |
113.79 $ (57,034.36 ₡) |
73.22 $ (36,699.78 ₡) |
-35.7 % |
| Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data |
29.33 $ (14,702.56 ₡) |
22.54 $ (11,300.00 ₡) |
-23.1 % |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) |
51.09 $ (25,607.16 ₡) |
48.41 $ (24,264.46 ₡) |
-5.2 % |
Sports And Leisure | Panama City Edit |
San Jose Edit | |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult |
41.50 $ (20,800.78 ₡) |
59.89 $ (30,017.48 ₡) |
+44.3 % |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) |
25.00 $ (12,530.59 ₡) |
29.81 $ (14,941.32 ₡) |
+19.2 % |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat |
7.00 $ (3,508.57 ₡) |
7.98 $ (4,000.00 ₡) |
+14.0 % |
Childcare | Panama City Edit |
San Jose Edit | |
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child |
408.12 $ (204,561.89 ₡) |
454.58 $ (227,845.76 ₡) |
+11.4 % |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child |
9,675.75 $ (4,849,714.34 ₡) |
10,911.52 $ (5,469,113.89 ₡) |
+12.8 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Panama City Edit |
San Jose Edit | |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) |
53.94 $ (27,034.75 ₡) |
85.37 $ (42,791.37 ₡) |
+58.3 % |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) |
40.79 $ (20,442.76 ₡) |
53.22 $ (26,676.86 ₡) |
+30.5 % |
| 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
82.58 $ (41,390.52 ₡) |
128.78 $ (64,545.55 ₡) |
+55.9 % |
| 1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes |
92.86 $ (46,542.19 ₡) |
121.08 $ (60,687.71 ₡) |
+30.4 % |
Rent Per Month | Panama City Edit |
San Jose Edit | |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre |
938.33 $ (470,314.82 ₡) |
694.67 $ (348,182.74 ₡) |
-26.0 % |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre |
614.47 $ (307,988.72 ₡) |
439.10 $ (220,086.67 ₡) |
-28.5 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre |
1,953.85 $ (979,313.82 ₡) |
1,457.66 $ (730,611.80 ₡) |
-25.4 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre |
1,183.33 $ (593,114.61 ₡) |
1,020.34 $ (511,417.01 ₡) |
-13.8 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Panama City Edit |
San Jose Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
228.61 $ (114,582.69 ₡) |
167.17 $ (83,789.61 ₡) |
-26.9 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
135.37 $ (67,851.58 ₡) |
125.17 $ (62,737.45 ₡) |
-7.5 % |
Salaries And Financing | Panama City Edit |
San Jose Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
861.84 $ (431,975.61 ₡) |
898.03 $ (450,115.56 ₡) |
+4.2 % |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 6.07 | 9.58 | +57.8 % |
| Last update: | April 2024 | April 2024 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 86 | 52 |
Moving to San Jose? Explore:
Cities near Panama City: | Cost of Living in San Miguelito | 8.11 miles |
| Cost of Living in Tocumen | 15.44 miles |
| Cost of Living in Pacora | 19.85 miles |
| Cost of Living in El Coco | 33.93 miles |
| Cost of Living in Aguadulce | 127.78 miles |
| Cost of Living in Santiago | 161.98 miles |
Cities near San Jose: | Cost of Living in San Juan | 2.95 miles |
| Cost of Living in Cartago | 38.87 miles |
| Cost of Living in Heredia | 53.21 miles |
| Cost of Living in Quesada | 57.88 miles |
| Cost of Living in Perez Zeledon | 89.36 miles |
| Cost of Living in Liberia | 131.27 miles |
| Cost of Living in Tamarindo | 161.02 miles |