Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama and Costa Rica 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Costa Rica is 16.7% higher than in Panama (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Costa Rica is 5.5% higher than in Panama | |
| Rent Prices in Costa Rica are 21.2% lower than in Panama | |
| Restaurant Prices in Costa Rica are 17.3% higher than in Panama | |
| Groceries Prices in Costa Rica are 16.1% higher than in Panama | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Costa Rica is 16.9% higher than in Panama | |
Restaurants | Panama Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant |
10.00 $ (5,028.26 ₡) |
9.94 $ (5,000.00 ₡) |
-0.6 % |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course |
50.00 $ (25,141.30 ₡) |
59.66 $ (30,000.00 ₡) |
+19.3 % |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) |
7.49 $ (3,766.17 ₡) |
9.94 $ (5,000.00 ₡) |
+32.8 % |
| Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) |
2.00 $ (1,005.65 ₡) |
2.98 $ (1,500.00 ₡) |
+49.2 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
3.50 $ (1,759.89 ₡) |
4.77 $ (2,400.00 ₡) |
+36.4 % |
| Cappuccino (regular) |
3.47 $ (1,746.24 ₡) |
3.95 $ (1,987.14 ₡) |
+13.8 % |
| Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) |
1.48 $ (743.18 ₡) |
2.17 $ (1,090.70 ₡) |
+46.8 % |
| Water (12 oz small bottle) |
1.22 $ (615.00 ₡) |
1.67 $ (842.05 ₡) |
+36.9 % |
Markets | Panama Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Milk (regular), (1 gallon) |
6.85 $ (3,445.61 ₡) |
7.55 $ (3,797.02 ₡) |
+10.2 % |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) |
2.21 $ (1,112.84 ₡) |
2.88 $ (1,445.85 ₡) |
+29.9 % |
| Rice (white), (1 lb) |
1.04 $ (524.74 ₡) |
1.08 $ (541.26 ₡) |
+3.1 % |
| Eggs (regular) (12) |
2.67 $ (1,341.68 ₡) |
3.41 $ (1,712.64 ₡) |
+27.6 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
5.31 $ (2,669.45 ₡) |
4.18 $ (2,103.62 ₡) |
-21.2 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
3.29 $ (1,655.59 ₡) |
4.27 $ (2,145.86 ₡) |
+29.6 % |
| Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) |
4.08 $ (2,050.36 ₡) |
5.98 $ (3,005.95 ₡) |
+46.6 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
1.83 $ (921.13 ₡) |
1.99 $ (999.75 ₡) |
+8.5 % |
| Banana (1 lb) |
0.60 $ (301.79 ₡) |
0.73 $ (369.55 ₡) |
+22.5 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
1.27 $ (640.88 ₡) |
1.45 $ (731.35 ₡) |
+14.1 % |
| Tomato (1 lb) |
1.33 $ (668.83 ₡) |
1.37 $ (691.03 ₡) |
+3.3 % |
| Potato (1 lb) |
0.95 $ (479.10 ₡) |
1.35 $ (676.63 ₡) |
+41.2 % |
| Onion (1 lb) |
1.05 $ (526.36 ₡) |
1.28 $ (644.68 ₡) |
+22.5 % |
| Lettuce (1 head) |
2.08 $ (1,043.46 ₡) |
1.01 $ (505.84 ₡) |
-51.5 % |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) |
1.56 $ (783.15 ₡) |
2.47 $ (1,243.91 ₡) |
+58.8 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
10.00 $ (5,028.26 ₡) |
15.91 $ (8,000.00 ₡) |
+59.1 % |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) |
1.20 $ (604.31 ₡) |
2.33 $ (1,172.90 ₡) |
+94.1 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) |
2.15 $ (1,079.49 ₡) |
2.74 $ (1,377.16 ₡) |
+27.6 % |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) |
5.92 $ (2,979.24 ₡) |
4.97 $ (2,500.00 ₡) |
-16.1 % |
Transportation | Panama Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) |
0.55 $ (276.55 ₡) |
0.99 $ (500.00 ₡) |
+80.8 % |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) |
25.00 $ (12,570.65 ₡) |
49.72 $ (25,000.00 ₡) |
+98.9 % |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) |
2.25 $ (1,131.36 ₡) |
1.81 $ (910.00 ₡) |
-19.6 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) |
3.22 $ (1,618.44 ₡) |
3.20 $ (1,609.34 ₡) |
-0.6 % |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) |
21.00 $ (10,559.35 ₡) |
7.65 $ (3,845.00 ₡) |
-63.6 % |
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
3.51 $ (1,766.18 ₡) |
5.63 $ (2,833.42 ₡) |
+60.4 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) |
20,000.00 $ (10,056,520.64 ₡) |
36,294.86 $ (18,250,000.00 ₡) |
+81.5 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) |
21,464.58 $ (10,792,951.48 ₡) |
35,415.92 $ (17,808,044.58 ₡) |
+65.0 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Panama Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment |
109.00 $ (54,809.56 ₡) |
88.67 $ (44,585.26 ₡) |
-18.7 % |
| Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data |
29.47 $ (14,816.30 ₡) |
25.66 $ (12,902.03 ₡) |
-12.9 % |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) |
48.80 $ (24,537.19 ₡) |
54.67 $ (27,491.97 ₡) |
+12.0 % |
Sports And Leisure | Panama Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult |
52.40 $ (26,350.46 ₡) |
57.17 $ (28,746.04 ₡) |
+9.1 % |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) |
37.50 $ (18,855.98 ₡) |
30.44 $ (15,308.33 ₡) |
-18.8 % |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat |
7.00 $ (3,519.78 ₡) |
7.96 $ (4,000.00 ₡) |
+13.6 % |
Childcare | Panama Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child |
446.67 $ (224,595.63 ₡) |
547.72 $ (275,407.37 ₡) |
+22.6 % |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child |
10,425.00 $ (5,241,961.38 ₡) |
9,664.49 $ (4,859,554.89 ₡) |
-7.3 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Panama Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) |
48.27 $ (24,269.74 ₡) |
73.52 $ (36,965.65 ₡) |
+52.3 % |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) |
41.15 $ (20,693.23 ₡) |
54.77 $ (27,538.29 ₡) |
+33.1 % |
| 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
83.67 $ (42,069.78 ₡) |
124.60 $ (62,650.90 ₡) |
+48.9 % |
| 1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes |
110.45 $ (55,539.42 ₡) |
107.34 $ (53,971.64 ₡) |
-2.8 % |
Rent Per Month | Panama Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre |
920.45 $ (462,828.51 ₡) |
775.59 $ (389,984.47 ₡) |
-15.7 % |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre |
698.62 $ (351,284.67 ₡) |
530.45 $ (266,724.41 ₡) |
-24.1 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre |
1,805.53 $ (907,869.16 ₡) |
1,459.34 $ (733,795.68 ₡) |
-19.2 % |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre |
1,351.92 $ (679,782.12 ₡) |
1,000.16 $ (502,907.17 ₡) |
-26.0 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Panama Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
200.90 $ (101,016.14 ₡) |
249.55 $ (125,480.97 ₡) |
+24.2 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
143.56 $ (72,187.24 ₡) |
138.78 $ (69,780.37 ₡) |
-3.3 % |
Salaries And Financing | Panama Edit |
Costa Rica Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
826.28 $ (415,476.28 ₡) |
1,019.56 $ (512,661.55 ₡) |
+23.4 % |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 6.30 | 10.29 | +63.4 % |
| Last update: | March 2025 | April 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 90 | 115 |
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