Travel budget and cost of living in Panama how much does a trip cost?

Travel budget in Panama

Panama: calculate your travel budget

Panama: sample budgets by traveller type

These example budgets assume a 2-week holiday in Panama for 2 people.

* Estimated local budget for 2 people for 2 weeks. This represents an average across the country (budget may vary depending on the city or region visited).

Cost of living in Panama in 2025

Cost of living: Panama VS Belgium

On average, the cost of living in Panama in 2025 is 21% less than in Belgium.

The graphic below shows the percentage of variation between prices Belgium in in Belgium and Belgium by types of expenses:

Local prices in Panama by expense type

Panama: Restaurant budget

Lunch

$ 11/person
($ 4.9 to $ 23)

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53% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 24

3 course dinner

$ 32/person
($ 20 to $ 49)

---

34% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 47

McDonald's meal

$ 8.8/person
($ 7.6 to $ 10.4)

---

25% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 12

Local beer

$ 2.2 for 500ml
($ 1.1 to $ 4.3)

---

58% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 5.3

Imported beer

$ 2.1 for 330ml
($ 1.1 to $ 4.3)

---

8% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 2.4

Cappuccino

$ 3.9/cup
($ 2.1 to $ 5.5)

---

4% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 4

Fizzy drink

$ 1.8/can
($ 1.1 to $ 3.3)

---

43% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 3.2

Water bottle

$ 1.4/bottle
($ 1.1 to $ 2.7)

---

50% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 2.9

Panama: Hotel and accommodation budget

1-star hotel

$ 86/night
($ 49 to $ 190)

---

18% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 106

2-star hotel

$ 124/night
($ 38 to $ 394)

---

14% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 145

3-star hotel

$ 132/night
($ 49 to $ 351)

---

15% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 155

4-star hotel

$ 172/night
($ 78 to $ 401)

---

8% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 187

5-star hotel

$ 192/night
($ 121 to $ 332)

---

21% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 244

Hostel/Youth Hostel

$ 88/month
($ 43 to $ 195)

---

27% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 122

Room with kitchen

$ 156/month
($ 51 to $ 465)

---

20% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 197

Hotel with swimming pool

$ 162/month
($ 52 to $ 488)

---

16% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 194

Cottage or guest house

$ 113/month
($ 65 to $ 214)

---

33% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 169

Family room

$ 192/month
($ 58 to $ 603)

---

25% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 258

Panama: Supermarket food budget

Milk

$ 1.9/litre
($ 1.5 to $ 2.2)

---

45% more than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 1.3

Bread

$ 2.6/500g
($ 1.8 to $ 3.3)

---

47% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 4.9

Rice

$ 2.5/kg
($ 1.1 to $ 4.8)

---

1% more than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 2.5

Eggs

$ 2.8/12 eggs
($ 1.3 to $ 3.9)

---

29% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 4

Chicken

$ 8/kg
($ 3.9 to $ 13)

---

34% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 13

Apples

$ 4/kg
($ 1.6 to $ 7.2)

---

41% more than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 2.8

Tomatoes

$ 3.3/kg
($ 1.1 to $ 4.3)

---

10% more than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 3

Potatoes

$ 2.3/kg
($ 1.1 to $ 3.3)

---

7% more than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 2.1

Water bottle

$ 1.6
($ 1.1 to $ 2.2)

---

57% more than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 1

Panama: Public and private transport budget

Bus ticket

$ 0.6/ticket
($ 0.4 to $ 1.9)

---

81% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 2.9

Taxi (per km)

$ 2.2/km
($ 1.6 to $ 5.5)

---

25% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 2.9

Petrol

$ 1.1/litre
($ 0.9 to $ 1.3)

---

45% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 2

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 2.2
($ 1.6 to $ 3.3)

---

62% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 5.9

Car hire

$ 42/24hrs
($ 19 to $ 207)

---

31% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 60

Panama: Leisure activity budget

Cinema

$ 7.6/ticket
($ 5.5 to $ 17)

---

48% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 15

Tennis

$ 37/hr
($ 23 to $ 56)

---

68% more than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 22

Panama: Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes

Cigarettes

$ 6/pack
($ 5.5 to $ 8.2)

---

48% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 12

Levi's jeans

$ 56
($ 29 to $ 78)

---

48% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 107

Summer dress

$ 42
($ 11 to $ 66)

---

13% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 47

Plane ticket budget

Montreal → Panama City

$ 740
(fair price: $ 631)

Toronto → Panama City

$ 808
(fair price: $ 656)

New York City → Panama City

$ 672
(fair price: $ 556)

London → Panama City

$ 904
(fair price: $ 842)

Los Angeles → Panama City

$ 771
(fair price: $ 590)

Atlanta → Panama City

$ 649
(fair price: $ 499)

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