Cost of Living: New York vs Panama (Panama City)
How expensive is Panama compared with New York City? The national price level of everyday spending versus the New York metro area, and the salary — in US dollars and USD — that buys the same standard of living.
Salary converter
Before taxes. Income tax, sales tax and benefits differ a lot between places and aren’t included.
The numbers
- Cities
- Panama City
- Price level vs US average
- 49.7 (New York metro: 112.6)
- Source
- World Bank, PPP conversion factor for private consumption ÷ exchange rate (2025); New York: BEA 2024
⚠️ This is Panama’s national average. Major cities — especially Panama City — are usually more expensive, mostly because of rent, so treat this as a lower bound for big-city living.
Frequently asked questions
Is Panama cheaper than New York?
Yes. Panama is 56% cheaper than the New York metro area overall (index 44, New York = 100).
What salary in Panama equals $100,000 in New York?
About $44,127 a year buys the same standard of living in Panama as $100,000 in the New York metro area, before taxes.
Is Panama City more expensive than Panama’s national average?
Usually, yes. The comparison here uses Panama’s national average price level; large cities such as Panama City typically cost more than the national figure, especially for rent.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank price levels of household consumption for 2025 (purchasing power parity conversion factor divided by the market exchange rate), compared with BEA’s 2024 figure for the New York metro area.