Is it More Expensive to Live in Panama than 'back home'?

Most expats who have lived in Panama for 5 years or more complain about rising prices. It is true things have gone up and continue to do so every day. But is it still cheaper to live in Panama compared to where you came from? One website is endeavoring to answer that question. Expatistan.com is a collaborative database which compares cost of living prices with cities around the world. The data comes from consumers entering prices in respective cities. The site was launched in January 2010 and has received worldwide attention. It was created and is maintained by a single expat developer, currently living in Prague: Gerardo Robledillo. Prices are complied for 36 various products divided into 6 categories (Food, Housing, Clothes, Transportation, Personal Care, and Entertainment).

Currently the site has 206,000 prices entered in 737 different cities by 48,500 users coming from 110 different countries. Data is still being collected, so some comparison may not be entirely accurate. The comparative values produced tell you the number of people and prices that have gone into the total shown.  For example, the database tells us that the cost of living in Toronto is 57% higher than Panama City, and that information was produced by 294 people entering 3,019 prices, which the site says is a reliable  comparison but not bullet proof.  Anyway, see for yourself:

Panama City / Toronto Comparison

Visit Expatistan.com and be part of the data. It is after all, for your benefit.