Colombo vs Panama City: cost of living for digital nomads
Colombo, Sri Lanka and Panama City, Panama, line by line from the catalogue: what a month costs, rent, food, coworking, safety and internet. Every figure links back to its source on the city page.
The short version
- Colombo is about 42% cheaper than Panama City for a month of nomad living ($1,050 vs $1,800).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $450 in Colombo against $850 in Panama City.
- Both score 7/10 on safety.
- Internet is faster in Panama City: 100 Mbps typical against 40 Mbps.
- Both have a tropical climate.
Colombo wins 5 of the measured lines; Panama City wins 2.
Frequently asked questions
Which city is cheaper, Colombo or Panama City?
Colombo is cheaper: about $1,050/month against $1,800/month in Panama City, roughly 42% less for a typical remote worker's budget.
Which city is safer, Colombo or Panama City?
Colombo and Panama City score the same on safety, 7/10 each.
Which has faster internet, Colombo or Panama City?
Panama City has faster typical internet: 100 Mbps against 40 Mbps in Colombo.
| Line | Colombo | Panama City |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $1,050 | $1,800 |
| Rent | $450 | $850 |
| Food | $300 | $460 |
| Transport | $40 | $50 |
| Coworking | $90 | $140 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 40 | 100 |
| Climate | tropical | tropical |
| City size | metro | metro |
| Setting | coast | coast |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 7/10 | 8/10 |
Compare Panama City with
Costs are typical monthly figures for one person in USD, from the sources named on each city page; safety and internet are the catalogue's own ratings. Cost figures verified (Eastern Time): Colombo November 6, 2026, Panama City November 1, 2026.