Panama City vs Sao Paulo: cost of living for digital nomads

Panama City, Panama and Sao Paulo, Brazil, 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

  • Sao Paulo is about 11% cheaper than Panama City for a month of nomad living ($1,600 vs $1,800).
  • Rent is the biggest gap: $720 in Sao Paulo against $850 in Panama City.
  • Panama City scores higher on safety (7/10 vs 6/10).
  • Internet is faster in Sao Paulo: 150 Mbps typical against 100 Mbps.
  • Panama City is tropical; Sao Paulo is temperate.

Panama City wins 2 of the measured lines; Sao Paulo wins 5.

LinePanama CitySao Paulo
Monthly total (USD)$1,800$1,600
Rent$850$720
Food$460$430
Transport$50$55
Coworking$140$130
Safety (out of 10)7/106/10
Internet (Mbps)100150
Climatetropicaltemperate
City sizemetrometro
Settingcoastinland
Nomad score (out of 10)8/108/10

Panama City

Panama City, Panama.

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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. Check the city pages for the dates each was last verified.