Compare countries · Costa Rica vs Panama
Costa Rica vs Panama
Costa Rica(North America)·
Panama(North America)
Across 12 comparable indicators: Costa Rica leads on 7, Panama on 3, 2 effectively tied. Which trade-offs matter is yours to weigh; the rows below show where each country wins, with sources.
Quick answers
Is Costa Rica cheaper than Panama?
Numbeo's 2026 cost-of-living index (NYC = 100) puts Costa Rica at 52.9 and Panama at 45.5. Panama is about 14% cheaper overall.
Is Costa Rica or Panama safer?
On the Global Peace Index (lower = more peaceful), Costa Rica scores 1.86 and Panama scores 1.98. Costa Rica ranks as the more peaceful of the two.
Which has the higher quality of life, Costa Rica or Panama?
On the UN Human Development Index, Costa Rica scores 0.833 and Panama scores 0.839. The two are effectively tied. Single indexes hide trade-offs; the full comparison above shows where each country wins.
What is life like in Costa Rica compared to Panama?
GNI per capita runs $17,930 in Costa Rica against $19,140 in Panama; people live 81.0 years on average against 79.8; Numbeo users rate healthcare 65 against 61. Those are national averages and they hide the thing you actually feel: capital-city costs run well ahead of the national figure in most countries, and rural provision of healthcare and internet often lags the number shown here. The table below splits it indicator by indicator.
Head to head
Cost of living index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Costa Rica
52.9
Worse than 73% of countries
Panama
45.5
Worse than 57% of countries
Panama: 14% cheaper overall.
Rent index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
Costa Rica
20.3
Worse than 69% of countries
Panama
23.2
Worse than 78% of countries
Costa Rica: 12% cheaper rents.
Peace — Global Peace Index
Institute for Economics & Peace (lower = more peaceful)
Costa Rica
1.86
Better than 63% of countries
Panama
1.98
Around the global middle
Costa Rica: more peaceful (1.86 vs 1.98).
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report
Costa Rica
0.833
Better than 68% of countries
Panama
0.839
Better than 70% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
GDP per person (PPP)
World Bank · 2025
Costa Rica
$33,815
Better than 64% of countries
Panama
$43,902
Better than 71% of countries
Panama: 30% higher income per person.
Life expectancy
World Bank · 2024
Costa Rica
81.0 yrs
Better than 80% of countries
Panama
79.8 yrs
Better than 77% of countries
Effectively tied — under 2% apart.
Healthcare index
Numbeo Healthcare Index 2026
Costa Rica
64.8
Around the global middle
Panama
61.2
Worse than 59% of countries
Costa Rica: better-rated healthcare (64.8 vs 61.2).
Fixed broadband speed
Ookla Speedtest Global Index
Costa Rica
165 Mbps
Better than 72% of countries
Panama
220 Mbps
Better than 84% of countries
Panama: 33% faster fixed internet.
Press freedom
RSF World Press Freedom Index
Costa Rica
72/100
Better than 78% of countries
Panama
62/100
Better than 63% of countries
Costa Rica: freer press (72 vs 62 of 100).
Happiness
World Happiness Report (Cantril ladder 0–10)
Costa Rica
7.44
Better than 97% of countries
Panama
6.55
Better than 74% of countries
Costa Rica: happier on the Cantril ladder (7.44 vs 6.55).
English proficiency
EF English Proficiency Index
Costa Rica
516
Around the global middle
Panama
491
Worse than 61% of countries
Costa Rica: stronger English proficiency (516 vs 491).
Climate pleasantness
Numbeo Climate Index 2026
Costa Rica
93.1
Better than 85% of countries
Panama
68.2
Worse than 81% of countries
Costa Rica: more pleasant climate rating (93.1 vs 68.2).
Not comparable for this pair
- Perceived street safety: Numbeo doesn't publish a safety index for one of these countries.
Deciding between Costa Rica and Panama for real?
Indexes can't weigh your budget, your timeline or your dealbreakers. The matcher asks, then answers with this same data.
Find your match →Full Costa Rica profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.
Full Panama profile →
70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.