Considering a career with the UN or another international organization in Panama? This profile covers cost of living and purchasing power, the ICSC hardship classification and human development — so you know what living there really means. For pay by grade, see the Salary & Benefits tab.
This is the World Bank price-level index: a whole-economy, national average of consumer prices benchmarked against the United States as a whole (US = 100), from the International Comparison Program. It is a country-level figure — it isn't tied to a specific city or measured against New York. At about 45, everyday prices in Panama are roughly 45% of US levels, so local-currency spending goes about 2.2× as far. (World Bank, 2026.)
An internationally-recruited (P / D) staffer's net pay — base salary plus post adjustment — stretches roughly 66% further against local prices in Panama than the same pay does in New York.
A local-economy estimate. Post adjustment is calculated to equalise the cost of an international-staff basket across duty stations, so this extra purchasing power is what you gain by spending on local goods and services rather than imported or international ones (international schooling, for instance). It uses Panama's national price level and its main duty station's post adjustment, so treat it as a guide, not a payslip. A UNjobnet estimate, calculated from UN ICSC post adjustment and World Bank price levels.
The UNDP Human Development Index combines health, education and income. Panama is in the very high band — a useful signal of living conditions, services and schooling for staff and accompanying family. UNDP data
