What the World Costs- Panama

Poor Panama, I almost forgot you. Like El Salvador, Panama is on the dollar. Unlike El Salvador, Panama maintains its own coins, the "balboa."

The balboa is the same size and shape as quarters, nickels and dimes, but with a conquistador rather than American prez. They are worth the same in coinage as American centavos.


20 balboas: cup of coffee on the street with sweet milk
25 balboas: bus ride in town
30 balboas: cup of pineapple juice and pineapple chunks
35 balboas: cup of coconut milk and meat
40 balboas: 30 minutes of internet
70 balboas: empanada de polla at panama canal
80 balboas: 1 liter of beer at local shop
$1: stamp at the border
$1.60: eggs, bread, rice and beans and coffee
$2: corvina sandwich and fries
$2.25: fancy cappuccino at artsy cafe in Casco Viejo
$3: student entry to Panama Canal; mojito sunsetter
$4: shave and a haircut...2 bits
$5: regular entry to Panama Canal; tourist card to visit Panama
$6: fine Panamanian cigar
$8: cab to Miraflores lock from Casco Viejo
$12.60: 5 hr bus from David to Panama City
$12.80: 1 night in Luna's Castle hostel dorm
$16: 1 night in an apartment in Casco Viejo
$17: Mero a la brasa en salsa romesco (grilled grouper) at swanky S'cena for a Hemingway lunch
$18: Panama hat as gift from Lina Fina
$24: Hostel room for two with A/C
$25: cab to the airport