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The same 59 groceries cost $50 more at the corner store

Where you shop in Panama City can matter more than what you buy. In the first September 2026 price check by consumer agency Acodeco in the districts of Panamá and San Miguelito, the 59 products in the official basic food basket cost B/.304.68 in supermarkets and B/.355.21 in minisúpers and abarroterías (neighborhood corner stores). That is a gap of B/.50.53. TVN calculates that as about 16.6% more at the corner store. TVN and Crítica both report the Acodeco pair.

The basket list itself is defined by the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF). Acodeco collects shelf prices and publishes them so shoppers can compare.

The gap has widened since 2024

Acodeco's historical series, cited by Crítica, shows most of the increase landing in small stores:

  • Supermarkets: B/.297.65 in January 2024, B/.304.68 in September 2026 (+B/.7.03).
  • Minisúpers and abarroterías: B/.325.74 in January 2024, B/.355.21 in September 2026 (+B/.29.47).

TVN adds that the supermarket figure is practically at the same level it started 2026, while corner stores show a larger cumulative rise this year.

What went up

  • In supermarkets: first-grade rice, whole chicken, traditional ground coffee, corn flakes, and yellow onion.
  • In minisúpers and abarroterías: bistec de cinta (beef), ñame diamante, cabbage, medium red apples, and chicken noodle soup.

Acodeco stresses that its monitoring is not price control and does not set what products should cost.

Bottom line for expats

For a newcomer building a monthly budget, this is the most useful number of the week: the identical basket costs roughly B/.50 less per round at a supermarket. If your building sits next to a corner store but 10 minutes from a supermarket, a weekly or biweekly big shop can pay for the taxi. Use the corner store for top-ups, compare promotions, and do what Acodeco recommends at the till: check that the price charged matches the shelf price. Note that the check covers Panamá and San Miguelito only; prices in Chiriquí, Coclé, or the beach towns can differ.

Sources

  • TVN - Acodeco first September 2026 monitoring: B/.304.68 vs B/.355.21; gap B/.50.53 (~16.6%); supermarket level ~flat vs start of 2026; risers by channel; not price control; MEF defines 59 products - 4 Oct 2026 - https://www.tvn-2.com/nacionales/canasta-basica-supera-300-dolares-arroz-pollo-cafe-aumentaron_1_2264240.html
  • Crítica - Same figures; Jan 2024 baseline B/.297.65 (super) and B/.325.74 (mini); +B/.7.03 / +B/.29.47; risers; Acodeco recommendations - 4 Oct 2026 - https://www.critica.com.pa/nacional/canasta-basica-cuanto-cuesta-comprar-59-productos-en-panama-517486
  • MEF - Canasta Básica reference page (basket definition context) - https://www.mef.gob.pa/canasta-basica/