Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cambridge Bay and Panama City

For one person, living is cheaper in Panama City: $1,972 a month against $2,280 in Cambridge Bay, rent and utilities included – about $3,700 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Cambridge Bay, Canada
Panama City, Panama
Cambridge Bay
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,280
/mo nomad
Panama City
🇵🇦 Panama
$1,972
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cambridge Bay and in Panama City

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Cambridge Bay and in Panama City actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,280 in Cambridge Bay versus $1,972 in Panama City.

  • Cambridge Bay $2,280
  • Panama City $1,972

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,269 in Cambridge Bay versus $2,930 in Panama City.

  • Cambridge Bay $3,269
  • Panama City $2,930

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,258 in Cambridge Bay versus $3,888 in Panama City.

  • Cambridge Bay $4,258
  • Panama City $3,888

Living in Cambridge Bay is roughly 16% more expensive than in Panama City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Cambridge Bay 69% above, Panama City 46% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cambridge Bay
Panama City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.30 CA$31.26
$11.37 PAB 11.37
96.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4 CA$88.9
$46.69 PAB 46.69
35.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.54 CA$14.77
$7.98 PAB 7.98
32.08%
Cappuccino
$3.79 CA$5.31
$4.12 PAB 4.12
-8.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08 CA$2.92
$2.01 PAB 2.01
3.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 CA$2.27
$1.57 PAB 1.57
3.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.15 CA$7.22
$3.28 PAB 3.28
57.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.60 CA$7.85
$3.88 PAB 3.88
44.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cambridge Bay
Panama City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.12 CA$2.98
$1.82 PAB 1.82
16.48%
White Bread (500g)
$2.48 CA$3.47
$2.61 PAB 2.61
-4.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.51 CA$4.93
$3.45 PAB 3.45
1.74%
Eggs
$3.42 CA$4.80
$2.68 PAB 2.68
27.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.04 CA$14.07
$12.42 PAB 12.42
-19.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.39 CA$15.97
$6.73 PAB 6.73
69.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.79 CA$20.73
$10.44 PAB 10.44
41.67%
Apples (1kg)
$3.89 CA$5.45
$4.21 PAB 4.21
-7.60%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 CA$1.91
$1.95 PAB 1.95
-29.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.61 CA$5.06
$4.07 PAB 4.07
-11.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.93 CA$5.50
$4.02 PAB 4.02
-2.24%
Potato (1kg)
$2.41 CA$3.38
$3.46 PAB 3.46
-30.35%
Onion (1kg)
$2.26 CA$3.17
$4.42 PAB 4.42
-48.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.39 CA$3.34
$2.43 PAB 2.43
-1.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 CA$2.21
$1.72 PAB 1.72
-8.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.17 CA$19.87
$6.04 PAB 6.04
134.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.93 CA$18.12
$11.68 PAB 11.68
10.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.80 CA$3.92
$1.41 PAB 1.41
98.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19 CA$4.47
$2.74 PAB 2.74
16.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Cambridge Bay
Panama City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.35 CA$3.29
$0.33 PAB 0.33
612.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$62.7 CA$87.9
$20.65 PAB 20.65
203.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.87 CA$4.02
$2.45 PAB 2.45
17.14%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 CA$2.08
$1.76 PAB 1.76
-15.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.95 CA$33.57
$21.86 PAB 21.86
9.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.18 CA$1.65
$1.20 PAB 1.20
-1.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.1K CA$39.4K
$24.6K PAB 24.6K
14.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.0K CA$29.4K
$20.9K PAB 20.9K
0.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cambridge Bay
Panama City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$140 CA$196
$132 PAB 132
6.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.56 CA$54.1
$27.89 PAB 27.89
38.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.0 CA$75.6
$49.10 PAB 49.10
9.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cambridge Bay
Panama City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.08 CA$52.0
$44.53 PAB 44.53
-16.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.53 CA$25.97
$34.01 PAB 34.01
-45.52%
Cinema Ticket
$10.51 CA$14.73
$8.70 PAB 8.70
20.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cambridge Bay
Panama City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$644 CA$903
$537 PAB 537
19.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.3K CA$18.6K
$20.5K PAB 20.5K
-35.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cambridge Bay
Panama City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.3 CA$76.1
$65.8 PAB 65.8
-17.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.98 CA$54.6
$48.45 PAB 48.45
-19.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.4 CA$121
$95.4 PAB 95.4
-9.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 CA$143
$114 PAB 114
-10.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cambridge Bay
Panama City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,301 CA$1,824
$1,405 PAB 1,405
-7.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,120 CA$1,570
$994 PAB 994
12.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,968 CA$2,758
$2,221 PAB 2,221
-11.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,647 CA$2,308
$1,714 PAB 1,714
-3.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,314 CA$6,047
$3,139 PAB 3,139
37.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,537 CA$4,958
$1,724 PAB 1,724
105.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cambridge Bay
Panama City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$936 PAB 936
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.68
6.39
-26.76%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Cambridge Bay: November 2, 2026

Last update for Panama City: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cambridge Bay
$1.1K
Panama City
$994 11.2% $126
Groceries & Markets
Cambridge Bay
$353
Panama City
$326 7.9% $28
Eating Out
Cambridge Bay
$307
Panama City
$203 34% $104
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cambridge Bay
$232
Panama City
$209 10.2% $24
Clothing & Footwear
Cambridge Bay
$127
Panama City
$145 14.9% $19
Getting Around
Cambridge Bay
$82
Panama City
$33 59.6% $49
Sport & Entertainment
Cambridge Bay
$58
Panama City
$62 6.6% $3.8

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,301 in Cambridge Bay and $1,405 in Panama City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $63 in Cambridge Bay vs $47 in Panama City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $353 vs $326 per month, with Panama City cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Cambridge Bay
🇵🇦 Panama City
🕒 Local time
03:59 3:59 AM
05:59 5:59 AM
2 h ahead of Cambridge Bay
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,800
1,086,990 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PAB, USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.713 USD). 1 EUR = 1.57 CAD (1 CAD = 0.635 EUR).

Panamanian Balboa exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 1 PAB (1 PAB = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.12 PAB (1 PAB = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cambridge Bay Panama City 6,940 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cambridge Bay
  • Panama City

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Cambridge Bay vs Panama City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Cambridge Bay and in Panama City?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $2,280 in Cambridge Bay and $1,972 in Panama City, so Panama City is about 14% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Cambridge Bay compared to Panama City?
You’d need roughly $3,420 in Cambridge Bay and $2,958 in Panama City to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Cambridge Bay and in Panama City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,301 in Cambridge Bay versus $1,405 in Panama City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Cambridge Bay or Panama City?
All in, you’ll spend $2,280 per month in Cambridge Bay versus $1,972 in Panama City – Panama City is about 14% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
How do commuting costs compare in Cambridge Bay and in Panama City?
A monthly transit pass in Panama City runs roughly 67% less than in Cambridge Bay. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
How does quality of life compare between Cambridge Bay and Panama City?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

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