Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Delta, BC and Panama City

For one person, living is cheaper in Panama City: $1,855 a month against $2,619 in Delta, BC, rent and utilities included – about $9,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Delta, BC
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,619
/mo nomad
Panama City
🇵🇦 Panama
$1,855
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Delta, BC 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 Delta, BC and in Panama City actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,619 per month in Delta, BC vs $1,855 in Panama City, rent included.

  • Delta, BC $2,619
  • Panama City $1,855

A couple spends around $3,893 per month in Delta, BC vs $2,804 in Panama City, rent included.

  • Delta, BC $3,893
  • Panama City $2,804

A family of three spends $5,167 per month in Delta, BC vs $3,753 in Panama City, rent included.

  • Delta, BC $5,167
  • Panama City $3,753

Delta, BC costs about 41% more than Panama City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Delta, BC and Panama City sit above the global median – Delta, BC by 94%, Panama City by 37%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Delta, BC
Panama City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.18 CA$27.12
$11.63 PAB 11.63
64.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.1 CA$97.7
$47.92 PAB 47.92
44.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.06 CA$12.81
$7.96 PAB 7.96
13.82%
Cappuccino
$4.40 CA$6.21
$4.22 PAB 4.22
4.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32 CA$3.28
$2.01 PAB 2.01
15.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 CA$2.47
$1.56 PAB 1.56
12.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.72 CA$8.08
$3.39 PAB 3.39
68.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.47 CA$9.14
$3.94 PAB 3.94
64.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Delta, BC
Panama City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.78 CA$2.52
$1.85 PAB 1.85
-3.78%
White Bread (500g)
$2.33 CA$3.29
$2.56 PAB 2.56
-8.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.01 CA$4.26
$3.48 PAB 3.48
-13.51%
Eggs
$3.77 CA$5.33
$2.69 PAB 2.69
40.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.76 CA$19.46
$12.57 PAB 12.57
9.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.59 CA$19.22
$6.83 PAB 6.83
98.98%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$24.47 CA$34.59
$10.58 PAB 10.58
131.29%
Apples (1kg)
$3.90 CA$5.51
$4.18 PAB 4.18
-6.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 CA$1.66
$1.83 PAB 1.83
-36.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.27 CA$6.04
$4.20 PAB 4.20
1.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 CA$6.37
$4.03 PAB 4.03
11.91%
Potato (1kg)
$2.76 CA$3.90
$3.48 PAB 3.48
-20.69%
Onion (1kg)
$3.47 CA$4.90
$4.22 PAB 4.22
-17.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.31 CA$3.27
$2.41 PAB 2.41
-4.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.13 CA$3.01
$1.69 PAB 1.69
26.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.13 CA$19.97
$6.14 PAB 6.14
130.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.56 CA$17.75
$11.30 PAB 11.30
11.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.99 CA$2.82
$1.42 PAB 1.42
40.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 CA$3.30
$2.73 PAB 2.73
-14.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Delta, BC
Panama City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.70 CA$3.82
$0.33 PAB 0.33
718.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$82.9 CA$117
$21.23 PAB 21.23
290.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.82 CA$3.99
$2.52 PAB 2.52
11.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.51 CA$2.13
$1.86 PAB 1.86
-18.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.65 CA$36.26
$21.78 PAB 21.78
17.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 CA$1.77
$1.25 PAB 1.25
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K CA$39.3K
$21.2K PAB 21.2K
30.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.9K CA$26.7K
$21.0K PAB 21.0K
-10.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Delta, BC
Panama City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 CA$170
$130 PAB 130
-7.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.53 CA$61.5
$28.13 PAB 28.13
54.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.9 CA$74.8
$48.21 PAB 48.21
9.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Delta, BC
Panama City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.15 CA$39.79
$45.78 PAB 45.78
-38.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$34.92 PAB 34.92
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.72 CA$16.57
$8.67 PAB 8.67
35.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Delta, BC
Panama City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$642 CA$908
$544 PAB 544
17.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.6K CA$15.0K
$9,697 PAB 9,697
9.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Delta, BC
Panama City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.1 CA$87.8
$66.8 PAB 66.8
-6.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.9 CA$72.0
$49.14 PAB 49.14
3.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.1 CA$115
$93.9 PAB 93.9
-13.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.2 CA$108
$112 PAB 112
-31.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Delta, BC
Panama City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,655 CA$2,339
$1,257 PAB 1,257
31.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,428 CA$2,018
$875 PAB 875
63.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,351 CA$4,737
$2,155 PAB 2,155
55.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,433 CA$3,440
$1,564 PAB 1,564
55.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,753 CA$5,305
$3,122 PAB 3,122
20.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,709 PAB 1,709
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Delta, BC
Panama City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,082 CA$4,357
$916 PAB 916
236.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.76
6.39
-25.51%

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

Last update for Delta, BC: October 12, 2026

Last update for Panama City: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Delta, BC
$1.4K
Panama City
$875 38.7% $553
Groceries & Markets
Delta, BC
$407
Panama City
$325 20.1% $82
Eating Out
Delta, BC
$291
Panama City
$207 29% $85
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Delta, BC
$217
Panama City
$206 4.8% $10
Clothing & Footwear
Delta, BC
$122
Panama City
$145 18.8% $23
Getting Around
Delta, BC
$104
Panama City
$34 66.9% $70
Sport & Entertainment
Delta, BC
$52
Panama City
$63 22.3% $12

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,655 in Delta, BC versus $1,257 in Panama City. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 236% higher in Delta, BC, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Delta, BC versus $48.00 in Panama City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $407 vs $325 – making Panama City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Delta, BC
🇵🇦 Panama City
🕒 Local time
13:18 1:18 PM
15:18 3:18 PM
2 h ahead of Delta, BC
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
108,455
1,086,990 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PAB, USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

Panamanian Balboa exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1 PAB (1 PAB = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.12 PAB (1 PAB = 0.889 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Delta, BC Panama City 6,010 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Delta, BC
  • 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
Delta, BC vs Panama City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Delta, BC or Panama City?
Delta, BC costs about 41% more than Panama City, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Delta, BC and in Panama City?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,929 per month in Delta, BC and $2,783 in Panama City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Delta, BC or Panama City?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Panama City, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Delta, BC compared to Panama City?
Public transport costs about 290% less in Panama City. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Delta, BC and in Panama City?
Kindergarten costs $642 per month in Delta, BC and $544 in Panama City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Delta, BC or in Panama City?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Panama City, where all-in costs run around $1,855, than in Delta, BC at $2,619. In Panama City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Delta, BC it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Delta, BC or Panama City?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Panama City costs $1,855 versus $2,619 in Delta, BC. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Delta, BC or to Panama City?
If budget matters most, go with Panama City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Delta, BC makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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