Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and Dawson Creek

For one person, living is cheaper in Panama City: $1,855 a month against $2,322 in Dawson Creek, rent and utilities included – about $5,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

90

Cost of Living Index in Panama City
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Panama City Living Index
113

Cost of Living Index in Dawson Creek
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Dawson Creek Living Index

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Panama City

🇵🇦 Panama

$1,855

/mo nomad

Dawson Creek

🇨🇦 Canada

$2,322

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Panama City and in Dawson Creek

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,855 in Panama City versus $2,322 in Dawson Creek.

Panama City $1,855
Dawson Creek $2,322

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,804 in Panama City versus $3,268 in Dawson Creek.

Panama City $2,804
Dawson Creek $3,268

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,753 in Panama City versus $4,213 in Dawson Creek.

Panama City $3,753
Dawson Creek $4,213

Living in Panama City costs roughly 20% less than in Dawson Creek, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Panama City 37% above, Dawson Creek 72% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.63 PAB 11.63

$17.40 CA$24.60

-33.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.92 PAB 47.92

$41.77 CA$59.1

14.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.96 PAB 7.96

$12.03 CA$17.01

-33.83%

Cappuccino

$4.22 PAB 4.22

$3.93 CA$5.55

7.38%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 PAB 2.01

$2.85 CA$4.03

-29.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 PAB 1.56

$3.29 CA$4.65

-52.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.39 PAB 3.39

$4.63 CA$6.55

-26.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 PAB 3.94

$5.75 CA$8.13

-31.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 PAB 1.85

$3.11 CA$4.40

-40.51%

White Bread (500g)

$2.56 PAB 2.56

$4.99 CA$7.06

-48.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.48 PAB 3.48

$6.69 CA$9.46

-47.98%

Eggs

$2.69 PAB 2.69

$3.89 CA$5.50

-30.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.57 PAB 12.57

$7.10 CA$10.03

77.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.83 PAB 6.83

$16.77 CA$23.71

-59.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.58 PAB 10.58

$13.80 CA$19.51

-23.33%

Apples (1kg)

$4.18 PAB 4.18

$3.76 CA$5.32

11.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 PAB 1.83

$1.27 CA$1.79

44.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.20 PAB 4.20

$3.53 CA$5.00

18.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.03 PAB 4.03

$3.85 CA$5.45

4.68%

Potato (1kg)

$3.48 PAB 3.48

$2.54 CA$3.59

37.01%

Onion (1kg)

$4.22 PAB 4.22

$2.13 CA$3.01

98.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 PAB 2.41

$2.43 CA$3.43

-0.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 PAB 1.69

$1.56 CA$2.21

8.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.14 PAB 6.14

$13.43 CA$18.99

-54.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.30 PAB 11.30

$11.94 CA$16.88

-5.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 PAB 1.42

$3.87 CA$5.48

-63.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 PAB 2.73

$2.98 CA$4.21

-8.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 PAB 0.33

$2.33 CA$3.29

-85.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.23 PAB 21.23

$61.3 CA$86.7

-65.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.52 PAB 2.52

$2.68 CA$3.78

-5.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.86 PAB 1.86

$1.40 CA$1.98

32.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.78 PAB 21.78

$22.24 CA$31.43

-2.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 PAB 1.25

$1.14 CA$1.62

9.65%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.2K PAB 21.2K

$31.4K CA$44.4K

-32.43%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$21.0K PAB 21.0K

$20.3K CA$28.7K

3.63%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$130 PAB 130

$134 CA$189

-3.03%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$28.13 PAB 28.13

$38.65 CA$54.6

-27.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.21 PAB 48.21

$65.6 CA$92.7

-26.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.78 PAB 45.78

$39.62 CA$56.0

15.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.92 PAB 34.92

$19.93 CA$28.17

75.21%

Cinema Ticket

$8.67 PAB 8.67

$11.15 CA$15.76

-22.24%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$544 PAB 544

$705 CA$997

-22.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,697 PAB 9,697

$12.7K CA$17.9K

-23.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.8 PAB 66.8

$26.47 CA$37.42

152.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.14 PAB 49.14

$38.50 CA$54.4

27.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.9 PAB 93.9

$93.7 CA$132

0.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 PAB 112

$86.3 CA$122

29.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,257 PAB 1,257

$553 CA$782

127.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$875 PAB 875

$1,131 CA$1,599

-22.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,155 PAB 2,155

$1,942 CA$2,746

10.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,564 PAB 1,564

$1,660 CA$2,347

-5.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,122 PAB 3,122

$3,630 CA$5,132

-13.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,709 PAB 1,709

$3,838 CA$5,426

-55.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$916 PAB 916

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.39

4.66

37.12%

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

Last update for Panama City: October 10, 2026

Last update for Dawson Creek: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Panama City

$875 47.2%

Dawson Creek

$1.1K 48.7% 29.3% $256

Groceries & Markets

Panama City

$325 17.5%

Dawson Creek

$419 18.1% 29% $94

Eating Out

Panama City

$207 11.1%

Dawson Creek

$282 12.1% 36.3% $75

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Panama City

$206 11.1%

Dawson Creek

$238 10.3% 15.5% $32

Clothing & Footwear

Panama City

$145 7.8%

Dawson Creek

$110 4.8% 23.8% $34

Sport & Entertainment

Panama City

$63 3.4%

Dawson Creek

$62 2.7% 1.9% $1.2

Getting Around

Panama City

$34 1.9%

Dawson Creek

$80 3.5% 133% $46

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,257 in Panama City and $553 in Dawson Creek. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $48.00 in Panama City vs $42.00 in Dawson Creek. Groceries flip the comparison at $325 vs $419, with Panama City cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know

🇵🇦 Panama City

🇨🇦 Dawson Creek

🕒 Local time

18:14 6:14 PM

16:14 4:14 PM

2 h behind Panama City

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,086,990 Capital

11,583

💱 Currency

Panamanian Balboa PAB B/.

Canadian Dollar CAD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 PAB = 1 USD

1 PAB = 0.89 EUR

1 CAD = 0.707 USD

1 CAD = 0.629 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, USD, EUR to PAB – Panamanian Balboa Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇵🇦 Panamanian Balboa (B/.)

Panamanian Balboa exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1 PAB (1 PAB = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.12 PAB (1 PAB = 0.89 EUR).

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).

USD to PAB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Panama City Dawson Creek 6,300 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight

From you

Panama City
Dawson Creek

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

Panama City vs Dawson Creek: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Panama City is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and utilities. The 25% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $2,783 in Panama City and $3,484 in Dawson Creek 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,257 in Panama City versus $553 in Dawson Creek. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Panama City – a meal for two runs $48.00 versus $42.00 in Dawson Creek. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,855 per month in Panama City versus $2,322 in Dawson Creek – a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,855 in Panama City versus $2,322 in Dawson Creek, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Panama City but tight or insufficient in Dawson Creek. The gap between the two cities makes Panama City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Panama City is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Dawson Creek, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Panama City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Dawson Creek. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.