Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and Duncan BC

For one person, living is cheaper in Panama City: $1,855 a month against $2,112 in Duncan BC, rent and utilities included – about $3,100 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

90

Cost of Living Index in Panama City
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Panama City Living Index
104

Cost of Living Index in Duncan BC
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Duncan BC Living Index

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Panama City

🇵🇦 Panama

$1,855

/mo nomad

Duncan BC

🇨🇦 Canada

$2,112

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Panama City and in Duncan BC

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 Duncan BC actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,855 in Panama City versus $2,112 in Duncan BC.

Panama City $1,855
Duncan BC $2,112

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,804 in Panama City versus $3,371 in Duncan BC.

Panama City $2,804
Duncan BC $3,371

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,753 in Panama City versus $4,630 in Duncan BC.

Panama City $3,753
Duncan BC $4,630

Living in Panama City costs roughly 12% less than in Duncan BC, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Panama City 37% above, Duncan BC 56% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.63 PAB 11.63

$17.26 CA$24.40

-32.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.92 PAB 47.92

$69.2 CA$97.8

-30.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.96 PAB 7.96

$10.57 CA$14.95

-24.69%

Cappuccino

$4.22 PAB 4.22

$4.06 CA$5.73

3.94%

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

$2.01 PAB 2.01

$2.13 CA$3.01

-5.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 PAB 1.56

$1.67 CA$2.36

-6.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.39 PAB 3.39

$5.40 CA$7.63

-37.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 PAB 3.94

$5.52 CA$7.80

-28.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 PAB 1.85

$1.56 CA$2.20

18.59%

White Bread (500g)

$2.56 PAB 2.56

$2.60 CA$3.68

-1.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.48 PAB 3.48

$4.35 CA$6.15

-20.00%

Eggs

$2.69 PAB 2.69

$4.04 CA$5.71

-33.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.57 PAB 12.57

$11.99 CA$16.95

4.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.83 PAB 6.83

$13.34 CA$18.85

-48.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.58 PAB 10.58

$14.24 CA$20.13

-25.70%

Apples (1kg)

$4.18 PAB 4.18

$4.02 CA$5.69

3.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 PAB 1.83

$1.31 CA$1.85

39.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.20 PAB 4.20

$3.77 CA$5.33

11.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.03 PAB 4.03

$3.90 CA$5.52

3.33%

Potato (1kg)

$3.48 PAB 3.48

$2.71 CA$3.83

28.41%

Onion (1kg)

$4.22 PAB 4.22

$2.81 CA$3.97

50.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 PAB 2.41

$2.54 CA$3.58

-5.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 PAB 1.69

$1.57 CA$2.22

7.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.14 PAB 6.14

$13.78 CA$19.49

-55.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.30 PAB 11.30

$11.71 CA$16.56

-3.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 PAB 1.42

$2.64 CA$3.73

-46.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 PAB 2.73

$2.96 CA$4.19

-7.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 PAB 0.33

$1.98 CA$2.80

-83.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.23 PAB 21.23

$58.7 CA$83.0

-63.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.52 PAB 2.52

$2.70 CA$3.82

-6.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.86 PAB 1.86

$1.58 CA$2.24

17.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.78 PAB 21.78

$30.64 CA$43.32

-28.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 PAB 1.25

$1.25 CA$1.76

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

$21.2K PAB 21.2K

$25.4K CA$35.9K

-16.45%

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

$21.0K PAB 21.0K

$19.7K CA$27.8K

6.77%

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

$130 PAB 130

$82.6 CA$117

57.15%

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

$28.13 PAB 28.13

$36.70 CA$51.9

-23.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.21 PAB 48.21

$50.9 CA$72.0

-5.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.78 PAB 45.78

$59.4 CA$84.0

-22.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.92 PAB 34.92

Cinema Ticket

$8.67 PAB 8.67

$12.41 CA$17.54

-30.14%

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

$544 PAB 544

$1,032 CA$1,459

-47.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,697 PAB 9,697

$9,936 CA$14.0K

-2.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.8 PAB 66.8

$56.5 CA$79.8

18.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.14 PAB 49.14

$32.64 CA$46.14

50.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.9 PAB 93.9

$93.9 CA$133

-0.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 PAB 112

$94.3 CA$133

18.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,257 PAB 1,257

$1,214 CA$1,716

3.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$875 PAB 875

$1,015 CA$1,435

-13.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,155 PAB 2,155

$2,261 CA$3,196

-4.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,564 PAB 1,564

$2,080 CA$2,940

-24.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,122 PAB 3,122

$4,345 CA$6,142

-28.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,709 PAB 1,709

$3,513 CA$4,967

-51.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$916 PAB 916

$3,075 CA$4,347

-70.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.39

4.28

49.30%

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

Last update for Panama City: October 10, 2026

Last update for Duncan BC: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Panama City

$875 47.2%

Duncan BC

$1K 48.1% 16% $140

Groceries & Markets

Panama City

$325 17.5%

Duncan BC

$368 17.4% 13.3% $43

Eating Out

Panama City

$207 11.1%

Duncan BC

$272 12.9% 31.5% $65

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Panama City

$206 11.1%

Duncan BC

$170 8.1% 17.4% $36

Clothing & Footwear

Panama City

$145 7.8%

Duncan BC

$125 5.9% 13.7% $20

Sport & Entertainment

Panama City

$63 3.4%

Duncan BC

$84 4% 33.4% $21

Getting Around

Panama City

$34 1.9%

Duncan BC

$77 3.7% 125% $43

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,257 in Panama City and $1,214 in Duncan BC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Duncan BC pays 236% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $48.00 in Panama City vs $69.0 in Duncan BC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $325 vs $368 per month, with Panama City cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇵🇦 Panama City

🇨🇦 Duncan BC

🕒 Local time

15:23 3:23 PM

13:23 1:23 PM

2 h behind Panama City

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,086,990 Capital

22,199

💱 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 19, 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 19, 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 Duncan BC 6,040 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight

From you

Panama City
Duncan BC

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 Duncan BC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Panama City is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and utilities. The 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 236% lower in Duncan BC. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,257 in Panama City versus $1,214 in Duncan BC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 13% higher in Duncan BC. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Panama City – a meal for two runs $48.00 versus $69.0 in Duncan BC. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,855 in Panama City versus $2,112 in Duncan BC, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Panama City but tight or insufficient in Duncan BC. 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 Duncan BC, 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 14% less than in Duncan BC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.