Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and Nanaimo, BC

For one person, living is cheaper in Panama City: $1,837 a month against $2,349 in Nanaimo, BC, rent and utilities included – about $6,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

90

Cost of Living Index in Panama City
Learn more

Panama City Living Index
112

Cost of Living Index in Nanaimo, BC
Learn more

Nanaimo, BC Living Index

Jump to prices

Panama City

🇵🇦 Panama

$1,837

/mo nomad

Nanaimo, BC

🇨🇦 Canada

$2,349

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,837 in Panama City versus $2,349 in Nanaimo, BC.

Panama City $1,837
Nanaimo, BC $2,349

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,825 in Panama City versus $3,389 in Nanaimo, BC.

Panama City $2,825
Nanaimo, BC $3,389

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,812 in Panama City versus $4,429 in Nanaimo, BC.

Panama City $3,812
Nanaimo, BC $4,429

Living in Panama City costs roughly 22% less than in Nanaimo, BC, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Panama City 37% above, Nanaimo, BC 75% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.34 PAB 11.34

$17.51 CA$24.96

-35.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.85 PAB 47.85

$76.6 CA$109

-37.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.07 PAB 8.07

$11.37 CA$16.21

-29.02%

Cappuccino

$4.02 PAB 4.02

$3.81 CA$5.43

5.51%

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

$1.94 PAB 1.94

$2.21 CA$3.14

-12.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 PAB 1.62

$1.61 CA$2.30

0.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.26 PAB 3.26

$5.46 CA$7.78

-40.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.99 PAB 3.99

$5.53 CA$7.88

-27.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 PAB 1.83

$1.62 CA$2.31

12.96%

White Bread (500g)

$2.57 PAB 2.57

$3.36 CA$4.79

-23.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.33 PAB 3.33

$3.06 CA$4.36

8.82%

Eggs

$2.69 PAB 2.69

$4.15 CA$5.92

-35.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.33 PAB 12.33

$11.23 CA$16.00

9.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.69 PAB 6.69

$13.10 CA$18.68

-48.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.40 PAB 10.40

$16.74 CA$23.86

-37.87%

Apples (1kg)

$4.16 PAB 4.16

$4.64 CA$6.62

-10.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 PAB 1.84

$1.28 CA$1.82

43.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.18 PAB 4.18

$4.16 CA$5.92

0.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.08 PAB 4.08

$5.82 CA$8.30

-29.90%

Potato (1kg)

$3.50 PAB 3.50

$2.72 CA$3.87

28.68%

Onion (1kg)

$4.37 PAB 4.37

$2.84 CA$4.05

53.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.34 PAB 2.34

$2.84 CA$4.05

-17.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 PAB 1.75

$2.28 CA$3.26

-23.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.06 PAB 6.06

$12.15 CA$17.32

-50.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.72 PAB 11.72

$14.15 CA$20.17

-17.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 PAB 1.37

$2.72 CA$3.87

-49.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 PAB 2.84

$2.67 CA$3.80

6.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 PAB 0.36

$1.84 CA$2.62

-80.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.96 PAB 20.96

$44.74 CA$63.8

-53.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.52 PAB 2.52

$2.75 CA$3.93

-8.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.79 PAB 1.79

$2.12 CA$3.02

-15.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.01 PAB 22.01

$28.48 CA$40.59

-22.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 PAB 1.25

$1.31 CA$1.87

-4.58%

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

$21.5K PAB 21.5K

$27.8K CA$39.6K

-22.49%

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

$21.2K PAB 21.2K

$19.3K CA$27.6K

9.63%

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

$131 PAB 131

$151 CA$216

-13.34%

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

$27.68 PAB 27.68

$40.28 CA$57.4

-31.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.59 PAB 48.59

$63.9 CA$91.1

-23.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.11 PAB 46.11

$27.48 CA$39.17

67.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.01 PAB 35.01

$18.61 CA$26.53

88.12%

Cinema Ticket

$8.73 PAB 8.73

$10.94 CA$15.60

-20.20%

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

$551 PAB 551

$515 CA$734

6.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,560 PAB 9,560

$12.9K CA$18.4K

-25.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.6 PAB 67.6

$48.90 CA$69.7

38.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.03 PAB 48.03

$33.57 CA$47.86

43.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.9 PAB 94.9

$98.9 CA$141

-4.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 PAB 113

$107 CA$153

5.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,238 PAB 1,238

$1,371 CA$1,954

-9.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$873 PAB 873

$1,123 CA$1,601

-22.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,197 PAB 2,197

$2,121 CA$3,023

3.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,538 PAB 1,538

$1,699 CA$2,421

-9.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,116 PAB 3,116

$3,831 CA$5,461

-18.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,725 PAB 1,725

$3,462 CA$4,935

-50.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$934 PAB 934

$3,148 CA$4,487

-70.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.39

4.72

35.38%

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

Last update for Panama City: October 3, 2026

Last update for Nanaimo, BC: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Panama City

$873 47.2%

Nanaimo, BC

$1.1K 48.8% 28.6% $250

Groceries & Markets

Panama City

$324 17.5%

Nanaimo, BC

$405 17.6% 24.8% $80

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Panama City

$207 11.2%

Nanaimo, BC

$256 11.1% 23.2% $48

Eating Out

Panama City

$202 10.9%

Nanaimo, BC

$274 11.9% 35.6% $72

Clothing & Footwear

Panama City

$146 7.9%

Nanaimo, BC

$130 5.6% 10.8% $16

Sport & Entertainment

Panama City

$64 3.4%

Nanaimo, BC

$49 2.1% 22.4% $14

Getting Around

Panama City

$34 1.8%

Nanaimo, BC

$65 2.8% 93.2% $32

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,238 in Panama City and $1,371 in Nanaimo, BC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Nanaimo, BC pays 237% 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 $77.0 in Nanaimo, BC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $324 vs $405 per month, with Panama City cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇵🇦 Panama City

🇨🇦 Nanaimo, BC

🕒 Local time

09:16 9:16 AM

07:16 7:16 AM

2 h behind Panama City

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,086,990 Capital

90,504

💱 Currency

Panamanian Balboa PAB B/.

Canadian Dollar CAD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 PAB = 1 USD

1 PAB = 0.892 EUR

1 CAD = 0.702 USD

1 CAD = 0.626 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 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1 PAB (1 PAB = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.12 PAB (1 PAB = 0.892 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 CAD (1 CAD = 0.702 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 CAD (1 CAD = 0.626 EUR).

USD to PAB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Panama City Nanaimo, BC 6,070 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight

From you

Panama City
Nanaimo, 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 Nanaimo, BC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Panama City wins on cost – living expenses run 28% lower than in Nanaimo, BC. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Panama City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 237% lower in Nanaimo, 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: $1,238 in Panama City versus $1,371 in Nanaimo, BC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Panama City runs roughly 113% less than in Nanaimo, BC. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $551 in Panama City versus $515 in Nanaimo, BC. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,837 in Panama City versus $2,349 in Nanaimo, BC, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Panama City but tight or insufficient in Nanaimo, BC. The gap between the two cities makes Panama City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Panama City delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,837 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Panama City hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Panama City and Nanaimo, BC are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Panama City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Nanaimo, BC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.