Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and Port Alberni

For one person, living is cheaper in Port Alberni: $1,670 a month against $1,855 in Panama City, rent and utilities included – about $2,200 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Panama City outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

90

Cost of Living Index in Panama City
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Panama City Living Index
81

Cost of Living Index in Port Alberni
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Port Alberni Living Index

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Panama City

🇵🇦 Panama

$1,855

/mo nomad

Port Alberni

🇨🇦 Canada

$1,670

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Panama City and in Port Alberni

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 Port Alberni actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,855 per month in Panama City vs $1,670 in Port Alberni, rent included.

Panama City $1,855
Port Alberni $1,670

A couple spends around $2,804 per month in Panama City vs $2,790 in Port Alberni, rent included.

Panama City $2,804
Port Alberni $2,790

A family of three spends $3,753 per month in Panama City vs $3,911 in Port Alberni, rent included.

Panama City $3,753
Port Alberni $3,911

Panama City costs about 11% more than Port Alberni, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Panama City and Port Alberni sit above the global median – Panama City by 37%, Port Alberni by 24%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.63 PAB 11.63

$17.48 CA$24.85

-33.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.92 PAB 47.92

$61.2 CA$87.0

-21.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.96 PAB 7.96

$10.46 CA$14.87

-23.90%

Cappuccino

$4.22 PAB 4.22

$3.89 CA$5.54

8.48%

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

$2.01 PAB 2.01

$2.04 CA$2.90

-1.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 PAB 1.56

$1.38 CA$1.97

13.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.39 PAB 3.39

$3.44 CA$4.89

-1.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 PAB 3.94

$5.40 CA$7.68

-27.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 PAB 1.85

$2.14 CA$3.04

-13.55%

White Bread (500g)

$2.56 PAB 2.56

$2.28 CA$3.24

12.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.48 PAB 3.48

$2.73 CA$3.88

27.47%

Eggs

$2.69 PAB 2.69

$3.93 CA$5.59

-31.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.57 PAB 12.57

$8.94 CA$12.70

40.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.83 PAB 6.83

$4.09 CA$5.81

66.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.58 PAB 10.58

$19.41 CA$27.58

-45.49%

Apples (1kg)

$4.18 PAB 4.18

$2.73 CA$3.87

53.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 PAB 1.83

$1.06 CA$1.51

72.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.20 PAB 4.20

$3.40 CA$4.83

23.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.03 PAB 4.03

$3.59 CA$5.10

12.26%

Potato (1kg)

$3.48 PAB 3.48

$2.07 CA$2.94

68.12%

Onion (1kg)

$4.22 PAB 4.22

$1.85 CA$2.63

128.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 PAB 2.41

$2.16 CA$3.07

11.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 PAB 1.69

$0.68 CA$0.97

148.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.14 PAB 6.14

$10.54 CA$14.98

-41.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.30 PAB 11.30

$10.33 CA$14.69

9.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 PAB 1.42

$2.51 CA$3.56

-43.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 PAB 2.73

$2.86 CA$4.07

-4.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 PAB 0.33

$1.42 CA$2.02

-76.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.23 PAB 21.23

$33.09 CA$47.03

-35.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.52 PAB 2.52

$2.68 CA$3.81

-5.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.86 PAB 1.86

$1.56 CA$2.21

19.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.78 PAB 21.78

$31.01 CA$44.07

-29.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 PAB 1.25

$1.20 CA$1.70

4.17%

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

$21.2K PAB 21.2K

$27.5K CA$39.1K

-22.90%

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

$21.0K PAB 21.0K

$19.5K CA$27.7K

7.71%

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

$130 PAB 130

$81.8 CA$116

58.65%

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

$28.13 PAB 28.13

$36.45 CA$51.8

-22.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.21 PAB 48.21

$51.0 CA$72.5

-5.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.78 PAB 45.78

$42.83 CA$60.9

6.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.92 PAB 34.92

Cinema Ticket

$8.67 PAB 8.67

$12.16 CA$17.28

-28.70%

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

$544 PAB 544

$1,087 CA$1,545

-49.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,697 PAB 9,697

$19.9K CA$28.3K

-51.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.8 PAB 66.8

$58.2 CA$82.7

14.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.14 PAB 49.14

$32.34 CA$45.96

51.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.9 PAB 93.9

$95.4 CA$136

-1.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 PAB 112

$93.7 CA$133

19.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,257 PAB 1,257

$790 CA$1,122

59.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$875 PAB 875

$705 CA$1,002

24.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,155 PAB 2,155

$1,660 CA$2,359

29.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,564 PAB 1,564

$1,673 CA$2,378

-6.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,122 PAB 3,122

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,709 PAB 1,709

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$916 PAB 916

$3,045 CA$4,328

-69.92%

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 Port Alberni: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Panama City

$875 47.2%

Port Alberni

$705 42.2% 19.4% $170

Groceries & Markets

Panama City

$325 17.5%

Port Alberni

$293 17.6% 9.8% $32

Eating Out

Panama City

$207 11.1%

Port Alberni

$260 15.6% 25.7% $53

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Panama City

$206 11.1%

Port Alberni

$169 10.1% 17.9% $37

Clothing & Footwear

Panama City

$145 7.8%

Port Alberni

$126 7.5% 13% $19

Sport & Entertainment

Panama City

$63 3.4%

Port Alberni

$67 4% 6.4% $4

Getting Around

Panama City

$34 1.9%

Port Alberni

$49 3% 43.1% $15

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,257 in Panama City versus $790 in Port Alberni. 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 232% higher in Port Alberni, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Panama City versus $61.0 in Port Alberni. Groceries tell a different story – $325 in Panama City vs $293 in Port Alberni – so Port Alberni wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇵🇦 Panama City

🇨🇦 Port Alberni

🕒 Local time

21:29 9:29 PM

19:29 7:29 PM

2 h behind Panama City

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,086,990 Capital

17,743

💱 Currency

Panamanian Balboa PAB B/.

Canadian Dollar CAD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 PAB = 1 USD

1 PAB = 0.893 EUR

1 CAD = 0.704 USD

1 CAD = 0.628 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 15, 2026: 1 USD = 1 PAB (1 PAB = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.12 PAB (1 PAB = 0.893 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 15, 2026: 1 USD = 1.42 CAD (1 CAD = 0.704 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.628 EUR).

USD to PAB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Panama City Port Alberni 6,130 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight

From you

Panama City
Port Alberni

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 Port Alberni: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Panama City is pricier by about 11%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,783 per month in Panama City and $2,505 in Port Alberni. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Port Alberni, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 11% more in Panama City, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Panama City and $61.0 in Port Alberni. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Port Alberni, where all-in costs run around $1,670, than in Panama City at $1,855. In Port Alberni it covers expenses comfortably, while in Panama City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Port Alberni – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Port Alberni. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Panama City makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.