Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and Port Hardy

For one person, living is cheaper in Port Hardy: $1,698 a month against $1,855 in Panama City, rent and utilities included – about $1,900 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
84

Cost of Living Index in Port Hardy
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Port Hardy Living Index

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Panama City

🇵🇦 Panama

$1,855

/mo nomad

Port Hardy

🇨🇦 Canada

$1,698

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $1,855 per month in Panama City vs $1,698 in Port Hardy, rent included.

Panama City $1,855
Port Hardy $1,698

A couple spends around $2,804 per month in Panama City vs $2,767 in Port Hardy, rent included.

Panama City $2,804
Port Hardy $2,767

A family of three spends $3,753 per month in Panama City vs $3,835 in Port Hardy, rent included.

Panama City $3,753
Port Hardy $3,835

Panama City costs about 9% more than Port Hardy, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Panama City and Port Hardy sit above the global median – Panama City by 37%, Port Hardy by 26%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.63 PAB 11.63

$17.47 CA$24.70

-33.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.92 PAB 47.92

$66.1 CA$93.5

-27.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.96 PAB 7.96

$10.63 CA$15.03

-25.12%

Cappuccino

$4.22 PAB 4.22

$3.80 CA$5.37

11.05%

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

$2.01 PAB 2.01

$1.95 CA$2.75

3.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 PAB 1.56

$1.65 CA$2.34

-5.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.39 PAB 3.39

$4.76 CA$6.73

-28.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 PAB 3.94

$4.91 CA$6.95

-19.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 PAB 1.85

$1.73 CA$2.44

6.94%

White Bread (500g)

$2.56 PAB 2.56

$2.53 CA$3.58

1.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.48 PAB 3.48

$3.19 CA$4.51

9.09%

Eggs

$2.69 PAB 2.69

$3.48 CA$4.91

-22.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.57 PAB 12.57

$9.67 CA$13.66

29.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.83 PAB 6.83

$11.36 CA$16.06

-39.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.58 PAB 10.58

$14.41 CA$20.38

-26.58%

Apples (1kg)

$4.18 PAB 4.18

$3.70 CA$5.23

12.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 PAB 1.83

$1.32 CA$1.87

38.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.20 PAB 4.20

$3.65 CA$5.16

15.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.03 PAB 4.03

$3.64 CA$5.14

10.71%

Potato (1kg)

$3.48 PAB 3.48

$2.48 CA$3.51

40.32%

Onion (1kg)

$4.22 PAB 4.22

$2.13 CA$3.02

98.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 PAB 2.41

$2.42 CA$3.43

-0.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 PAB 1.69

$1.55 CA$2.19

9.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.14 PAB 6.14

$14.57 CA$20.60

-57.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.30 PAB 11.30

$12.15 CA$17.18

-7.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 PAB 1.42

$2.52 CA$3.56

-43.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 PAB 2.73

$2.97 CA$4.20

-8.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 PAB 0.33

$2.50 CA$3.53

-86.80%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.23 PAB 21.23

$52.8 CA$74.6

-59.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.52 PAB 2.52

$2.64 CA$3.73

-4.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.86 PAB 1.86

$1.62 CA$2.29

14.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.78 PAB 21.78

$25.30 CA$35.76

-13.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 PAB 1.25

$1.13 CA$1.60

10.62%

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

$21.2K PAB 21.2K

$24.0K CA$33.9K

-11.52%

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

$21.0K PAB 21.0K

$19.1K CA$27.1K

9.80%

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

$130 PAB 130

$83.5 CA$118

55.55%

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

$28.13 PAB 28.13

$55.0 CA$77.7

-48.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.21 PAB 48.21

$71.3 CA$101

-32.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.78 PAB 45.78

$40.38 CA$57.1

13.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.92 PAB 34.92

$18.92 CA$26.75

84.57%

Cinema Ticket

$8.67 PAB 8.67

$10.78 CA$15.23

-19.57%

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

$544 PAB 544

$773 CA$1,093

-29.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,697 PAB 9,697

$14.7K CA$20.8K

-33.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.8 PAB 66.8

$55.8 CA$78.8

19.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.14 PAB 49.14

$41.59 CA$58.8

18.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.9 PAB 93.9

$81.8 CA$116

14.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 PAB 112

$89.6 CA$127

24.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,257 PAB 1,257

$630 CA$890

99.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$875 PAB 875

$626 CA$885

39.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,155 PAB 2,155

$1,365 CA$1,930

57.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,564 PAB 1,564

$1,360 CA$1,922

15.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,122 PAB 3,122

$4,049 CA$5,724

-22.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,709 PAB 1,709

$3,758 CA$5,313

-54.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$916 PAB 916

$3,158 CA$4,465

-71.00%

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 Port Hardy: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Panama City

$875 47.2%

Port Hardy

$626 36.9% 28.4% $249

Groceries & Markets

Panama City

$325 17.5%

Port Hardy

$340 20% 4.7% $15

Eating Out

Panama City

$207 11.1%

Port Hardy

$265 15.6% 28.4% $59

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Panama City

$206 11.1%

Port Hardy

$210 12.4% 1.7% $3.6

Clothing & Footwear

Panama City

$145 7.8%

Port Hardy

$121 7.1% 16.4% $24

Sport & Entertainment

Panama City

$63 3.4%

Port Hardy

$62 3.7% 1.9% $1.2

Getting Around

Panama City

$34 1.9%

Port Hardy

$74 4.3% 114% $39

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,257 in Panama City versus $630 in Port Hardy. 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 245% higher in Port Hardy, 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 $66.0 in Port Hardy. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $325 vs $340 – making Panama City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇵🇦 Panama City

🇨🇦 Port Hardy

🕒 Local time

14:19 2:19 PM

12:19 12:19 PM

2 h behind Panama City

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,086,990 Capital

4,100

💱 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 Port Hardy 6,380 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight

From you

Panama City
Port Hardy

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 Hardy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Panama City is pricier by about 9%, 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 $2,547 in Port Hardy. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Panama City – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Panama City and $66.0 in Port Hardy. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Port Hardy, where all-in costs run around $1,698, than in Panama City at $1,855. In Port Hardy it covers expenses comfortably, while in Panama City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Port Hardy. 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.