Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and Vancouver

For one person, living is cheaper in Panama City: $1,837 a month against $2,684 in Vancouver, rent and utilities included – about $10,200 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
128

Cost of Living Index in Vancouver
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Vancouver Living Index

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Panama City

🇵🇦 Panama

$1,837

/mo nomad

Vancouver

🇨🇦 Canada

$2,684

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Panama City and in Vancouver

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

A single person spends $1,837 per month in Panama City vs $2,684 in Vancouver, rent included.

Panama City $1,837
Vancouver $2,684

A couple spends around $2,825 per month in Panama City vs $3,878 in Vancouver, rent included.

Panama City $2,825
Vancouver $3,878

A family of three spends $3,812 per month in Panama City vs $5,072 in Vancouver, rent included.

Panama City $3,812
Vancouver $5,072

Panama City is about 32% cheaper than Vancouver, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Panama City and Vancouver sit above the global median – Panama City by 37%, Vancouver by 100%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.34 PAB 11.34

$17.30 CA$24.61

-34.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.85 PAB 47.85

$69.0 CA$98.1

-30.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.07 PAB 8.07

$10.56 CA$15.02

-23.58%

Cappuccino

$4.02 PAB 4.02

$3.89 CA$5.53

3.34%

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

$1.94 PAB 1.94

$2.05 CA$2.92

-5.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 PAB 1.62

$1.62 CA$2.31

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.26 PAB 3.26

$5.54 CA$7.89

-41.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.99 PAB 3.99

$6.33 CA$9.00

-36.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 PAB 1.83

$2.31 CA$3.29

-20.78%

White Bread (500g)

$2.57 PAB 2.57

$2.50 CA$3.56

2.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.33 PAB 3.33

$4.44 CA$6.32

-25.00%

Eggs

$2.69 PAB 2.69

$4.07 CA$5.79

-33.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.33 PAB 12.33

$11.28 CA$16.04

9.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.69 PAB 6.69

$13.42 CA$19.09

-50.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.40 PAB 10.40

$20.10 CA$28.59

-48.26%

Apples (1kg)

$4.16 PAB 4.16

$4.06 CA$5.77

2.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 PAB 1.84

$1.33 CA$1.89

38.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.18 PAB 4.18

$3.91 CA$5.56

6.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.08 PAB 4.08

$4.05 CA$5.77

0.74%

Potato (1kg)

$3.50 PAB 3.50

$2.72 CA$3.87

28.68%

Onion (1kg)

$4.37 PAB 4.37

$2.89 CA$4.11

51.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.34 PAB 2.34

$2.53 CA$3.60

-7.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 PAB 1.75

$1.62 CA$2.30

8.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.06 PAB 6.06

$15.57 CA$22.15

-61.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.72 PAB 11.72

$14.05 CA$19.99

-16.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 PAB 1.37

$2.69 CA$3.82

-49.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 PAB 2.84

$2.99 CA$4.26

-5.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 PAB 0.36

$2.44 CA$3.47

-85.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.96 PAB 20.96

$83.4 CA$119

-74.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.52 PAB 2.52

$2.71 CA$3.86

-7.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.79 PAB 1.79

$1.57 CA$2.23

14.01%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.01 PAB 22.01

$31.39 CA$44.65

-29.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 PAB 1.25

$1.38 CA$1.96

-9.42%

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

$21.5K PAB 21.5K

$28.1K CA$39.9K

-23.27%

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

$21.2K PAB 21.2K

$19.8K CA$28.2K

6.95%

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

$131 PAB 131

$81.2 CA$115

61.63%

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

$27.68 PAB 27.68

$37.45 CA$53.3

-26.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.59 PAB 48.59

$51.4 CA$73.1

-5.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.11 PAB 46.11

$43.47 CA$61.8

6.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.01 PAB 35.01

$12.53 CA$17.82

179.41%

Cinema Ticket

$8.73 PAB 8.73

$12.54 CA$17.84

-30.38%

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

$551 PAB 551

$1,094 CA$1,557

-49.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,560 PAB 9,560

$19.9K CA$28.3K

-52.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.6 PAB 67.6

$57.0 CA$81.1

18.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.03 PAB 48.03

$32.73 CA$46.56

46.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.9 PAB 94.9

$92.6 CA$132

2.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 PAB 113

$94.2 CA$134

19.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,238 PAB 1,238

$1,745 CA$2,483

-29.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$873 PAB 873

$1,484 CA$2,111

-41.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,197 PAB 2,197

$2,998 CA$4,264

-26.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,538 PAB 1,538

$2,422 CA$3,446

-36.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,116 PAB 3,116

$8,002 CA$11.4K

-61.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,725 PAB 1,725

$6,457 CA$9,184

-73.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$934 PAB 934

$3,799 CA$5,404

-75.41%

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 3, 2026

Last update for Vancouver: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Panama City

$873 47.2%

Vancouver

$1.5K 56.6% 69.9% $611

Groceries & Markets

Panama City

$324 17.5%

Vancouver

$399 15.2% 22.9% $74

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Panama City

$207 11.2%

Vancouver

$170 6.5% 18.1% $37

Eating Out

Panama City

$202 10.9%

Vancouver

$272 10.4% 34.8% $70

Clothing & Footwear

Panama City

$146 7.9%

Vancouver

$124 4.8% 14.5% $21

Sport & Entertainment

Panama City

$64 3.4%

Vancouver

$69 2.6% 7.8% $5

Getting Around

Panama City

$34 1.8%

Vancouver

$104 4% 206% $70

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,238 in Panama City versus $1,745 in Vancouver. 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 307% higher in Vancouver, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Panama City versus $69.0 in Vancouver. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $324 vs $399 – making Panama City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇵🇦 Panama City

🇨🇦 Vancouver

🕒 Local time

03:42 3:42 AM

01:42 1:42 AM

2 h behind Panama City

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,086,990 Capital

631,486

💱 Currency

Panamanian Balboa PAB B/.

Canadian Dollar CAD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 PAB = 1 USD

1 PAB = 0.892 EUR

1 CAD = 0.703 USD

1 CAD = 0.627 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 = 1.42 CAD (1 CAD = 0.703 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 CAD (1 CAD = 0.627 EUR).

USD to PAB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Panama City Vancouver 6,030 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight

From you

Panama City
Vancouver

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 Vancouver: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Vancouver is pricier by about 46%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,756 per month in Panama City and $4,026 in Vancouver. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 23% more in Vancouver, 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 $69.0 in Vancouver. 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 Panama City, where all-in costs run around $1,837, than in Vancouver at $2,684. In Panama City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Vancouver it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Panama City – 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 Panama City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Vancouver makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.