Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and Whitehorse

For one person, living is cheaper in Panama City: $1,855 a month against $2,784 in Whitehorse, rent and utilities included – about $11,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Panama City
🇵🇦 Panama
$1,855
/mo nomad
Whitehorse
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,784
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $1,855 per month in Panama City vs $2,784 in Whitehorse, rent included.

  • Panama City $1,855
  • Whitehorse $2,784

A couple spends around $2,804 per month in Panama City vs $4,112 in Whitehorse, rent included.

  • Panama City $2,804
  • Whitehorse $4,112

A family of three spends $3,753 per month in Panama City vs $5,441 in Whitehorse, rent included.

  • Panama City $3,753
  • Whitehorse $5,441

Panama City is about 33% cheaper than Whitehorse, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Panama City and Whitehorse sit above the global median – Panama City by 37%, Whitehorse by 106%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Panama City
Whitehorse
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.63 PAB 11.63
$35.69 CA$50.5
-67.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.92 PAB 47.92
$111 CA$156
-56.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.96 PAB 7.96
$10.81 CA$15.28
-26.36%
Cappuccino
$4.22 PAB 4.22
$4.37 CA$6.17
-3.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 PAB 2.01
$2.39 CA$3.38
-15.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 PAB 1.56
$1.86 CA$2.62
-16.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.39 PAB 3.39
$4.15 CA$5.87
-18.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.94 PAB 3.94
$4.92 CA$6.95
-19.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Panama City
Whitehorse
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.85 PAB 1.85
$2.37 CA$3.36
-21.94%
White Bread (500g)
$2.56 PAB 2.56
$2.40 CA$3.39
6.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.48 PAB 3.48
$3.61 CA$5.10
-3.60%
Eggs
$2.69 PAB 2.69
$3.82 CA$5.40
-29.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.57 PAB 12.57
$9.98 CA$14.11
25.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.83 PAB 6.83
$15.57 CA$22.02
-56.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.58 PAB 10.58
$14.65 CA$20.71
-27.78%
Apples (1kg)
$4.18 PAB 4.18
$4.24 CA$5.99
-1.42%
Banana (1kg)
$1.83 PAB 1.83
$1.91 CA$2.71
-4.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.20 PAB 4.20
$3.68 CA$5.21
14.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.03 PAB 4.03
$3.85 CA$5.45
4.68%
Potato (1kg)
$3.48 PAB 3.48
$2.54 CA$3.59
37.01%
Onion (1kg)
$4.22 PAB 4.22
$2.06 CA$2.92
104.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.41 PAB 2.41
$3.04 CA$4.30
-20.72%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 PAB 1.69
$1.82 CA$2.57
-7.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.14 PAB 6.14
$18.86 CA$26.66
-67.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.30 PAB 11.30
$17.41 CA$24.61
-35.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42 PAB 1.42
$4.24 CA$5.99
-66.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 PAB 2.73
$3.83 CA$5.42
-28.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Panama City
Whitehorse
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.33 PAB 0.33
$1.79 CA$2.53
-81.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.23 PAB 21.23
$43.19 CA$61.1
-50.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.52 PAB 2.52
$3.26 CA$4.61
-22.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.86 PAB 1.86
$2.25 CA$3.18
-17.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.78 PAB 21.78
$22.15 CA$31.31
-1.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 PAB 1.25
$1.24 CA$1.75
0.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K PAB 21.2K
$27.5K CA$38.9K
-22.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.0K PAB 21.0K
$17.8K CA$25.2K
18.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Panama City
Whitehorse
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$130 PAB 130
$243 CA$344
-46.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.13 PAB 28.13
$44.78 CA$63.3
-37.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.21 PAB 48.21
$95.1 CA$134
-49.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Panama City
Whitehorse
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.78 PAB 45.78
$50.9 CA$72.0
-10.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.92 PAB 34.92
$17.66 CA$24.97
97.73%
Cinema Ticket
$8.67 PAB 8.67
$11.03 CA$15.59
-21.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Panama City
Whitehorse
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$544 PAB 544
$586 CA$829
-7.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,697 PAB 9,697
$14.1K CA$19.9K
-31.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Panama City
Whitehorse
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.8 PAB 66.8
$53.3 CA$75.3
25.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.14 PAB 49.14
$39.04 CA$55.2
25.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.9 PAB 93.9
$83.2 CA$118
12.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 PAB 112
$101 CA$143
10.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Panama City
Whitehorse
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,257 PAB 1,257
$1,445 CA$2,042
-12.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$875 PAB 875
$1,315 CA$1,860
-33.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,155 PAB 2,155
$2,271 CA$3,210
-5.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,564 PAB 1,564
$2,094 CA$2,960
-25.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,122 PAB 3,122
$5,617 CA$7,941
-44.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,709 PAB 1,709
$3,010 CA$4,255
-43.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Panama City
Whitehorse
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$916 PAB 916
$3,564 CA$5,039
-74.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.39
4.96
28.83%

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

Last update for Panama City: October 10, 2026

Last update for Whitehorse: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Panama City
$875
Whitehorse
$1.3K 50.3% $440
Groceries & Markets
Panama City
$325
Whitehorse
$405 24.6% $80
Eating Out
Panama City
$207
Whitehorse
$418 102% $211
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Panama City
$206
Whitehorse
$383 85.8% $177
Clothing & Footwear
Panama City
$145
Whitehorse
$125 13.9% $20
Sport & Entertainment
Panama City
$63
Whitehorse
$73 15.6% $9.9
Getting Around
Panama City
$34
Whitehorse
$65 88.5% $30

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,257 in Panama City versus $1,445 in Whitehorse. 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 289% higher in Whitehorse, 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 $111 in Whitehorse. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $325 vs $405 – making Panama City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇦 Panama City
🇨🇦 Whitehorse
🕒 Local time
12:54 12:54 PM
10:54 10:54 AM
2 h behind Panama City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,086,990 Capital
27,889
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, USD, EUR to PAB – Panamanian Balboa Converter

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).

On the map
Between locations
  • Panama City Whitehorse 7,320 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Panama City
  • Whitehorse

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 Whitehorse: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Whitehorse cheaper than Panama City?
Yes – Whitehorse is pricier by about 50%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,783 per month in Panama City and $4,176 in Whitehorse. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
How do food prices compare in Panama City and in Whitehorse?
Groceries cost about 25% more in Whitehorse, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Panama City or in Whitehorse?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Panama City and $111 in Whitehorse. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Panama City or in Whitehorse?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Panama City, where all-in costs run around $1,855, than in Whitehorse at $2,784. In Panama City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Whitehorse it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Panama City or Whitehorse more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Panama City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Whitehorse makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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