Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama and Vancouver

For one person, living is cheaper in Panama: $1,643 a month against $2,683 in Vancouver, rent and utilities included – about $12,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Panama
Vancouver, Canada
🇵🇦 Panama
$1,643
/mo nomad
Vancouver
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,683
/mo nomad
🙂 Solo nomad: Panama is 27.4% cheaper than Vancouver without rent, and 38.7% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Panama is 28.1% cheaper than Vancouver without rent, and 35.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Panama
Vancouver
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.85 PAB 7.85
$18.10 CA$25.37
-56.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.17 PAB 45.17
$71.0 CA$99.5
-36.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.06 PAB 8.06
$10.57 CA$14.81
-23.75%
Cappuccino
$3.93 PAB 3.93
$3.97 CA$5.56
-1.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 PAB 1.64
$2.07 CA$2.90
-20.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 PAB 1.34
$1.85 CA$2.59
-27.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 PAB 2.21
$5.67 CA$7.95
-61.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.89 PAB 3.89
$6.61 CA$9.27
-41.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Panama
Vancouver
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 PAB 1.81
$2.16 CA$3.02
-16.20%
White Bread (500g)
$2.42 PAB 2.42
$2.58 CA$3.62
-6.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.99 PAB 2.99
$4.30 CA$6.02
-30.47%
Eggs
$2.47 PAB 2.47
$4.09 CA$5.74
-39.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.34 PAB 12.34
$12.12 CA$16.98
1.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.93 PAB 6.93
$13.28 CA$18.62
-47.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.28 PAB 10.28
$20.11 CA$28.19
-48.88%
Apples (1kg)
$4.16 PAB 4.16
$3.96 CA$5.56
5.05%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 PAB 1.55
$1.43 CA$2.00
8.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.66 PAB 3.66
$3.71 CA$5.20
-1.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.76 PAB 3.76
$3.92 CA$5.50
-4.08%
Potato (1kg)
$2.56 PAB 2.56
$2.87 CA$4.02
-10.80%
Onion (1kg)
$3.25 PAB 3.25
$2.98 CA$4.17
9.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.24 PAB 2.24
$2.61 CA$3.66
-14.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 PAB 1.66
$1.63 CA$2.29
1.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.04 PAB 6.04
$15.94 CA$22.35
-62.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.14 PAB 10.14
$14.25 CA$19.97
-28.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.41 PAB 1.41
$2.52 CA$3.54
-44.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 PAB 2.35
$2.87 CA$4.03
-18.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Panama
Vancouver
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 PAB 0.38
$2.57 CA$3.60
-85.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.35 PAB 21.35
$84.4 CA$118
-74.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.56 PAB 2.56
$2.74 CA$3.85
-6.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.79 PAB 1.79
$1.63 CA$2.28
9.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.97 PAB 21.97
$31.90 CA$44.71
-31.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.18 PAB 1.18
$1.46 CA$2.04
-19.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.9K PAB 25.9K
$26.7K CA$37.4K
-3.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3K PAB 22.3K
$21.0K CA$29.5K
6.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Panama
Vancouver
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$119 PAB 119
$88.2 CA$124
34.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.61 PAB 26.61
$36.72 CA$51.5
-27.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$46.95 PAB 46.95
$49.81 CA$69.8
-5.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Panama
Vancouver
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.46 PAB 48.46
$45.34 CA$63.6
6.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.25 PAB 30.25
$12.13 CA$17.00
149.38%
Cinema Ticket
$8.02 PAB 8.02
$12.55 CA$17.59
-36.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Panama
Vancouver
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$539 PAB 539
$1,055 CA$1,479
-48.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.5K PAB 19.5K
$28.5K CA$39.9K
-31.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Panama
Vancouver
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.6 PAB 53.6
$56.4 CA$79.1
-5.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.47 PAB 44.47
$34.37 CA$48.18
29.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.0 PAB 90.0
$89.8 CA$126
0.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104 PAB 104
$94.3 CA$132
10.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Panama
Vancouver
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$996 PAB 996
$1,738 CA$2,436
-42.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$751 PAB 751
$1,528 CA$2,143
-50.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,770 PAB 1,770
$3,107 CA$4,355
-43.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,384 PAB 1,384
$2,547 CA$3,570
-45.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,003 PAB 3,003
$8,540 CA$12.0K
-64.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,708 PAB 1,708
$6,328 CA$8,870
-73.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Panama
Vancouver
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$818 PAB 818
$3,770 CA$5,284
-78.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.37
4.24
50.24%

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

Last update for Panama: November 3, 2026

Last update for Vancouver: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Panama
$751
Vancouver
$1.5K 104% $778
Groceries & Markets
Panama
$305
Vancouver
$398 30.5% $93
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Panama
$192
Vancouver
$175 9.1% $17
Eating Out
Panama
$165
Vancouver
$281 70.6% $116
Clothing & Footwear
Panama
$131
Vancouver
$124 5.8% $7.6
Sport & Entertainment
Panama
$65
Vancouver
$70 9.2% $5.9
Getting Around
Panama
$34
Vancouver
$106 207% $71
Good to know
🇵🇦 Panama
🇨🇦 Vancouver
🕒 Local time
10:00 10:00 AM
08:00 8:00 AM
2 h behind Panama
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,098,587
631,486
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, USD, EUR to PAB – Panamanian Balboa Converter

Panamanian Balboa exchange rates as of November 6, 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 November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.713 USD). 1 EUR = 1.57 CAD (1 CAD = 0.635 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Panama Vancouver 6,030 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Panama
  • 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 vs other spots: cost of living compared

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