Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Port Alberni and Panama City

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.

81

Cost of Living Index in Port Alberni
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Port Alberni Living Index
90

Cost of Living Index in Panama City
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Panama City Living Index

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Port Alberni

🇨🇦 Canada

$1,670

/mo nomad

Panama City

🇵🇦 Panama

$1,855

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Port Alberni and in Panama City actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Port Alberni is about 10% cheaper than Panama City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.48 CA$24.86

$11.63 PAB 11.63

50.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$61.2 CA$87.0

$47.92 PAB 47.92

27.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.46 CA$14.88

$7.96 PAB 7.96

31.41%

Cappuccino

$3.89 CA$5.54

$4.22 PAB 4.22

-7.82%

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

$2.04 CA$2.90

$2.01 PAB 2.01

1.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 CA$1.97

$1.56 PAB 1.56

-11.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.44 CA$4.89

$3.39 PAB 3.39

1.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.40 CA$7.68

$3.94 PAB 3.94

37.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.14 CA$3.04

$1.85 PAB 1.85

15.68%

White Bread (500g)

$2.28 CA$3.24

$2.56 PAB 2.56

-10.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.73 CA$3.88

$3.48 PAB 3.48

-21.55%

Eggs

$3.93 CA$5.59

$2.69 PAB 2.69

46.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.94 CA$12.71

$12.57 PAB 12.57

-28.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.09 CA$5.81

$6.83 PAB 6.83

-40.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.41 CA$27.59

$10.58 PAB 10.58

83.46%

Apples (1kg)

$2.73 CA$3.87

$4.18 PAB 4.18

-34.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 CA$1.51

$1.83 PAB 1.83

-42.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.40 CA$4.83

$4.20 PAB 4.20

-19.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.59 CA$5.10

$4.03 PAB 4.03

-10.92%

Potato (1kg)

$2.07 CA$2.94

$3.48 PAB 3.48

-40.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.85 CA$2.63

$4.22 PAB 4.22

-56.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.16 CA$3.07

$2.41 PAB 2.41

-10.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 CA$0.97

$1.69 PAB 1.69

-59.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.54 CA$14.98

$6.14 PAB 6.14

71.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.33 CA$14.69

$11.30 PAB 11.30

-8.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.51 CA$3.56

$1.42 PAB 1.42

76.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 CA$4.07

$2.73 PAB 2.73

4.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 CA$2.02

$0.33 PAB 0.33

330.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$33.09 CA$47.05

$21.23 PAB 21.23

55.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 CA$3.82

$2.52 PAB 2.52

6.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.56 CA$2.21

$1.86 PAB 1.86

-16.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$31.01 CA$44.09

$21.78 PAB 21.78

42.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 CA$1.70

$1.25 PAB 1.25

-4.00%

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

$27.5K CA$39.2K

$21.2K PAB 21.2K

29.70%

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

$19.5K CA$27.8K

$21.0K PAB 21.0K

-7.16%

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

$81.8 CA$116

$130 PAB 130

-36.97%

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

$36.45 CA$51.8

$28.13 PAB 28.13

29.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.0 CA$72.5

$48.21 PAB 48.21

5.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.83 CA$60.9

$45.78 PAB 45.78

-6.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.92 PAB 34.92

Cinema Ticket

$12.16 CA$17.28

$8.67 PAB 8.67

40.25%

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

$1,087 CA$1,545

$544 PAB 544

99.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.9K CA$28.3K

$9,697 PAB 9,697

105.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.2 CA$82.7

$66.8 PAB 66.8

-12.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.34 CA$45.98

$49.14 PAB 49.14

-34.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.4 CA$136

$93.9 PAB 93.9

1.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.7 CA$133

$112 PAB 112

-15.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$790 CA$1,123

$1,257 PAB 1,257

-37.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$705 CA$1,002

$875 PAB 875

-19.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,660 CA$2,360

$2,155 PAB 2,155

-22.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,673 CA$2,379

$1,564 PAB 1,564

6.98%

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)

$3,045 CA$4,330

$916 PAB 916

232.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.28

6.39

-33.02%

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

Last update for Port Alberni: October 12, 2026

Last update for Panama City: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Port Alberni

$705 42.2%

Panama City

$875 47.2% 24.1% $170

Groceries & Markets

Port Alberni

$293 17.6%

Panama City

$325 17.5% 10.8% $32

Eating Out

Port Alberni

$260 15.6%

Panama City

$207 11.1% 20.4% $53

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Port Alberni

$169 10.1%

Panama City

$206 11.1% 21.8% $37

Clothing & Footwear

Port Alberni

$126 7.5%

Panama City

$145 7.8% 14.9% $19

Sport & Entertainment

Port Alberni

$67 4%

Panama City

$63 3.4% 6% $4

Getting Around

Port Alberni

$49 3%

Panama City

$34 1.9% 30.1% $15

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $790 in Port Alberni versus $1,257 in Panama City. 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 $61.0 in Port Alberni versus $48.00 in Panama City. Groceries tell a different story – $293 in Port Alberni vs $325 in Panama City – so Port Alberni wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇨🇦 Port Alberni

🇵🇦 Panama City

🕒 Local time

18:35 6:35 PM

20:35 8:35 PM

2 h ahead of Port Alberni

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

17,743

1,086,990 Capital

💱 Currency

Canadian Dollar CAD $

Panamanian Balboa PAB B/.

📈 Exchange rate

1 CAD = 0.703 USD

1 CAD = 0.628 EUR

1 PAB = 1 USD

1 PAB = 0.893 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

PAB, USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇨🇦 Canadian Dollar ($)

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 15, 2026: 1 USD = 1.42 CAD (1 CAD = 0.703 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.628 EUR).

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).

USD to CAD in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

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

From you

Port Alberni
Panama City

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

Port Alberni vs Panama City: 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 $2,505 per month in Port Alberni and $2,783 in Panama City. 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 $61.0 in Port Alberni and $48.00 in Panama City. 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.