Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Port Coquitlam, BC and Panama City

For one person, living is cheaper in Panama City: $1,855 a month against $2,485 in Port Coquitlam, BC, rent and utilities included – about $7,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Port Coquitlam, BC
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,485
/mo nomad
Panama City
🇵🇦 Panama
$1,855
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Port Coquitlam, BC 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 Coquitlam, BC and in Panama City actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,485 per month in Port Coquitlam, BC vs $1,855 in Panama City, rent included.

  • Port Coquitlam, BC $2,485
  • Panama City $1,855

A couple spends around $3,403 per month in Port Coquitlam, BC vs $2,804 in Panama City, rent included.

  • Port Coquitlam, BC $3,403
  • Panama City $2,804

A family of three spends $4,320 per month in Port Coquitlam, BC vs $3,753 in Panama City, rent included.

  • Port Coquitlam, BC $4,320
  • Panama City $3,753

Port Coquitlam, BC costs about 34% more than Panama City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Port Coquitlam, BC and Panama City sit above the global median – Port Coquitlam, BC by 84%, Panama City by 37%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Port Coquitlam, BC
Panama City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.22 CA$20.10
$11.63 PAB 11.63
22.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.0 CA$100
$47.92 PAB 47.92
48.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.57 CA$12.11
$7.96 PAB 7.96
7.66%
Cappuccino
$3.40 CA$4.81
$4.22 PAB 4.22
-19.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 CA$2.99
$2.01 PAB 2.01
5.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 CA$2.24
$1.56 PAB 1.56
1.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.65 CA$7.99
$3.39 PAB 3.39
66.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.36 CA$8.99
$3.94 PAB 3.94
61.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Port Coquitlam, BC
Panama City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.77 CA$2.50
$1.85 PAB 1.85
-4.32%
White Bread (500g)
$2.48 CA$3.51
$2.56 PAB 2.56
-3.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.60 CA$5.09
$3.48 PAB 3.48
3.45%
Eggs
$3.13 CA$4.42
$2.69 PAB 2.69
16.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.78 CA$16.66
$12.57 PAB 12.57
-6.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.49 CA$17.65
$6.83 PAB 6.83
82.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.17 CA$20.03
$10.58 PAB 10.58
33.93%
Apples (1kg)
$3.96 CA$5.60
$4.18 PAB 4.18
-5.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.32 CA$1.87
$1.83 PAB 1.83
-27.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.76 CA$5.32
$4.20 PAB 4.20
-10.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.92 CA$5.54
$4.03 PAB 4.03
-2.73%
Potato (1kg)
$2.64 CA$3.74
$3.48 PAB 3.48
-24.14%
Onion (1kg)
$2.43 CA$3.43
$4.22 PAB 4.22
-42.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.49 CA$3.52
$2.41 PAB 2.41
3.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.56 CA$2.21
$1.69 PAB 1.69
-7.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.64 CA$22.11
$6.14 PAB 6.14
154.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.07 CA$19.89
$11.30 PAB 11.30
24.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.64 CA$3.73
$1.42 PAB 1.42
85.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 CA$4.04
$2.73 PAB 2.73
4.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Port Coquitlam, BC
Panama City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.03 CA$2.87
$0.33 PAB 0.33
515.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$109 CA$154
$21.23 PAB 21.23
412.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.67 CA$3.78
$2.52 PAB 2.52
5.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.62 CA$2.29
$1.86 PAB 1.86
-12.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.78 CA$43.51
$21.78 PAB 21.78
41.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.38 CA$1.96
$1.25 PAB 1.25
10.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K CA$38.5K
$21.2K PAB 21.2K
28.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K CA$28.3K
$21.0K PAB 21.0K
-4.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Port Coquitlam, BC
Panama City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.6 CA$114
$130 PAB 130
-37.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.11 CA$52.5
$28.13 PAB 28.13
31.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.0 CA$72.1
$48.21 PAB 48.21
5.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Port Coquitlam, BC
Panama City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.98 CA$29.66
$45.78 PAB 45.78
-54.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$34.92 PAB 34.92
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.56 CA$14.93
$8.67 PAB 8.67
21.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Port Coquitlam, BC
Panama City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,106 CA$1,563
$544 PAB 544
103.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.2K CA$28.6K
$9,697 PAB 9,697
108.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Port Coquitlam, BC
Panama City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.9 CA$80.4
$66.8 PAB 66.8
-14.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20 CA$45.52
$49.14 PAB 49.14
-34.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.0 CA$117
$93.9 PAB 93.9
-11.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.4 CA$132
$112 PAB 112
-16.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Port Coquitlam, BC
Panama City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,568 CA$2,216
$1,257 PAB 1,257
24.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,431 CA$2,023
$875 PAB 875
63.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,128 CA$3,009
$2,155 PAB 2,155
-1.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,856 CA$2,624
$1,564 PAB 1,564
18.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,122 PAB 3,122
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,490 CA$7,761
$1,709 PAB 1,709
221.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Port Coquitlam, BC
Panama City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,284 CA$3,229
$916 PAB 916
149.33%
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 Coquitlam, BC: October 13, 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 Coquitlam, BC
$1.4K
Panama City
$875 38.9% $556
Groceries & Markets
Port Coquitlam, BC
$361
Panama City
$325 9.8% $35
Eating Out
Port Coquitlam, BC
$236
Panama City
$207 12.4% $29
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Port Coquitlam, BC
$169
Panama City
$206 22.2% $38
Getting Around
Port Coquitlam, BC
$128
Panama City
$34 73% $93
Clothing & Footwear
Port Coquitlam, BC
$119
Panama City
$145 21% $25
Sport & Entertainment
Port Coquitlam, BC
$42
Panama City
$63 49.9% $21

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,568 in Port Coquitlam, BC 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 149% higher in Port Coquitlam, BC, 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 $71.0 in Port Coquitlam, BC versus $48.00 in Panama City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $361 vs $325 – making Panama City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Port Coquitlam, BC
🇵🇦 Panama City
🕒 Local time
11:32 11:32 AM
13:32 1:32 PM
2 h ahead of Port Coquitlam, BC
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
61,498
1,086,990 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PAB, USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

Panamanian Balboa exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1 PAB (1 PAB = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.12 PAB (1 PAB = 0.889 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Port Coquitlam, BC Panama City 6,010 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Port Coquitlam, BC
  • 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 Coquitlam, BC vs Panama City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Panama City cheaper than Port Coquitlam, BC?
Yes – Port Coquitlam, BC is pricier by about 34%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in transport.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,728 per month in Port Coquitlam, BC and $2,783 in Panama City. 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 Port Coquitlam, BC and in Panama City?
Groceries cost about 11% more in Port Coquitlam, BC, 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 Port Coquitlam, BC or in Panama City?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $71.0 in Port Coquitlam, BC and $48.00 in Panama City. 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 Port Coquitlam, BC or in Panama City?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Panama City, where all-in costs run around $1,855, than in Port Coquitlam, BC at $2,485. In Panama City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Port Coquitlam, BC it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Port Coquitlam, BC or Panama City 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 safer, Port Coquitlam, BC or Panama City?
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.
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, Port Coquitlam, BC makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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