Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Port Hardy and Panama City

For one person, living is cheaper in Port Hardy: $1,698 a month against $1,855 in Panama City, rent and utilities included – about $1,900 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Panama City outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

84

Cost of Living Index in Port Hardy
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Port Hardy Living Index
90

Cost of Living Index in Panama City
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Panama City Living Index

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Port Hardy

🇨🇦 Canada

$1,698

/mo nomad

Panama City

🇵🇦 Panama

$1,855

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,698 per month in Port Hardy vs $1,855 in Panama City, rent included.

Port Hardy $1,698
Panama City $1,855

A couple spends around $2,767 per month in Port Hardy vs $2,804 in Panama City, rent included.

Port Hardy $2,767
Panama City $2,804

A family of three spends $3,835 per month in Port Hardy vs $3,753 in Panama City, rent included.

Port Hardy $3,835
Panama City $3,753

Port Hardy is about 8% cheaper than Panama City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Port Hardy and Panama City sit above the global median – Port Hardy by 26%, Panama City by 37%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.47 CA$24.70

$11.63 PAB 11.63

50.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.1 CA$93.5

$47.92 PAB 47.92

38.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.63 CA$15.03

$7.96 PAB 7.96

33.54%

Cappuccino

$3.80 CA$5.37

$4.22 PAB 4.22

-9.95%

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

$1.95 CA$2.75

$2.01 PAB 2.01

-2.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 CA$2.34

$1.56 PAB 1.56

5.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.76 CA$6.73

$3.39 PAB 3.39

40.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.91 CA$6.95

$3.94 PAB 3.94

24.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 CA$2.44

$1.85 PAB 1.85

-6.49%

White Bread (500g)

$2.53 CA$3.58

$2.56 PAB 2.56

-1.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.19 CA$4.51

$3.48 PAB 3.48

-8.33%

Eggs

$3.48 CA$4.91

$2.69 PAB 2.69

29.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.67 CA$13.66

$12.57 PAB 12.57

-23.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.36 CA$16.06

$6.83 PAB 6.83

66.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.41 CA$20.38

$10.58 PAB 10.58

36.20%

Apples (1kg)

$3.70 CA$5.23

$4.18 PAB 4.18

-11.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.32 CA$1.87

$1.83 PAB 1.83

-27.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.65 CA$5.16

$4.20 PAB 4.20

-13.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.64 CA$5.14

$4.03 PAB 4.03

-9.68%

Potato (1kg)

$2.48 CA$3.51

$3.48 PAB 3.48

-28.74%

Onion (1kg)

$2.13 CA$3.02

$4.22 PAB 4.22

-49.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.42 CA$3.43

$2.41 PAB 2.41

0.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 CA$2.19

$1.69 PAB 1.69

-8.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.57 CA$20.60

$6.14 PAB 6.14

137.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.15 CA$17.18

$11.30 PAB 11.30

7.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 CA$3.56

$1.42 PAB 1.42

77.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 CA$4.20

$2.73 PAB 2.73

8.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.50 CA$3.53

$0.33 PAB 0.33

657.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.8 CA$74.6

$21.23 PAB 21.23

148.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.64 CA$3.73

$2.52 PAB 2.52

4.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.62 CA$2.29

$1.86 PAB 1.86

-12.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.30 CA$35.76

$21.78 PAB 21.78

16.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 CA$1.60

$1.25 PAB 1.25

-9.60%

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

$24.0K CA$33.9K

$21.2K PAB 21.2K

13.02%

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

$19.1K CA$27.1K

$21.0K PAB 21.0K

-8.92%

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

$83.5 CA$118

$130 PAB 130

-35.71%

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

$55.0 CA$77.7

$28.13 PAB 28.13

95.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.3 CA$101

$48.21 PAB 48.21

47.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.38 CA$57.1

$45.78 PAB 45.78

-11.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.92 CA$26.75

$34.92 PAB 34.92

-45.82%

Cinema Ticket

$10.78 CA$15.23

$8.67 PAB 8.67

24.34%

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

$773 CA$1,093

$544 PAB 544

42.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K CA$20.8K

$9,697 PAB 9,697

51.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 CA$78.8

$66.8 PAB 66.8

-16.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.59 CA$58.8

$49.14 PAB 49.14

-15.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.8 CA$116

$93.9 PAB 93.9

-12.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.6 CA$127

$112 PAB 112

-19.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$630 CA$890

$1,257 PAB 1,257

-49.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$626 CA$885

$875 PAB 875

-28.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,365 CA$1,930

$2,155 PAB 2,155

-36.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,360 CA$1,922

$1,564 PAB 1,564

-13.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,049 CA$5,724

$3,122 PAB 3,122

29.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,758 CA$5,313

$1,709 PAB 1,709

119.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,158 CA$4,465

$916 PAB 916

244.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.66

6.39

-27.07%

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

Last update for Port Hardy: 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 Hardy

$626 36.9%

Panama City

$875 47.2% 39.8% $249

Groceries & Markets

Port Hardy

$340 20%

Panama City

$325 17.5% 4.5% $15

Eating Out

Port Hardy

$265 15.6%

Panama City

$207 11.1% 22.1% $59

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Port Hardy

$210 12.4%

Panama City

$206 11.1% 1.7% $3.6

Clothing & Footwear

Port Hardy

$121 7.1%

Panama City

$145 7.8% 19.6% $24

Getting Around

Port Hardy

$74 4.3%

Panama City

$34 1.9% 53.2% $39

Sport & Entertainment

Port Hardy

$62 3.7%

Panama City

$63 3.4% 1.9% $1.2

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $630 in Port Hardy 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 245% higher in Port Hardy, 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 $66.0 in Port Hardy versus $48.00 in Panama City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $340 vs $325 – making Panama City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇨🇦 Port Hardy

🇵🇦 Panama City

🕒 Local time

13:58 1:58 PM

15:58 3:58 PM

2 h ahead of Port Hardy

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

4,100

1,086,990 Capital

💱 Currency

Canadian Dollar CAD $

Panamanian Balboa PAB B/.

📈 Exchange rate

1 CAD = 0.707 USD

1 CAD = 0.629 EUR

1 PAB = 1 USD

1 PAB = 0.89 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 19, 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 19, 2026: 1 USD = 1 PAB (1 PAB = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.12 PAB (1 PAB = 0.89 EUR).

USD to CAD in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Port Hardy Panama City 6,380 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight

From you

Port Hardy
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 Hardy vs Panama City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Panama City is pricier by about 9%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,547 per month in Port Hardy 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 Hardy, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Panama City – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $66.0 in Port Hardy and $48.00 in Panama City. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Port Hardy, where all-in costs run around $1,698, than in Panama City at $1,855. In Port Hardy it covers expenses comfortably, while in Panama City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Port Hardy – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Port Hardy. 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.