Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Vancouver and Panama

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.

Vancouver, Canada
Panama
Vancouver
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,683
/mo nomad
🇵🇦 Panama
$1,643
/mo nomad
😐 Solo nomad: Vancouver is 37.7% more expensive than Panama without rent, and 63.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Vancouver is 39.1% more expensive than Panama without rent, and 55.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vancouver
Panama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.10 CA$25.45
$7.85 PAB 7.85
130.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.0 CA$99.8
$45.17 PAB 45.17
57.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.57 CA$14.86
$8.06 PAB 8.06
31.14%
Cappuccino
$3.97 CA$5.58
$3.93 PAB 3.93
1.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 CA$2.91
$1.64 PAB 1.64
26.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85 CA$2.60
$1.34 PAB 1.34
38.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.67 CA$7.97
$2.21 PAB 2.21
156.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.61 CA$9.30
$3.89 PAB 3.89
69.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vancouver
Panama
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.16 CA$3.03
$1.81 PAB 1.81
19.34%
White Bread (500g)
$2.58 CA$3.63
$2.42 PAB 2.42
6.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.30 CA$6.04
$2.99 PAB 2.99
43.81%
Eggs
$4.09 CA$5.76
$2.47 PAB 2.47
65.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.12 CA$17.04
$12.34 PAB 12.34
-1.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.28 CA$18.68
$6.93 PAB 6.93
91.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.11 CA$28.28
$10.28 PAB 10.28
95.62%
Apples (1kg)
$3.96 CA$5.58
$4.16 PAB 4.16
-4.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.43 CA$2.01
$1.55 PAB 1.55
-7.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.71 CA$5.21
$3.66 PAB 3.66
1.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.92 CA$5.52
$3.76 PAB 3.76
4.26%
Potato (1kg)
$2.87 CA$4.03
$2.56 PAB 2.56
12.11%
Onion (1kg)
$2.98 CA$4.19
$3.25 PAB 3.25
-8.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.61 CA$3.68
$2.24 PAB 2.24
16.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 CA$2.30
$1.66 PAB 1.66
-1.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.94 CA$22.42
$6.04 PAB 6.04
163.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.25 CA$20.04
$10.14 PAB 10.14
40.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.52 CA$3.55
$1.41 PAB 1.41
78.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 CA$4.04
$2.35 PAB 2.35
22.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Vancouver
Panama
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.57 CA$3.61
$0.38 PAB 0.38
576.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$84.4 CA$119
$21.35 PAB 21.35
295.13%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.74 CA$3.86
$2.56 PAB 2.56
7.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.63 CA$2.29
$1.79 PAB 1.79
-8.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$31.90 CA$44.86
$21.97 PAB 21.97
45.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.46 CA$2.05
$1.18 PAB 1.18
23.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.7K CA$37.6K
$25.9K PAB 25.9K
3.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.0K CA$29.6K
$22.3K PAB 22.3K
-5.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vancouver
Panama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.2 CA$124
$119 PAB 119
-25.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.72 CA$51.6
$26.61 PAB 26.61
37.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.81 CA$70.1
$46.95 PAB 46.95
6.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vancouver
Panama
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.34 CA$63.8
$48.46 PAB 48.46
-6.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.13 CA$17.06
$30.25 PAB 30.25
-59.90%
Cinema Ticket
$12.55 CA$17.65
$8.02 PAB 8.02
56.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vancouver
Panama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,055 CA$1,484
$539 PAB 539
95.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$28.5K CA$40.1K
$19.5K PAB 19.5K
46.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vancouver
Panama
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.4 CA$79.3
$53.6 PAB 53.6
5.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.37 CA$48.34
$44.47 PAB 44.47
-22.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.8 CA$126
$90.0 PAB 90.0
-0.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.3 CA$133
$104 PAB 104
-9.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vancouver
Panama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,738 CA$2,444
$996 PAB 996
74.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,528 CA$2,150
$751 PAB 751
103.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,107 CA$4,369
$1,770 PAB 1,770
75.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,547 CA$3,582
$1,384 PAB 1,384
84.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,540 CA$12.0K
$3,003 PAB 3,003
184.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,328 CA$8,899
$1,708 PAB 1,708
270.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vancouver
Panama
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,770 CA$5,302
$818 PAB 818
360.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.24
6.37
-33.44%

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

Last update for Vancouver: November 2, 2026

Last update for Panama: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Vancouver
$1.5K
Panama
$751 50.9% $778
Groceries & Markets
Vancouver
$398
Panama
$305 23.4% $93
Eating Out
Vancouver
$281
Panama
$165 41.4% $116
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vancouver
$175
Panama
$192 10% $17
Clothing & Footwear
Vancouver
$124
Panama
$131 6.1% $7.6
Getting Around
Vancouver
$106
Panama
$34 67.4% $71
Sport & Entertainment
Vancouver
$70
Panama
$65 8.4% $5.9
Good to know
🇨🇦 Vancouver
🇵🇦 Panama
🕒 Local time
10:11 10:11 AM
12:11 12:11 PM
2 h ahead of Vancouver
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
631,486
4,098,587
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PAB, USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.711 USD). 1 EUR = 1.58 CAD (1 CAD = 0.633 EUR).

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).

On the map
Between locations
  • Vancouver Panama 6,030 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Vancouver
  • Panama

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.
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