Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Las Tablas and Mexico City

For one person, living is cheaper in Las Tablas: $456 a month against $1,608 in Mexico City, rent and utilities included – about $13,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Mexico City
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Mexico City Living Index

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Las Tablas

🇵🇦 Panama

$456

/mo nomad

Mexico City

🇲🇽 Mexico

$1,608

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Las Tablas and in Mexico City

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

A single person spends $456 per month in Las Tablas vs $1,608 in Mexico City, rent included.

Las Tablas $456
Mexico City $1,608

A couple spends around $678 per month in Las Tablas vs $2,549 in Mexico City, rent included.

Las Tablas $678
Mexico City $2,549

A family of three spends $901 per month in Las Tablas vs $3,490 in Mexico City, rent included.

Las Tablas $901
Mexico City $3,490

Las Tablas is about 72% cheaper than Mexico City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Las Tablas sits 67% below the global median, while Mexico City is 18% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.89 PAB 9.89

$10.62 MX$199

-6.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.99 PAB 29.99

$48.35 MX$904

-37.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.48 PAB 8.48

$10.35 MX$193

-18.07%

Cappuccino

$3.69 MX$69.0

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

$0.98 PAB 0.98

$1.67 MX$31.14

-41.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 PAB 1.02

$1.27 MX$23.65

-19.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.28 PAB 1.28

$3.19 MX$59.7

-59.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 PAB 2.73

$5.31 MX$99.2

-48.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 MX$32.23

White Bread (500g)

$1.90 PAB 1.90

$3.04 MX$56.8

-37.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.94 MX$36.27

Eggs

$2.10 PAB 2.10

$2.89 MX$54.0

-27.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.97 MX$205

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.25 MX$173

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.13 MX$283

Apples (1kg)

$4.51 PAB 4.51

$3.05 MX$57.0

47.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.25 PAB 1.25

$1.94 MX$36.27

-35.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.03 MX$37.85

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 PAB 1.50

$2.31 MX$43.25

-35.06%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 MX$38.03

Onion (1kg)

$1.80 MX$33.63

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.22 PAB 1.22

$1.48 MX$27.64

-17.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 PAB 0.98

$1.27 MX$23.69

-22.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.30 MX$99.1

Wine (Bottle)

$5.72 PAB 5.72

$16.10 MX$301

-64.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.30 PAB 1.30

$1.98 MX$37.06

-34.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 PAB 1.73

$4.25 MX$79.5

-59.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 MX$5.70

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.73 MX$369

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 PAB 0.98

$1.84 MX$34.34

-46.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 MX$9.97

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.30 MX$99.0

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 PAB 0.92

$1.51 MX$28.23

-39.07%

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

$21.8K MX$406.5K

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

$24.0K MX$448.2K

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

$147 PAB 147

$63.0 MX$1,177

133.74%

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

$22.97 PAB 22.97

$27.39 MX$512

-16.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.35 PAB 37.35

$35.67 MX$666

4.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.79 PAB 19.79

$58.9 MX$1,101

-66.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.64 MX$442

Cinema Ticket

$6.40 MX$120

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

$432 MX$8,065

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.4K MX$213.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.2 MX$1,275

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.1 MX$993

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 MX$2,014

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 MX$2,191

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,113 MX$20.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$710 MX$13.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,588 MX$48.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,406 MX$26.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,631 MX$67.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,135 MX$39.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$946 MX$17.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.35

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

Last update for Las Tablas: October 26, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Las Tablas

–

Mexico City

$710 44.2%

Groceries & Markets

Las Tablas

–

Mexico City

$320 19.9%

Eating Out

Las Tablas

–

Mexico City

$199 12.4%

Clothing & Footwear

Las Tablas

–

Mexico City

$156 9.7%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Las Tablas

–

Mexico City

$126 7.8%

Sport & Entertainment

Las Tablas

–

Mexico City

$72 4.5%

Getting Around

Las Tablas

–

Mexico City

$25 1.6%

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $30 in Las Tablas versus $48 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $103 vs $320 – making Las Tablas the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇵🇦 Las Tablas

🇲🇽 Mexico City

🕒 Local time

09:03 9:03 AM

08:03 8:03 AM

1 h behind Las Tablas

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

8,939

9,209,944 Capital

💱 Currency

Panamanian Balboa PAB B/.

Mexican Peso MXN $

📈 Exchange rate

1 PAB = 1 USD

1 PAB = 0.899 EUR

100 MXN = 5.35 USD

100 MXN = 4.81 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to PAB – Panamanian Balboa Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇵🇦 Panamanian Balboa (B/.)

Panamanian Balboa exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 1 PAB (1 PAB = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.11 PAB (1 PAB = 0.899 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18.69 MXN (100 MXN = 5.35 USD). 1 EUR = 20.8 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

USD to PAB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Las Tablas Mexico City 2,410 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Las Tablas
Mexico 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

Las Tablas vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mexico City costs about 253% more than Las Tablas, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $684 per month in Las Tablas and $2,412 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $456 in Las Tablas and $1,608 in Mexico City. That’s a gap of about 253%.

Groceries cost about 210% more in Mexico City, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $800 monthly budget goes further in Las Tablas, where all-in costs run around $456, than in Mexico City at $1,608. In Las Tablas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Mexico City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $456 in Las Tablas to $1,608 in Mexico City. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.