Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico and Panama Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico and Panama

🙂 Solo nomad: Mexico is 11.6% cheaper than Panama without rent, and 23.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Mexico is 9.7% cheaper than Panama without rent, and 20% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico
Panama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.46 MX$198
$10.18 PAB 10.18
2.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.67 MX$807
$50.5 PAB 50.5
-15.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.15 MX$154
$7.58 PAB 7.58
7.52%
Cappuccino
$3.32 MX$62.7
$3.55 PAB 3.55
-6.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 MX$24.34
$1.51 PAB 1.51
-14.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98 MX$18.47
$1.23 PAB 1.23
-20.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.33 MX$44.09
$2.23 PAB 2.23
4.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.27 MX$80.7
$3.73 PAB 3.73
14.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico
Panama
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.53 MX$28.95
$1.83 PAB 1.83
-16.39%
White Bread (500g)
$2.61 MX$49.42
$2.41 PAB 2.41
8.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 MX$32.3
$2.27 PAB 2.27
-24.67%
Eggs
$2.46 MX$46.46
$2.7 PAB 2.7
-8.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.8 MX$166
$11.54 PAB 11.54
-23.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.84 MX$148
$7.39 PAB 7.39
6.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.85 MX$205
$9.36 PAB 9.36
15.92%
Apples (1kg)
$2.75 MX$51.9
$3.89 PAB 3.89
-29.31%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 MX$27.16
$1.37 PAB 1.37
5.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.84 MX$34.7
$2.89 PAB 2.89
-36.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.8 MX$34.07
$3.05 PAB 3.05
-40.98%
Potato (1kg)
$2 MX$37.78
$2.1 PAB 2.1
-4.76%
Onion (1kg)
$2.05 MX$38.71
$2.46 PAB 2.46
-16.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.27 MX$24.02
$2.14 PAB 2.14
-40.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.06 MX$19.99
$1.6 PAB 1.6
-33.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35 MX$82.3
$5.88 PAB 5.88
-26.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.69 MX$202
$10.17 PAB 10.17
5.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65 MX$31.16
$1.24 PAB 1.24
33.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 MX$55.8
$2.22 PAB 2.22
32.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico
Panama
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.66 MX$12.48
$0.52 PAB 0.52
26.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.9 MX$508
$25.45 PAB 25.45
5.70%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.71 MX$51.2
$2.05 PAB 2.05
32.20%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2 MX$37.8
$1.99 PAB 1.99
0.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.54 MX$199
$20.72 PAB 20.72
-49.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 MX$24.69
$0.96 PAB 0.96
36.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20K MX$377.7K
$21.3K PAB 21.3K
-6.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$441.6K
$20.9K PAB 20.9K
11.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico
Panama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.3 MX$1,177
$108 PAB 108
-42.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.41 MX$442
$29.43 PAB 29.43
-20.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.74 MX$524
$47.41 PAB 47.41
-41.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico
Panama
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.15 MX$664
$49.24 PAB 49.24
-28.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.96 MX$339
$33.72 PAB 33.72
-46.74%
Cinema Ticket
$4.65 MX$87.9
$7.11 PAB 7.11
-34.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico
Panama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$254 MX$4,795
$439 PAB 439
-42.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,582 MX$105.5K
$11.6K PAB 11.6K
-51.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico
Panama
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.2 MX$1,006
$47.07 PAB 47.07
13.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.56 MX$786
$40.77 PAB 40.77
1.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.3 MX$1,744
$85 PAB 85
8.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.7 MX$1,658
$116 PAB 116
-24.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico
Panama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$651 MX$12.3K
$923 PAB 923
-29.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$453 MX$8,561
$711 PAB 711
-36.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,248 MX$23.6K
$1,745 PAB 1,745
-28.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$856 MX$16.2K
$1,378 PAB 1,378
-37.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,146 MX$40.6K
$1,884 PAB 1,884
13.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,480 MX$28K
$1,502 PAB 1,502
-1.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico
Panama
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$743 MX$14.1K
$807 PAB 807
-7.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.45
6.3
81.75%

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

Last update for Mexico: October 28, 2025

Last update for Panama: October 28, 2025

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