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

😐 Solo nomad: Panama City is 1.6% more expensive than Mexico City without rent, and 20.7% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Panama City is 0.3% cheaper than Mexico City without rent, and 14.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Panama City
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.13 PAB 10.13
$13.29 MX$230
-23.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.2 PAB 50.2
$53.8 MX$929
-6.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.19 PAB 8.19
$9.29 MX$161
-11.84%
Cappuccino
$3.63 PAB 3.63
$3.61 MX$62.4
0.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 PAB 1.68
$1.56 MX$26.92
7.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39 PAB 1.39
$1.12 MX$19.38
24.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 PAB 2.99
$3.13 MX$54.0
-4.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.89 PAB 3.89
$4.71 MX$81.4
-17.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Panama City
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.82 PAB 1.82
$1.70 MX$29.42
7.06%
White Bread (500g)
$2.47 PAB 2.47
$2.77 MX$47.84
-10.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.40 PAB 2.40
$1.96 MX$33.91
22.45%
Eggs
$2.82 PAB 2.82
$2.60 MX$45.03
8.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.46 PAB 11.46
$9.94 MX$172
15.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.36 PAB 7.36
$8.10 MX$140
-9.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.81 PAB 9.81
$11.50 MX$199
-14.70%
Apples (1kg)
$3.38 PAB 3.38
$2.87 MX$49.64
17.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.47 PAB 1.47
$1.73 MX$29.95
-15.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.83 PAB 2.83
$2.00 MX$34.59
41.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.09 PAB 3.09
$2.04 MX$35.24
51.47%
Potato (1kg)
$2.24 PAB 2.24
$2.08 MX$36.00
7.69%
Onion (1kg)
$2.77 PAB 2.77
$2.20 MX$37.96
25.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.13 PAB 2.13
$1.45 MX$25.13
46.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 PAB 1.54
$1.07 MX$18.56
43.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.03 PAB 6.03
$4.27 MX$73.9
41.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.98 PAB 10.98
$14.32 MX$248
-23.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 PAB 1.28
$1.76 MX$30.50
-27.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40 PAB 2.40
$3.70 MX$63.9
-35.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Panama City
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.41 PAB 0.41
$0.35 MX$6.10
17.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.68 PAB 22.68
$19.19 MX$332
18.19%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.55 PAB 2.55
$1.34 MX$23.09
90.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.83 PAB 1.83
$0.28 MX$4.81
553.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.82 PAB 21.82
$5.33 MX$92.2
309.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.87 PAB 0.87
$1.34 MX$23.18
-35.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.7K PAB 19.7K
$19.1K MX$330.6K
2.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.8K PAB 20.8K
$23.9K MX$412.9K
-12.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Panama City
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$121 PAB 121
$39.86 MX$689
202.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.37 PAB 30.37
$26.78 MX$463
13.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.88 PAB 48.88
$29.36 MX$508
66.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Panama City
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.39 PAB 45.39
$53.4 MX$924
-15.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$32.72 PAB 32.72
$26.09 MX$451
25.41%
Cinema Ticket
$8.08 PAB 8.08
$6.40 MX$111
26.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Panama City
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$470 PAB 470
$440 MX$7,616
6.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K PAB 15.8K
$10.8K MX$185.9K
46.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Panama City
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.7 PAB 51.7
$57.6 MX$996
-10.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.93 PAB 46.93
$45.02 MX$778
4.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.0 PAB 89.0
$104 MX$1,794
-14.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 PAB 123
$108 MX$1,866
14.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Panama City
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,149 PAB 1,149
$1,013 MX$17.5K
13.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$883 PAB 883
$630 MX$10.9K
40.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,063 PAB 2,063
$2,162 MX$37.4K
-4.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,595 PAB 1,595
$1,222 MX$21.1K
30.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,067 PAB 3,067
$3,793 MX$65.6K
-19.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,712 PAB 1,712
$2,332 MX$40.3K
-26.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Panama City
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$947 PAB 947
$1,075 MX$18.6K
-11.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.23
11.34
-45.06%

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

Last update for Panama City: April 13, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: April 11, 2026

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

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