Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and Playa del Carmen

😐 Solo nomad: Panama City is 9.4% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 43.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Panama City is 6.6% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 22% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Panama City
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.17 PAB 10.17
$11.85 MX$208
-14.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.4 PAB 50.4
$42.16 MX$742
19.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.88 PAB 7.88
$10.75 MX$189
-26.70%
Cappuccino
$3.71 PAB 3.71
$3.47 MX$61.1
6.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 PAB 1.64
$1.45 MX$25.56
13.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33 PAB 1.33
$0.90 MX$15.88
47.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 PAB 2.95
$3.05 MX$53.7
-3.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.06 PAB 4.06
$4.42 MX$77.7
-8.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Panama City
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.83 PAB 1.83
$1.37 MX$24.09
33.58%
White Bread (500g)
$2.58 PAB 2.58
$1.87 MX$32.93
37.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.40 PAB 2.40
$1.54 MX$27.15
55.84%
Eggs
$2.97 PAB 2.97
$2.50 MX$44.03
18.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.34 PAB 11.34
$8.61 MX$151
31.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.06 PAB 7.06
$8.63 MX$152
-18.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.76 PAB 9.76
$11.02 MX$194
-11.43%
Apples (1kg)
$3.40 PAB 3.40
$2.75 MX$48.36
23.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 PAB 1.50
$1.43 MX$25.12
4.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.77 PAB 2.77
$1.87 MX$32.94
48.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.23 PAB 3.23
$2.17 MX$38.13
48.85%
Potato (1kg)
$2.20 PAB 2.20
$1.88 MX$33.12
17.02%
Onion (1kg)
$2.87 PAB 2.87
$2.25 MX$39.51
27.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.17 PAB 2.17
$1.07 MX$18.78
102.80%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 PAB 1.54
$1.07 MX$18.88
43.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.99 PAB 5.99
$4.15 MX$73.1
44.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.31 PAB 10.31
$10.34 MX$182
-0.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30 PAB 1.30
$1.68 MX$29.54
-22.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 PAB 2.33
$2.48 MX$43.69
-6.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Panama City
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.43 PAB 0.43
$0.55 MX$9.76
-21.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.39 PAB 22.39
$26.53 MX$467
-15.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.46 PAB 2.46
$3.22 MX$56.6
-23.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.82 PAB 1.82
$2.48 MX$43.65
-26.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.57 PAB 21.57
$3.11 MX$54.7
593.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 PAB 0.95
$1.26 MX$22.09
-24.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.1K PAB 20.1K
$30.7K MX$539.3K
-34.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.1K PAB 20.1K
$24.0K MX$422.8K
-16.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Panama City
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$123 PAB 123
$82.5 MX$1,451
49.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.81 PAB 29.81
$22.29 MX$392
33.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.87 PAB 49.87
$30.02 MX$528
66.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Panama City
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.19 PAB 46.19
$51.4 MX$905
-10.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$32.83 PAB 32.83
$18.29 MX$322
79.50%
Cinema Ticket
$8.09 PAB 8.09
$4.98 MX$87.7
62.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Panama City
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$478 PAB 478
$200 MX$3,518
139.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K PAB 15.8K
$5,304 MX$93.3K
197.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Panama City
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.0 PAB 52.0
$35.71 MX$628
45.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.66 PAB 46.66
$39.56 MX$696
17.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.6 PAB 89.6
$80.6 MX$1,417
11.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 PAB 123
$88.3 MX$1,554
39.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Panama City
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,124 PAB 1,124
$969 MX$17.1K
15.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$894 PAB 894
$482 MX$8,482
85.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,059 PAB 2,059
$1,595 MX$28.1K
29.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,553 PAB 1,553
$1,184 MX$20.8K
31.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,128 PAB 3,128
$4,050 MX$71.2K
-22.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,730 PAB 1,730
$6,522 MX$114.7K
-73.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Panama City
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$967 PAB 967
$756 MX$13.3K
27.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.23
11.42
-45.45%

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

Last update for Panama City: March 1, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

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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