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 4.5% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 40.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Panama City is 28% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 19.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Panama City
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.18 PAB 10.18
$11.99 MX$227
-15.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.36 PAB 49.36
$42.47 MX$803
16.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.16 PAB 8.16
$10.47 MX$198
-22.06%
Cappuccino
$3.58 PAB 3.58
$3.6 MX$68.2
-0.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 PAB 1.66
$1.44 MX$27.16
15.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 PAB 1.41
$0.89 MX$16.79
58.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.08 PAB 3.08
$3.09 MX$58.5
-0.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.9 PAB 3.9
$4.58 MX$86.6
-14.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Panama City
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.88 PAB 1.88
$1.38 MX$26.04
36.23%
White Bread (500g)
$2.56 PAB 2.56
$1.85 MX$34.9
38.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.52 PAB 2.52
$1.57 MX$29.68
60.51%
Eggs
$2.95 PAB 2.95
$2.55 MX$48.3
15.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.6 PAB 11.6
$8.61 MX$163
34.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.14 PAB 7.14
$8.54 MX$161
-16.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.92 PAB 9.92
$10.98 MX$208
-9.65%
Apples (1kg)
$3.42 PAB 3.42
$2.72 MX$51.4
25.74%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 PAB 1.49
$1.51 MX$28.57
-1.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.73 PAB 2.73
$1.88 MX$35.63
45.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.24 PAB 3.24
$2.19 MX$41.42
47.95%
Potato (1kg)
$2.28 PAB 2.28
$1.87 MX$35.3
21.93%
Onion (1kg)
$2.91 PAB 2.91
$2.19 MX$41.37
32.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.14 PAB 2.14
$1.07 MX$20.23
100.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.57 PAB 1.57
$1.09 MX$20.64
44.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.84 PAB 5.84
$3.96 MX$74.9
47.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.91 PAB 9.91
$8.86 MX$167
11.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.3 PAB 1.3
$1.72 MX$32.53
-24.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32 PAB 2.32
$2.61 MX$49.37
-11.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Panama City
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.44 PAB 0.44
$0.52 MX$9.74
-15.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.32 PAB 22.32
$26.59 MX$503
-16.06%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.53 PAB 2.53
$3.24 MX$61.2
-21.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.76 PAB 1.76
$2.38 MX$44.94
-26.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.86 PAB 21.86
$3.11 MX$58.7
602.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.89 PAB 0.89
$1.31 MX$24.85
-32.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.9K PAB 19.9K
$30.3K MX$573K
-34.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K PAB 20.5K
$24K MX$453.6K
-14.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Panama City
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$124 PAB 124
$84.2 MX$1,592
47.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.96 PAB 29.96
$22.14 MX$419
35.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.2 PAB 50.2
$30.14 MX$570
66.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Panama City
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.96 PAB 44.96
$52 MX$983
-13.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$32.03 PAB 32.03
$18.72 MX$354
71.10%
Cinema Ticket
$8.16 PAB 8.16
$5.07 MX$95.9
60.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Panama City
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$471 PAB 471
$200 MX$3,787
135.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16K PAB 16K
$5,333 MX$100.8K
199.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Panama City
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52 PAB 52
$35.74 MX$676
45.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.24 PAB 45.24
$39.8 MX$753
13.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.6 PAB 87.6
$79 MX$1,493
10.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 PAB 120
$88.4 MX$1,671
36.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Panama City
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,126 PAB 1,126
$965 MX$18.3K
16.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$890 PAB 890
$474 MX$8,968
87.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,013 PAB 2,013
$1,653 MX$31.2K
21.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,555 PAB 1,555
$1,202 MX$22.7K
29.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,710 PAB 2,710
$3,081 MX$58.3K
-12.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,655 PAB 1,655
$7,529 MX$142.3K
-78.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Panama City
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$975 PAB 975
$792 MX$15K
23.13%
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: October 29, 2025

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

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