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 7% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 42% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Panama City is 29.3% more expensive than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 20.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Panama City
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.13 PAB 10.13
$11.61 MX$201
-12.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.2 PAB 50.2
$42.75 MX$739
17.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.19 PAB 8.19
$10.60 MX$183
-22.74%
Cappuccino
$3.63 PAB 3.63
$3.59 MX$62.0
1.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 PAB 1.68
$1.45 MX$25.10
15.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39 PAB 1.39
$0.90 MX$15.52
54.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 PAB 2.99
$3.03 MX$52.4
-1.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.89 PAB 3.89
$4.56 MX$78.8
-14.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Panama City
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.82 PAB 1.82
$1.45 MX$25.10
25.52%
White Bread (500g)
$2.47 PAB 2.47
$1.83 MX$31.59
34.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.40 PAB 2.40
$1.61 MX$27.80
49.07%
Eggs
$2.82 PAB 2.82
$2.54 MX$43.87
11.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.46 PAB 11.46
$8.54 MX$148
34.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.36 PAB 7.36
$8.47 MX$146
-13.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.81 PAB 9.81
$10.86 MX$188
-9.67%
Apples (1kg)
$3.38 PAB 3.38
$2.73 MX$47.18
23.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.47 PAB 1.47
$1.49 MX$25.80
-1.34%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.83 PAB 2.83
$1.94 MX$33.59
45.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.09 PAB 3.09
$2.16 MX$37.42
43.06%
Potato (1kg)
$2.24 PAB 2.24
$1.85 MX$31.92
21.08%
Onion (1kg)
$2.77 PAB 2.77
$2.19 MX$37.84
26.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.13 PAB 2.13
$1.07 MX$18.54
99.07%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 PAB 1.54
$1.08 MX$18.73
42.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.03 PAB 6.03
$4.06 MX$70.2
48.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.98 PAB 10.98
$10.46 MX$181
4.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 PAB 1.28
$1.65 MX$28.59
-22.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40 PAB 2.40
$2.55 MX$44.06
-5.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Panama City
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.41 PAB 0.41
$0.56 MX$9.61
-26.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.68 PAB 22.68
$26.20 MX$453
-13.44%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.55 PAB 2.55
$3.14 MX$54.3
-18.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.83 PAB 1.83
$2.37 MX$41.00
-22.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.82 PAB 21.82
$3.24 MX$56.0
573.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.87 PAB 0.87
$1.31 MX$22.72
-33.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.7K PAB 19.7K
$30.5K MX$528.0K
-35.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.8K PAB 20.8K
$23.8K MX$411.9K
-12.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Panama City
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$121 PAB 121
$83.1 MX$1,438
45.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.37 PAB 30.37
$22.15 MX$383
37.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.88 PAB 48.88
$29.37 MX$508
66.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Panama City
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.39 PAB 45.39
$51.2 MX$885
-11.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$32.72 PAB 32.72
$18.69 MX$323
75.07%
Cinema Ticket
$8.08 PAB 8.08
$4.89 MX$84.5
65.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Panama City
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$470 PAB 470
$199 MX$3,435
136.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K PAB 15.8K
$5,207 MX$90.0K
202.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Panama City
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.7 PAB 51.7
$35.93 MX$621
43.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.93 PAB 46.93
$39.39 MX$681
19.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.0 PAB 89.0
$80.3 MX$1,388
10.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 PAB 123
$87.6 MX$1,514
40.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Panama City
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,149 PAB 1,149
$963 MX$16.7K
19.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$883 PAB 883
$482 MX$8,336
83.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,063 PAB 2,063
$1,645 MX$28.4K
25.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,595 PAB 1,595
$1,192 MX$20.6K
33.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,067 PAB 3,067
$3,957 MX$68.4K
-22.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,712 PAB 1,712
$6,513 MX$112.6K
-73.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Panama City
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$947 PAB 947
$726 MX$12.6K
30.33%
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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: April 12, 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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