Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and Playa del Carmen

For one person, living is cheaper in Playa del Carmen: $1,210 a month against $1,855 in Panama City, rent and utilities included – about $7,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

90

Cost of Living Index in Panama City
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Panama City Living Index
59

Cost of Living Index in Playa del Carmen
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Playa del Carmen Living Index

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Panama City

🇵🇦 Panama

$1,855

/mo nomad

Playa del Carmen

🇲🇽 Mexico

$1,210

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Panama City and in Playa del Carmen

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Panama City and in Playa del Carmen actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,855 per month in Panama City vs $1,210 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Panama City $1,855
Playa del Carmen $1,210

A couple spends around $2,804 per month in Panama City vs $2,113 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Panama City $2,804
Playa del Carmen $2,113

A family of three spends $3,753 per month in Panama City vs $3,016 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Panama City $3,753
Playa del Carmen $3,016

Panama City costs about 53% more than Playa del Carmen, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Panama City sits 37% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 10% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.63 PAB 11.63

$10.76 MX$199

8.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.92 PAB 47.92

$43.03 MX$795

11.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.96 PAB 7.96

$11.79 MX$218

-32.49%

Cappuccino

$4.22 PAB 4.22

$3.87 MX$71.4

9.04%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 PAB 2.01

$1.37 MX$25.29

46.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 PAB 1.56

$0.84 MX$15.44

85.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.39 PAB 3.39

$3.10 MX$57.3

9.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 PAB 3.94

$5.07 MX$93.6

-22.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 PAB 1.85

$1.44 MX$26.55

28.47%

White Bread (500g)

$2.56 PAB 2.56

$2.23 MX$41.23

14.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.48 PAB 3.48

$1.47 MX$27.17

136.73%

Eggs

$2.69 PAB 2.69

$2.53 MX$46.71

6.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.57 PAB 12.57

$7.30 MX$135

72.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.83 PAB 6.83

$7.86 MX$145

-13.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.58 PAB 10.58

$12.79 MX$236

-17.28%

Apples (1kg)

$4.18 PAB 4.18

$2.90 MX$53.6

44.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 PAB 1.83

$1.44 MX$26.53

27.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.20 PAB 4.20

$2.55 MX$47.07

64.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.03 PAB 4.03

$2.06 MX$38.03

95.63%

Potato (1kg)

$3.48 PAB 3.48

$2.00 MX$36.97

74.00%

Onion (1kg)

$4.22 PAB 4.22

$2.01 MX$37.07

109.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.41 PAB 2.41

$1.19 MX$22.02

102.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 PAB 1.69

$1.26 MX$23.23

34.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.14 PAB 6.14

$4.40 MX$81.4

39.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.30 PAB 11.30

$9.59 MX$177

17.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 PAB 1.42

$1.59 MX$29.41

-10.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 PAB 2.73

$2.81 MX$51.9

-2.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 PAB 0.33

$0.57 MX$10.47

-42.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.23 PAB 21.23

$27.82 MX$514

-23.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.52 PAB 2.52

$4.98 MX$92.1

-49.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.86 PAB 1.86

$3.50 MX$64.6

-46.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.78 PAB 21.78

$5.40 MX$99.8

303.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 PAB 1.25

$1.47 MX$27.08

-14.97%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.2K PAB 21.2K

$21.0K MX$387.8K

1.20%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$21.0K PAB 21.0K

$23.9K MX$441.8K

-12.06%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$130 PAB 130

$84.2 MX$1,556

54.19%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$28.13 PAB 28.13

$23.99 MX$443

17.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.21 PAB 48.21

$29.02 MX$536

66.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.78 PAB 45.78

$63.0 MX$1,164

-27.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.92 PAB 34.92

$29.14 MX$539

19.84%

Cinema Ticket

$8.67 PAB 8.67

$4.94 MX$91.3

75.51%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$544 PAB 544

$204 MX$3,763

167.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,697 PAB 9,697

$3,941 MX$72.8K

146.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.8 PAB 66.8

$43.60 MX$806

53.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.14 PAB 49.14

$43.12 MX$797

13.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.9 PAB 93.9

$75.8 MX$1,400

23.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 PAB 112

$88.6 MX$1,637

25.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,257 PAB 1,257

$1,008 MX$18.6K

24.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$875 PAB 875

$374 MX$6,911

133.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,155 PAB 2,155

$1,708 MX$31.6K

26.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,564 PAB 1,564

$1,106 MX$20.4K

41.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,122 PAB 3,122

$3,944 MX$72.9K

-20.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,709 PAB 1,709

$6,169 MX$114.0K

-72.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$916 PAB 916

$754 MX$13.9K

21.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.39

11.45

-44.19%

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

Last update for Panama City: October 10, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Panama City

$875 47.2%

Playa del Carmen

$374 30.9% 57.3% $501

Groceries & Markets

Panama City

$325 17.5%

Playa del Carmen

$258 21.4% 20.5% $67

Eating Out

Panama City

$207 11.1%

Playa del Carmen

$202 16.7% 2.1% $4.4

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Panama City

$206 11.1%

Playa del Carmen

$137 11.3% 33.5% $69

Clothing & Footwear

Panama City

$145 7.8%

Playa del Carmen

$113 9.3% 21.8% $32

Sport & Entertainment

Panama City

$63 3.4%

Playa del Carmen

$73 6% 15.5% $9.8

Getting Around

Panama City

$34 1.9%

Playa del Carmen

$53 4.3% 52.8% $18

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,257 in Panama City versus $1,008 in Playa del Carmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 21% higher in Panama City, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Panama City versus $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $325 vs $258 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇵🇦 Panama City

🇲🇽 Playa del Carmen

🕒 Local time

10:52 10:52 AM

Same time as Panama City

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,086,990 Capital

149,923

💱 Currency

Panamanian Balboa PAB B/.

Mexican Peso MXN $

📈 Exchange rate

1 PAB = 1 USD

1 PAB = 0.89 EUR

100 MXN = 5.41 USD

100 MXN = 4.81 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to PAB – Panamanian Balboa Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇵🇦 Panamanian Balboa (B/.)

Panamanian Balboa exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 1 PAB (1 PAB = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.12 PAB (1 PAB = 0.89 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

USD to PAB in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Panama City Playa del Carmen 1,530 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Panama City
Playa del Carmen

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Panama City vs Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Panama City is pricier by about 53%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,783 per month in Panama City and $1,816 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 26% more in Panama City, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Panama City and $43.00 in Playa del Carmen. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,210, than in Panama City at $1,855. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Panama City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Playa del Carmen. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Panama City makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.