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

😐 Solo nomad: Panama is 12.3% more expensive than Mexico without rent, and 30.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Panama is 9.7% more expensive than Mexico without rent, and 26.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Panama
Mexico
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.93 PAB 9.93
$10.49 MX$182
-5.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.9 PAB 50.9
$41.52 MX$719
22.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.54 PAB 7.54
$7.98 MX$138
-5.51%
Cappuccino
$3.53 PAB 3.53
$3.42 MX$59.2
3.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 PAB 1.51
$1.32 MX$22.78
14.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 PAB 1.29
$1.00 MX$17.26
29.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.30 PAB 2.30
$2.40 MX$41.51
-4.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69 PAB 3.69
$4.26 MX$73.7
-13.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Panama
Mexico
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.77 PAB 1.77
$1.51 MX$26.17
17.22%
White Bread (500g)
$2.41 PAB 2.41
$2.57 MX$44.46
-6.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.26 PAB 2.26
$1.74 MX$30.18
29.89%
Eggs
$2.61 PAB 2.61
$2.48 MX$42.97
5.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.25 PAB 11.25
$8.65 MX$150
30.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.05 PAB 7.05
$7.93 MX$137
-11.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.06 PAB 9.06
$11.10 MX$192
-18.38%
Apples (1kg)
$4.05 PAB 4.05
$2.81 MX$48.72
44.13%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 PAB 1.38
$1.49 MX$25.82
-7.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.94 PAB 2.94
$1.92 MX$33.21
53.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.05 PAB 3.05
$1.78 MX$30.88
71.35%
Potato (1kg)
$2.09 PAB 2.09
$2.03 MX$35.21
2.96%
Onion (1kg)
$2.45 PAB 2.45
$2.03 MX$35.24
20.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.07 PAB 2.07
$1.27 MX$21.93
62.99%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 PAB 1.61
$1.00 MX$17.34
61.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.88 PAB 5.88
$4.32 MX$74.9
36.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.17 PAB 10.17
$11.55 MX$200
-11.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 PAB 1.24
$1.65 MX$28.51
-24.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 PAB 2.17
$3.00 MX$52.0
-27.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Panama
Mexico
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 PAB 0.51
$0.65 MX$11.17
-21.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.03 PAB 25.03
$26.37 MX$457
-5.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.99 PAB 1.99
$2.63 MX$45.55
-24.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.01 PAB 2.01
$1.93 MX$33.51
4.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.24 PAB 21.24
$10.51 MX$182
102.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.96 PAB 0.96
$1.33 MX$22.98
-27.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.7K PAB 21.7K
$20.2K MX$350.6K
7.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.3K PAB 21.3K
$22.6K MX$391.0K
-5.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Panama
Mexico
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$107 PAB 107
$62.2 MX$1,078
72.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.34 PAB 29.34
$23.42 MX$406
25.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.08 PAB 48.08
$27.93 MX$484
72.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Panama
Mexico
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.6 PAB 50.6
$34.84 MX$603
45.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$33.55 PAB 33.55
$18.07 MX$313
85.67%
Cinema Ticket
$6.80 PAB 6.80
$4.87 MX$84.3
39.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Panama
Mexico
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$449 PAB 449
$253 MX$4,386
77.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K PAB 11.6K
$5,689 MX$98.5K
103.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Panama
Mexico
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.32 PAB 46.32
$51.6 MX$894
-10.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.74 PAB 40.74
$41.34 MX$716
-1.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.1 PAB 86.1
$92.7 MX$1,605
-7.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 PAB 116
$88.5 MX$1,532
30.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Panama
Mexico
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$939 PAB 939
$634 MX$11.0K
48.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$719 PAB 719
$454 MX$7,866
58.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,734 PAB 1,734
$1,249 MX$21.6K
38.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,352 PAB 1,352
$877 MX$15.2K
54.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,996 PAB 2,996
$2,736 MX$47.4K
9.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,711 PAB 1,711
$1,630 MX$28.2K
4.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Panama
Mexico
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$831 PAB 831
$830 MX$14.4K
0.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.3
11.45
-44.98%

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

Last update for Panama: March 3, 2026

Last update for Mexico: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated January 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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