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

😐 Solo nomad: Panama is 12.5% more expensive than Mexico without rent, and 30.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Panama is 8.1% more expensive than Mexico without rent, and 29.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Panama
Mexico
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.89 PAB 9.89
$10.62 MX$183
-6.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.66 PAB 49.66
$42.45 MX$733
16.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.68 PAB 7.68
$8.12 MX$140
-5.42%
Cappuccino
$3.49 PAB 3.49
$3.39 MX$58.5
2.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 PAB 1.47
$1.32 MX$22.87
11.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.26 PAB 1.26
$0.97 MX$16.68
29.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.31 PAB 2.31
$2.34 MX$40.45
-1.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80 PAB 3.80
$4.15 MX$71.7
-8.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Panama
Mexico
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.84 PAB 1.84
$1.48 MX$25.51
24.32%
White Bread (500g)
$2.47 PAB 2.47
$2.53 MX$43.67
-2.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.24 PAB 2.24
$1.71 MX$29.58
30.99%
Eggs
$2.72 PAB 2.72
$2.34 MX$40.41
16.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.12 PAB 11.12
$8.46 MX$146
31.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.03 PAB 7.03
$7.88 MX$136
-10.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.16 PAB 9.16
$10.92 MX$189
-16.12%
Apples (1kg)
$3.94 PAB 3.94
$2.84 MX$49.09
38.73%
Banana (1kg)
$1.32 PAB 1.32
$1.51 MX$26.10
-12.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.99 PAB 2.99
$1.87 MX$32.21
59.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.98 PAB 2.98
$1.87 MX$32.26
59.36%
Potato (1kg)
$2.16 PAB 2.16
$1.96 MX$33.80
10.20%
Onion (1kg)
$2.48 PAB 2.48
$1.96 MX$33.89
26.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.08 PAB 2.08
$1.32 MX$22.74
57.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 PAB 1.61
$1.05 MX$18.21
53.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.87 PAB 5.87
$4.27 MX$73.8
37.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.93 PAB 9.93
$11.32 MX$196
-12.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.22 PAB 1.22
$1.64 MX$28.31
-25.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 PAB 2.25
$3.02 MX$52.1
-25.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Panama
Mexico
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 PAB 0.52
$0.65 MX$11.29
-20.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$24.98 PAB 24.98
$26.55 MX$459
-5.91%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.06 PAB 2.06
$2.63 MX$45.42
-21.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 PAB 2.05
$1.94 MX$33.42
5.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.36 PAB 21.36
$10.46 MX$181
104.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 PAB 0.88
$1.31 MX$22.67
-32.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5K PAB 21.5K
$20.2K MX$348.2K
6.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.1K PAB 21.1K
$23.0K MX$396.8K
-8.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Panama
Mexico
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$108 PAB 108
$63.2 MX$1,092
70.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.60 PAB 29.60
$23.08 MX$399
28.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.27 PAB 47.27
$27.95 MX$483
69.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Panama
Mexico
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.91 PAB 49.91
$34.90 MX$603
43.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.22 PAB 34.22
$17.97 MX$310
90.43%
Cinema Ticket
$7.04 PAB 7.04
$4.85 MX$83.7
45.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Panama
Mexico
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$452 PAB 452
$251 MX$4,343
79.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K PAB 11.6K
$5,584 MX$96.4K
107.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Panama
Mexico
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.42 PAB 47.42
$52.6 MX$908
-9.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.80 PAB 40.80
$40.26 MX$695
1.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.7 PAB 83.7
$93.7 MX$1,618
-10.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 PAB 120
$88.8 MX$1,533
35.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Panama
Mexico
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$939 PAB 939
$651 MX$11.2K
44.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$714 PAB 714
$448 MX$7,738
59.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,730 PAB 1,730
$1,244 MX$21.5K
39.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,353 PAB 1,353
$859 MX$14.8K
57.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,042 PAB 3,042
$2,822 MX$48.7K
7.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,677 PAB 1,677
$1,604 MX$27.7K
4.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Panama
Mexico
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$821 PAB 821
$823 MX$14.2K
-0.21%
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: April 12, 2026

Last update for Mexico: April 13, 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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