Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Panama City Cost of Living Comparison Between Playa del Carmen and Panama City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,297 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,763 in Panama City, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,181 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,717 in Panama City, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,065 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,671 in Panama City, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 26% cheaper than Panama City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 3% below the global median, while Panama City is 32% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 MX$203

$10.08 PAB 10.08

16.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.62 MX$721

$50.4 PAB 50.4

-17.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.64 MX$184

$7.80 PAB 7.80

36.41%

Cappuccino

$3.52 MX$61.0

$3.69 PAB 3.69

-4.61%

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

$1.51 MX$26.17

$1.70 PAB 1.70

-11.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 MX$16.87

$1.35 PAB 1.35

-28.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 MX$51.1

$3.06 PAB 3.06

-3.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MX$77.2

$3.91 PAB 3.91

13.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 MX$23.97

$1.82 PAB 1.82

-24.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 MX$32.78

$2.56 PAB 2.56

-26.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 MX$28.37

$2.49 PAB 2.49

-34.14%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.42

$2.96 PAB 2.96

-15.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.34 MX$145

$11.25 PAB 11.25

-25.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 MX$145

$7.22 PAB 7.22

15.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.73 MX$186

$10.19 PAB 10.19

5.30%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 MX$45.12

$3.43 PAB 3.43

-24.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MX$25.25

$1.50 PAB 1.50

-2.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.94

$2.85 PAB 2.85

-33.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.98

$3.19 PAB 3.19

-34.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MX$30.77

$2.21 PAB 2.21

-19.46%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.87

$2.77 PAB 2.77

-20.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 MX$18.02

$2.25 PAB 2.25

-53.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.66

$1.58 PAB 1.58

-31.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.08 MX$70.7

$5.91 PAB 5.91

-30.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.32 MX$179

$11.11 PAB 11.11

-7.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.67

$1.28 PAB 1.28

33.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 MX$44.63

$2.32 PAB 2.32

11.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 MX$8.83

$0.40 PAB 0.40

27.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.46 MX$459

$22.08 PAB 22.08

19.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 MX$56.5

$2.57 PAB 2.57

26.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.49 MX$43.17

$1.78 PAB 1.78

39.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 MX$56.3

$21.73 PAB 21.73

-85.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 MX$22.65

$0.93 PAB 0.93

40.86%

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

$30.3K MX$524.7K

$19.7K PAB 19.7K

53.85%

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

$23.4K MX$406.0K

$20.9K PAB 20.9K

12.20%

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

$82.9 MX$1,436

$121 PAB 121

-31.73%

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

$22.22 MX$385

$29.44 PAB 29.44

-24.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.34 MX$508

$49.27 PAB 49.27

-40.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.6 MX$895

$45.92 PAB 45.92

12.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.32 MX$317

$32.32 PAB 32.32

-43.32%

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MX$87.8

$8.11 PAB 8.11

-37.48%

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

$201 MX$3,480

$484 PAB 484

-58.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,212 MX$90.3K

$15.8K PAB 15.8K

-67.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.92 MX$640

$51.2 PAB 51.2

-27.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.79 MX$689

$45.98 PAB 45.98

-13.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 MX$1,360

$89.0 PAB 89.0

-11.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 MX$1,509

$122 PAB 122

-28.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$973 MX$16.9K

$1,157 PAB 1,157

-15.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$468 MX$8,105

$893 PAB 893

-47.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 MX$28.4K

$1,996 PAB 1,996

-17.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,221 MX$21.2K

$1,580 PAB 1,580

-22.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,946 MX$68.4K

$3,069 PAB 3,069

28.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,498 MX$112.6K

$1,730 PAB 1,730

275.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$664 MX$11.5K

$962 PAB 962

-31.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.42

6.23

83.31%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Last update for Panama City: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $973 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,157 in Panama City. 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 45% 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $50.0 in Panama City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $249 vs $293 – making Playa del Carmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

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

Yes – Panama City is pricier by about 36%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,945 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,644 in Panama City. 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 18% 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen and $50.0 in Panama City. 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 $1,297, than in Panama City at $1,763. 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.