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 $1,305 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,862 in Panama City, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,727 in Panama City, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,362 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $3,591 in Panama City, rent included.

Playa del Carmen is about 30% cheaper than Panama City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Playa del Carmen sits 5% below the global median, while Panama City is 35% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.96 MX$203

$10.08 PAB 10.08

18.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.38 MX$804

$44.52 PAB 44.52

6.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.75 MX$199

$7.79 PAB 7.79

50.83%

Cappuccino

$4.12 MX$70.0

$3.98 PAB 3.98

3.52%

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

$1.40 MX$23.74

$1.94 PAB 1.94

-27.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 MX$15.48

$1.58 PAB 1.58

-42.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.21 MX$54.4

$3.03 PAB 3.03

5.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.07 MX$120

$4.02 PAB 4.02

75.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 MX$28.44

$1.84 PAB 1.84

-8.70%

White Bread (500g)

$2.15 MX$36.48

$2.43 PAB 2.43

-11.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 MX$30.10

$3.10 PAB 3.10

-42.90%

Eggs

$2.82 MX$47.76

$2.81 PAB 2.81

0.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.20 MX$156

$12.54 PAB 12.54

-26.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.23 MX$157

$6.55 PAB 6.55

40.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.64 MX$214

$10.25 PAB 10.25

23.32%

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 MX$50.1

$4.29 PAB 4.29

-31.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 MX$26.79

$1.75 PAB 1.75

-9.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.22 MX$37.70

$4.02 PAB 4.02

-44.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.36 MX$40.09

$4.06 PAB 4.06

-41.87%

Potato (1kg)

$1.99 MX$33.81

$3.10 PAB 3.10

-35.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.98 MX$33.58

$4.45 PAB 4.45

-55.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 MX$21.04

$2.25 PAB 2.25

-44.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 MX$20.55

$1.73 PAB 1.73

-30.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.60 MX$78.1

$6.06 PAB 6.06

-24.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.52 MX$178

$10.95 PAB 10.95

-3.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 MX$28.70

$1.37 PAB 1.37

23.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 MX$47.06

$2.76 PAB 2.76

0.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MX$10.22

$0.34 PAB 0.34

76.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.70 MX$504

$21.16 PAB 21.16

40.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.24 MX$88.8

$2.47 PAB 2.47

112.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.65 MX$61.9

$1.77 PAB 1.77

106.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.78 MX$98.1

$22.29 PAB 22.29

-74.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MX$26.09

$1.16 PAB 1.16

32.76%

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

$22.8K MX$386.8K

$21.0K PAB 21.0K

8.44%

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

$25.8K MX$437.9K

$21.0K PAB 21.0K

22.95%

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

$90.7 MX$1,538

$129 PAB 129

-29.55%

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

$25.19 MX$427

$29.00 PAB 29.00

-13.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.75 MX$539

$47.99 PAB 47.99

-33.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.8 MX$1,167

$47.57 PAB 47.57

44.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.37 MX$498

$33.90 PAB 33.90

-13.36%

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MX$82.5

$7.93 PAB 7.93

-38.71%

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

$226 MX$3,828

$553 PAB 553

-59.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,194 MX$71.1K

$9,520 PAB 9,520

-55.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.38 MX$804

$60.9 PAB 60.9

-22.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.45 MX$737

$46.58 PAB 46.58

-6.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.2 MX$1,361

$92.6 PAB 92.6

-13.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.4 MX$1,550

$119 PAB 119

-23.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,086 MX$18.4K

$1,296 PAB 1,296

-16.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$409 MX$6,933

$931 PAB 931

-56.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,972 MX$33.5K

$2,077 PAB 2,077

-5.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,281 MX$21.7K

$1,468 PAB 1,468

-12.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,046 MX$68.6K

$3,129 PAB 3,129

29.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,704 MX$113.7K

$1,680 PAB 1,680

298.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$773 MX$13.1K

$931 PAB 931

-16.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.45

6.39

79.19%

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

Last update for Playa del Carmen: September 7, 2026

Last update for Panama City: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,086 in Playa del Carmen versus $1,296 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 20% 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $45.00 in Panama City. Groceries tell a different story – $278 in Playa del Carmen vs $318 in Panama City – so Playa del Carmen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 43%, 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 $1,958 per month in Playa del Carmen and $2,793 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 15% 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 $47.00 in Playa del Carmen and $45.00 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 $1,305, than in Panama City at $1,862. 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.