Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama and Mexico 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Mexico is 3.4% lower than in Panama (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Mexico is 8.9% lower than in Panama | |
| Rent Prices in Mexico are 22.4% lower than in Panama | |
| Restaurant Prices in Mexico are 4.8% higher than in Panama | |
| Groceries Prices in Mexico are 6.3% lower than in Panama | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Mexico is 8.2% higher than in Panama | |
Restaurants | Panama Edit |
Mexico Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant |
$10.00 (Mex$173.13) |
$11.55 (Mex$200.00) |
+15.5 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) |
$50.00 (Mex$865.63) |
$46.21 (Mex$800.00) |
-7.6 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) |
$7.75 (Mex$134.09) |
$9.24 (Mex$160.00) |
+19.3 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) |
$2.50 (Mex$43.28) |
$2.89 (Mex$50.00) |
+15.5 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
$4.00 (Mex$69.25) |
$4.62 (Mex$80.00) |
+15.5 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) |
$3.80 (Mex$65.79) |
$3.78 (Mex$65.42) |
-0.6 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) |
$1.52 (Mex$26.35) |
$1.50 (Mex$25.95) |
-1.5 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) |
$1.33 (Mex$22.97) |
$1.09 (Mex$18.91) |
-17.7 % |
Markets | Panama Edit |
Mexico Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) |
$1.82 (Mex$31.43) |
$1.71 (Mex$29.63) |
-5.7 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) |
$2.15 (Mex$37.20) |
$2.61 (Mex$45.16) |
+21.4 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) |
$1.11 (Mex$19.20) |
$0.84 (Mex$14.54) |
-24.3 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) |
$2.59 (Mex$44.78) |
$2.62 (Mex$45.31) |
+1.2 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
$5.36 (Mex$92.87) |
$4.44 (Mex$76.92) |
-17.2 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
$3.00 (Mex$51.93) |
$3.98 (Mex$68.82) |
+32.5 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) |
$4.51 (Mex$78.13) |
$5.59 (Mex$96.72) |
+23.8 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.98 (Mex$34.25) |
$1.37 (Mex$23.64) |
-31.0 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.63 (Mex$10.93) |
$0.77 (Mex$13.40) |
+22.6 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.44 (Mex$24.94) |
$0.98 (Mex$17.04) |
-31.7 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.47 (Mex$25.50) |
$0.95 (Mex$16.43) |
-35.6 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.05 (Mex$18.22) |
$0.96 (Mex$16.70) |
-8.4 % |
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.27 (Mex$21.96) |
$0.97 (Mex$16.74) |
-23.8 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) |
$2.14 (Mex$36.99) |
$1.47 (Mex$25.54) |
-31.0 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) |
$1.62 (Mex$28.13) |
$1.20 (Mex$20.70) |
-26.4 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
$10.00 (Mex$173.13) |
$11.55 (Mex$200.00) |
+15.5 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) |
$1.31 (Mex$22.69) |
$1.83 (Mex$31.67) |
+39.6 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
$2.21 (Mex$38.24) |
$3.45 (Mex$59.79) |
+56.3 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) |
$6.00 (Mex$103.88) |
$4.71 (Mex$81.50) |
-21.5 % |
Transportation | Panama Edit |
Mexico Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) |
$0.50 (Mex$8.66) |
$0.64 (Mex$11.00) |
+27.1 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) |
$21.00 (Mex$363.57) |
$28.88 (Mex$500.00) |
+37.5 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) |
$2.50 (Mex$43.28) |
$2.89 (Mex$50.00) |
+15.5 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) |
$3.00 (Mex$51.94) |
$4.35 (Mex$75.24) |
+44.9 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) |
$22.00 (Mex$380.88) |
$11.55 (Mex$200.00) |
-47.5 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) |
$0.98 (Mex$16.92) |
$1.46 (Mex$25.29) |
+49.5 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) |
$21,262.00 (Mex$368,102.63) |
$22,352.95 (Mex$386,990.00) |
+5.1 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) |
$22,301.85 (Mex$386,105.28) |
$25,593.88 (Mex$443,099.09) |
+14.8 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Panama Edit |
Mexico Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) |
$110.19 (Mex$1,907.66) |
$74.05 (Mex$1,282.07) |
-32.8 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) |
$28.09 (Mex$486.34) |
$25.15 (Mex$435.47) |
-10.5 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) |
$46.80 (Mex$810.20) |
$30.82 (Mex$533.54) |
-34.1 % |
Sports And Leisure | Panama Edit |
Mexico Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership |
$48.12 (Mex$833.17) |
$39.52 (Mex$684.19) |
-17.9 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) |
$27.07 (Mex$468.74) |
$18.88 (Mex$326.78) |
-30.3 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) |
$7.50 (Mex$129.85) |
$5.78 (Mex$100.00) |
-23.0 % |
Childcare | Panama Edit |
Mexico Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child |
$488.89 (Mex$8,463.99) |
$283.59 (Mex$4,909.77) |
-42.0 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child |
$9,020.25 (Mex$156,164.88) |
$6,930.03 (Mex$119,977.61) |
-23.2 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Panama Edit |
Mexico Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) |
$47.50 (Mex$822.35) |
$59.92 (Mex$1,037.46) |
+26.2 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) |
$40.00 (Mex$692.51) |
$44.26 (Mex$766.30) |
+10.7 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
$83.12 (Mex$1,439.12) |
$103.99 (Mex$1,800.39) |
+25.1 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes |
$113.57 (Mex$1,966.23) |
$97.31 (Mex$1,684.64) |
-14.3 % |
Rent Per Month | Panama Edit |
Mexico Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
$954.42 (Mex$16,523.64) |
$778.02 (Mex$13,469.64) |
-18.5 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
$741.38 (Mex$12,835.37) |
$507.46 (Mex$8,785.51) |
-31.6 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
$1,748.21 (Mex$30,266.31) |
$1,451.49 (Mex$25,129.23) |
-17.0 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
$1,305.00 (Mex$22,593.07) |
$949.64 (Mex$16,440.89) |
-27.2 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Panama Edit |
Mexico Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
$279.45 (Mex$4,838.03) |
$252.57 (Mex$4,372.59) |
-9.6 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
$157.84 (Mex$2,732.68) |
$147.53 (Mex$2,554.09) |
-6.5 % |
Salaries And Financing | Panama Edit |
Mexico Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
$828.86 (Mex$14,349.74) |
$816.99 (Mex$14,144.30) |
-1.4 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 6.31 | 11.43 | +81.2 % |
| Last update: | 14 May 2026 | 20 May 2026 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 75 | 689 | |
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