Cost of living comparison

Mexico City, Mexico

compared to

Panama City, Panama

Panama City vs. Mexico City Cost of Living Summary

Panama City is 44.1% more expensive than Mexico City.

Restaurants: pay 48.9% more in Panama City
Groceries: pay 25.7% more in Panama City
Transportation: pay 2.0 times more in Panama City
Housing: pay 95.0% more in Panama City
Childcare: pay 17.5% more in Panama City
Entertainment and Sports: pay 19.7% more in Panama City
Clothing: pay 0.3% more in Panama City

The cost of transportation, housing, restaurants, groceries, entertainment and sports, and childcare in Panama City are more expensive than in Mexico City. Notably, transportation and housing are significantly more expensive in Panama City.

Panama City vs. Mexico City Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Panama City instead of Mexico City, you would:

Display currency: USD

pay 48.9% more for restaurants

	Mexico City	Panama City
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant	$9.93 MX$201.21	$13.25 PAB13.25	+33.5%
Fast food combo meal McDonalds, or similar	$7.45 MX$150.91	$8.00 PAB8.00	+7.4%
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz)	$1.08 MX$21.87	$1.86 PAB1.86	+72.1%
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz)	$0.77 MX$15.66	$1.41 PAB1.41	+82.6%
Average			+48.9%

Mexico City vs. Panama City - Cost of restaurants

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pay 25.7% more for groceries

	Mexico City	Panama City
Bread 1 loaf	$2.45 MX$49.69	$2.51 PAB2.51	+2.2%
Local cheese (8 oz)	$4.87 MX$98.63	$6.39 PAB6.39	+31.2%
Milk (1 gallon)	$5.51 MX$111.61	$6.80 PAB6.80	+23.5%
Eggs 1 dozen	$2.18 MX$44.23	$2.68 PAB2.68	+22.6%
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb)	$3.57 MX$72.36	$3.41 PAB3.41	-4.6%
Apples (1 lb)	$1.22 MX$24.76	$1.48 PAB1.48	+21.3%
Bananas (1 lb)	$0.67 MX$13.56	$0.72 PAB0.72	+8.0%
Oranges (1 lb)	$0.80 MX$16.19	$1.24 PAB1.24	+55.2%
Tomatoes (1 lb)	$0.83 MX$16.77	$1.40 PAB1.40	+68.9%
Potatoes (1 lb)	$0.85 MX$17.25	$0.98 PAB0.98	+15.6%
Onions (1 lb)	$0.83 MX$16.77	$1.15 PAB1.15	+38.5%
Average			+25.7%

Mexico City vs. Panama City - Cost of groceries

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pay 2.0 times more for transportation

	Mexico City	Panama City
Gasoline (1 gallon)	$4.64 MX$93.98	$3.69 PAB3.69	-20.4%
Monthly public transit pass	$17.87 MX$362.18	$25.00 PAB25.00	+39.9%
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition)	$18,615.02 MX$377,273.73	$19,750.00 PAB19,750.00	+6.1%
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles)	$3.47 MX$70.42	$16.71 PAB16.71	+380.8%
Average			+101.6%

Mexico City vs. Panama City - Cost of transportation

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pay 95.0% more for housing

	Mexico City	Panama City
Internet connection 50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl	$24.38 MX$494.10	$52.10 PAB52.10	+113.7%
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area	$893.52 MX$18,109.14	$1,023.81 PAB1,023.81	+14.6%
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center	$544.24 MX$11,030.11	$755.88 PAB755.88	+38.9%
Utilities for two (700 sq ft apartment) including electric, gas, water, heating	$30.31 MX$614.32	$94.84 PAB94.84	+212.9%
Average			+95.0%

Mexico City vs. Panama City - Cost of housing

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pay 17.5% more for childcare

	Mexico City	Panama City
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly	$381.33 MX$7,728.40	$439.17 PAB439.17	+15.2%
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters	$8,426.99 MX$170,791.22	$10,092.67 PAB10,092.67	+19.8%
Average			+17.5%

Mexico City vs. Panama City - Cost of childcare

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pay 19.7% more for entertainment and sports

	Mexico City	Panama City
Domestic/local beer (1 pint)	$2.73 MX$55.33	$3.00 PAB3.00	+9.9%
Cappuccino in mid-range area	$3.01 MX$60.93	$3.59 PAB3.59	+19.4%
Pack of cigarettes Marlboro or similar	$3.92 MX$79.48	$5.50 PAB5.50	+40.3%
Monthly membership at local gym	$53.69 MX$1,088.09	$47.27 PAB47.27	-11.9%
Movie ticket to theater/cinema	$4.96 MX$100.61	$7.00 PAB7.00	+41.0%
Average			+19.7%

Mexico City vs. Panama City - Cost of entertainment and sports

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pay 0.3% more for clothing

	Mexico City	Panama City
Regular jeans Levi's brand	$56.36 MX$1,142.16	$53.91 PAB53.91	-4.3%
Regular dress from H&M or similar store	$41.06 MX$832.15	$37.78 PAB37.78	-8.0%
Running shoes Nike or Adidas	$91.99 MX$1,864.43	$87.62 PAB87.62	-4.8%
Men's business shoes (leather)	$91.93 MX$1,863.15	$108.75 PAB108.75	+18.3%
Average			+0.3%

Mexico City vs. Panama City - Cost of clothing

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The statistics used to build this comparison are calculated using data from users just like you. We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Learn more about our data sources. Page last updated: March 2025

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