Moving to Panama from Mexico
What to Expect
Considering a move from Mexico to Panama? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Mexico to Panama, you would find that Panama is 18.4% more expensive than Mexico overall. A MX$1,310,130 salary in Mexico would need to be roughly PAB85,663 in Panama to maintain the same lifestyle. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Panama City averages 93°F vs 74°F in Mexico City, making it significantly warmer.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Mexico and Panama.
What does your salary buy?
MX$1,310,130 → PAB85,663
To maintain the same standard of living in Panama
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 2.3% less
Groceries
pay 21.7% more
Transportation
pay 9.7% less
Housing
pay 54.6% more
Childcare
pay 61.1% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 10.2% more
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Mexico to Panama.
Who's moving to Panama?
Top countries of origin for Panama's foreign-born residents.
- 119,553
- 50,702
- 22,427
- 16,867
- 15,517
- 9,711
- · · ·
-
8.5,801
Mexico
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Panama compared to Mexico.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
Panama generally does better on safety, though Mexico leads in feel safe walking at night.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Panama generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Mexico leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Panama performs significantly better than Mexico across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Mexico generally does better on infrastructure, though Panama leads in water stress level.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
Panama generally does better on employment & economy, though Mexico leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
percentage of adults who can read and write
Mexico generally does better on family life, though Panama leads in life expectancy.
Data: Servicio de Administración Tributaria, SHCP, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Mexico City | Panama City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 74°/45°F (23°/7°C) | 94°/65°F (34°/18°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 79°/53°F (26°/12°C) | 94°/69°F (35°/21°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 73°/53°F (23°/12°C) | 92°/70°F (34°/21°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 71°/47°F (22°/8°C) | 91°/68°F (33°/20°C) |
View all months
| Month | Mexico City | Panama City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 70°/42°F (21.2°/5.8°C) | 92°/65°F (33.4°/18.5°C) |
| Feb | 73°/45°F (22.9°/7.1°C) | 94°/65°F (34.2°/18.4°C) |
| Mar | 78°/49°F (25.7°/9.2°C) | 95°/65°F (34.8°/18.4°C) |
| Apr | 80°/51°F (26.6°/10.8°C) | 96°/67°F (35.4°/19.5°C) |
| May | 80°/53°F (26.5°/11.7°C) | 94°/70°F (34.5°/21.1°C) |
| Jun | 76°/54°F (24.6°/12.2°C) | 93°/70°F (33.8°/21.3°C) |
| Jul | 73°/53°F (23.0°/11.5°C) | 93°/70°F (33.9°/21.0°C) |
| Aug | 74°/53°F (23.3°/11.6°C) | 93°/70°F (33.9°/20.9°C) |
| Sep | 72°/53°F (22.3°/11.5°C) | 91°/70°F (32.9°/21.0°C) |
| Oct | 72°/50°F (22.2°/9.8°C) | 91°/69°F (32.6°/20.8°C) |
| Nov | 71°/46°F (21.8°/7.9°C) | 91°/69°F (32.9°/20.3°C) |
| Dec | 69°/44°F (20.8°/6.6°C) | 92°/67°F (33.3°/19.2°C) |
Data:
Coordinación General del Servicio Meteorológico Nacional,
IMHPA - Instituto de Meteorología e Hidrología de Panamá
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Mexico and Panama. To live, work, or study long-term in Panama, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Panama's immigration authority.
Mexico passport holder visiting Panama
Visa Free
Panama passport holder visiting Mexico
Visa FreeData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Panama than Mexico?
On average Panama is around 14% pricier than Mexico, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Panama?
Budget about PAB21,416 for 3 months in Panama (based on a MX$1,310,130 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Panama?
Connectivity is usually fine (Panama: 15.5 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Panama offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Panama safe for expats?
Panama generally does better on safety, though Mexico leads in feel safe walking at night. The homicide rate in Panama is 11.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 26.1 in Mexico. About 33% of people in Panama feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Panama compared to Mexico?
Panama generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Mexico leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 17.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Panama, compared to 25.6 in Mexico. Panama scores 78 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Mexico: 75).
What's the weather like in Panama compared to Mexico?
The average high temperature in Panama City is 93°F, compared to 74°F in Mexico City. Panama City receives around 75.1 in of rainfall per year, while Mexico City gets 32.1 in.
What language do they speak in Panama?
Both Mexico and Panama share the same official language: Spanish.
