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Mexico City 🇲🇽
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Panama City 🇵🇦
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Playa del Carmen 🇲🇽
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| Population | 8,850,000 | 880,691 | 259,453 |
| Official language(s) | Spanish | Spanish | Spanish |
| Level of English | Moderate | Low | Moderate |
| Main airport | Mexico City International Airport (MEX) | Tocumen International Airport (PTY) | Cancun International Airport (CUN) |
| Most common months to visit | March - May, October, November | December - April | January - May, October - December |
| Currency | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) | PAB - Panamanian Balboa (B/.) | MXN - Mexican Peso ($) |
| Credit cards | Widely accepted (less with AMEX) | Accepted almost everywhere but not in smaller shops. | Accepted almost everywhere |
| Remote worker visa | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Average monthly costs | $1867 | $2359 | $2143 |
| Rent | $778 | $1036 | $923 |
| Groceries | $281 | $236 | $127 |
| Dining out | $182 | $371 | $207 |
| Cafe | $49 | $43 | $42 |
| Coworking space | $159 | $157 | $160 |
| Mobile internet | $25 | $21 | $21 |
| Public transportation | $11 | $12 | $17 |
| Taxis | $9 | $48 | $9 |
| Shared bicycles and scooters | $24 | $0 | $49 |
| Sport and cultural events | $81 | $35 | $97 |
| Museums and sights | $20 | $9 | $217 |
| Nightlife | $64 | $117 | $77 |
| Gym | $69 | $37 | $42 |
| Yoga | $65 | $163 | $54 |
| Massage | $51 | $75 | $101 |
| SIM card options | Telcel, Movistar | Claro, Movistar | Telcel, Movistar |
| Tipping | 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services | 10% in restaurants, round up elsewhere | 10-15% for restaurants |
| Taxi apps | Uber | Uber, Tu Chofer | N/A |
| Tap water | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Not drinkable |
| Overall cuisine | Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese | Latin American. Emphasis on rice, beans, coconut, and local fruits and vegetables. Pork and beef are regularly used and influence from the islands gives seafood dishes a prominent spot in Panamanian cuisine. | Staple dishes from maize, beans, sweet potato and avocado along with meat, chili peppers and other spices |
| Local food specialities | Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas | Sancocho de gallina, carimanola, empanadas, tamales panameños, tostones, ropa vieja | Chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, chile rellenos, cochinita pibil, tostadas, pozole |
| Eat like a local | Markets, food stalls, menú del día (cheap set lunch menus) | Fondas (roadside stalls), smaller local restaurants, local markets, food trucks | Taco stands, esquite stalls, El Fogon, El Pirata, Dona Mary's |
| Vegetarian / vegan options | 279 listings on Happy Cow | 7 options on HappyCow | 72 listings on Happy Cow |