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So there are not pockets of paradise there? What is the cost to benefit between Panama and Mexico? Good idea for a next article.

I live in Guadalajara and it's fantastic. There's plenty of paradise here in Mexico. Don't believe the hype.

This might give you an idea of the difference in cost; you can compare a few different cities with this thingamijig:
http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/compare_cities.jsp?country1=Panama&country2=Mexico&city1=Panama+City&city2=Guadalajara&tracking=getDispatchComparison