Cost of Living Comparison Between Boquete and Aguadulce Cost of Living Comparison Between Boquete and Aguadulce

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,389 in Boquete versus $891 in Aguadulce.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,065 in Boquete versus $1,426 in Aguadulce.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,741 in Boquete versus $1,961 in Aguadulce.

Living in Boquete is roughly 56% more expensive than Aguadulce, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Boquete is 4% above, Aguadulce is 33% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.43 PAB 5.43

$9.90 PAB 9.90

-45.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.91 PAB 29.91

$49.87 PAB 49.87

-40.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.36 PAB 7.36

$8.03 PAB 8.03

-8.34%

Cappuccino

$3.32 PAB 3.32

$3.53 PAB 3.53

-5.95%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 PAB 1.40

$1.68 PAB 1.68

-16.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 PAB 0.87

$1.39 PAB 1.39

-37.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.77 PAB 1.77

$3.05 PAB 3.05

-41.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 PAB 2.02

$4.03 PAB 4.03

-49.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 PAB 1.62

$1.86 PAB 1.86

-12.90%

White Bread (500g)

$2.41 PAB 2.41

$2.48 PAB 2.48

-2.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.41 PAB 1.41

$2.48 PAB 2.48

-43.15%

Eggs

$2.66 PAB 2.66

$2.86 PAB 2.86

-6.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.11 PAB 9.11

$11.36 PAB 11.36

-19.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.62 PAB 7.62

$7.17 PAB 7.17

6.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.00 PAB 11.00

$9.86 PAB 9.86

11.56%

Apples (1kg)

$4.44 PAB 4.44

$3.41 PAB 3.41

30.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.00 PAB 1.00

$1.47 PAB 1.47

-31.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.18 PAB 3.18

$2.84 PAB 2.84

11.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.64 PAB 1.64

$3.22 PAB 3.22

-49.07%

Potato (1kg)

$2.28 PAB 2.28

$2.24 PAB 2.24

1.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.68 PAB 1.68

$2.79 PAB 2.79

-39.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.23 PAB 2.23

$2.22 PAB 2.22

0.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 PAB 1.65

$1.51 PAB 1.51

9.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.35 PAB 5.35

$6.05 PAB 6.05

-11.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.08 PAB 8.08

$10.84 PAB 10.84

-25.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 PAB 1.20

$1.23 PAB 1.23

-2.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 PAB 2.70

$2.42 PAB 2.42

11.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 PAB 1.52

$0.24 PAB 0.24

533.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.34 PAB 25.34

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.01 PAB 1.01

$2.47 PAB 2.47

-59.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.06 PAB 2.06

$1.80 PAB 1.80

14.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.39 PAB 30.39

$22.10 PAB 22.10

37.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 PAB 0.89

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.8K PAB 25.8K

$19.7K PAB 19.7K

30.59%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$20.8K PAB 20.8K

$20.6K PAB 20.6K

1.00%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$53.7 PAB 53.7

$125 PAB 125

-57.15%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$28.49 PAB 28.49

$29.48 PAB 29.48

-3.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$45.79 PAB 45.79

$49.11 PAB 49.11

-6.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$87.9 PAB 87.9

$47.06 PAB 47.06

86.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.68 PAB 17.68

Cinema Ticket

$6.41 PAB 6.41

$7.80 PAB 7.80

-17.82%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$245 PAB 245

$482 PAB 482

-49.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.5K PAB 15.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.53 PAB 35.53

$51.5 PAB 51.5

-31.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.36 PAB 25.36

$45.21 PAB 45.21

-43.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$51.4 PAB 51.4

$89.2 PAB 89.2

-42.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.9 PAB 58.9

$119 PAB 119

-50.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$743 PAB 743

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$652 PAB 652

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,564 PAB 1,564

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,142 PAB 1,142

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,181 PAB 1,181

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,155 PAB 1,155

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$800 PAB 800

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.23

12.36%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Boquete: June 2, 2026

Last update for Aguadulce: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $30.00 in Boquete vs $50.0 in Aguadulce for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $290 per month, with Boquete cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Boquete vs Aguadulce: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Aguadulce wins on cost – living expenses run 56% lower than in Boquete. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Aguadulce the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $2,083 in Boquete and $1,337 in Aguadulce to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Shoppers in Boquete pay roughly 7% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,389 per month in Boquete versus $891 in Aguadulce – a 56% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $891 in Aguadulce versus $1,389 in Boquete, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Aguadulce but tight or insufficient in Boquete. The gap between the two cities makes Aguadulce the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Aguadulce delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $891 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Aguadulce hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Boquete and Aguadulce are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Aguadulce gentler on the wallet – expenses run 56% less than in Boquete. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.