Cost of Living Comparison Between Boquete and La Chorrera Cost of Living Comparison Between Boquete and La Chorrera

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,365 in Boquete versus $169 in La Chorrera.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,091 in Boquete versus $292 in La Chorrera.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,818 in Boquete versus $415 in La Chorrera.

Living in Boquete is roughly 705% more expensive than La Chorrera, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Boquete is 2% above, La Chorrera is 87% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.45 PAB 5.45

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.29 PAB 30.29

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.57 PAB 7.57

Cappuccino

$3.41 PAB 3.41

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

$1.35 PAB 1.35

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 PAB 0.92

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.73 PAB 1.73

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 PAB 2.05

Milk (1 liter)

$1.57 PAB 1.57

$1.79 PAB 1.79

-12.29%

White Bread (500g)

$2.42 PAB 2.42

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.37 PAB 1.37

$3.21 PAB 3.21

-57.32%

Eggs

$2.63 PAB 2.63

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.93 PAB 8.93

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.59 PAB 7.59

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 PAB 10.77

Apples (1kg)

$4.48 PAB 4.48

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 PAB 1.01

Oranges (1kg)

$3.10 PAB 3.10

Tomato (1kg)

$1.64 PAB 1.64

Potato (1kg)

$2.19 PAB 2.19

Onion (1kg)

$1.77 PAB 1.77

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 PAB 2.28

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 PAB 1.69

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.12 PAB 5.12

Wine (Bottle)

$7.95 PAB 7.95

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 PAB 1.20

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 PAB 2.72

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 PAB 1.54

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.98 PAB 24.98

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.03 PAB 1.03

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.05 PAB 2.05

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.45 PAB 30.45

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 PAB 0.87

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

$25.5K PAB 25.5K

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

$20.3K PAB 20.3K

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

$54.4 PAB 54.4

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

$29.41 PAB 29.41

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.44 PAB 46.44

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$88.3 PAB 88.3

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.41 PAB 17.41

Cinema Ticket

$6.33 PAB 6.33

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

$252 PAB 252

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$34.89 PAB 34.89

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.02 PAB 25.02

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$52.5 PAB 52.5

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$61.0 PAB 61.0

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$757 PAB 757

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$640 PAB 640

$142 PAB 142

351.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,589 PAB 1,589

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,115 PAB 1,115

$357 PAB 357

212.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,207 PAB 1,207

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,175 PAB 1,175

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$793 PAB 793

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Boquete: June 6, 2026

Last update for La Chorrera: June 8, 2026

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 La Chorrera: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

La Chorrera is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 705% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $2,047 in Boquete and $254 in La Chorrera 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 772% higher in Boquete. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,365 per month in Boquete versus $169 in La Chorrera – a 705% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $169 in La Chorrera versus $1,365 in Boquete, a $1,000 budget is realistic in La Chorrera but tight or insufficient in Boquete. The gap between the two cities makes La Chorrera the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, La Chorrera is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Boquete, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Boquete and La Chorrera 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 La Chorrera gentler on the wallet – expenses run 705% less than in Boquete. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.