Cost of Living Comparison Between Boquete and Las Tablas Cost of Living Comparison Between Boquete and Las Tablas

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,457 in Boquete versus $454 in Las Tablas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,249 in Boquete versus $677 in Las Tablas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,041 in Boquete versus $901 in Las Tablas.

Living in Boquete is roughly 221% more expensive than in Las Tablas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Boquete is 6% above, Las Tablas is 67% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.40 PAB 6.40

$9.80 PAB 9.80

-34.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.51 PAB 40.51

$30.43 PAB 30.43

33.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.30 PAB 7.30

$8.61 PAB 8.61

-15.21%

Cappuccino

$3.84 PAB 3.84

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

$1.39 PAB 1.39

$0.98 PAB 0.98

41.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 PAB 1.16

$0.97 PAB 0.97

19.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.23 PAB 2.23

$1.27 PAB 1.27

75.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.06 PAB 5.06

$2.82 PAB 2.82

79.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 PAB 1.85

White Bread (500g)

$2.08 PAB 2.08

$1.99 PAB 1.99

4.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 PAB 2.25

Eggs

$2.51 PAB 2.51

$2.12 PAB 2.12

18.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.28 PAB 9.28

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.37 PAB 7.37

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.16 PAB 15.16

Apples (1kg)

$4.33 PAB 4.33

$4.31 PAB 4.31

0.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 PAB 1.01

$1.30 PAB 1.30

-22.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.33 PAB 4.33

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 PAB 2.25

$1.56 PAB 1.56

44.23%

Potato (1kg)

$2.21 PAB 2.21

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 PAB 2.18

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.21 PAB 2.21

$1.22 PAB 1.22

81.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 PAB 1.63

$1.03 PAB 1.03

58.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.17 PAB 5.17

Wine (Bottle)

$7.79 PAB 7.79

$5.60 PAB 5.60

39.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 PAB 1.21

$1.31 PAB 1.31

-7.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 PAB 2.75

$1.72 PAB 1.72

59.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.41 PAB 1.41

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.44 PAB 25.44

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.01 PAB 1.01

$0.98 PAB 0.98

3.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 PAB 1.96

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.39 PAB 30.39

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 PAB 1.03

$0.93 PAB 0.93

10.75%

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

$25.3K PAB 25.3K

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

$21.9K PAB 21.9K

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

$57.8 PAB 57.8

$152 PAB 152

-61.99%

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

$26.60 PAB 26.60

$23.36 PAB 23.36

13.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.64 PAB 42.64

$38.22 PAB 38.22

11.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.7 PAB 80.7

$20.06 PAB 20.06

302.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.62 PAB 17.62

Cinema Ticket

$6.47 PAB 6.47

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,088 PAB 6,088

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.67 PAB 24.67

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.43 PAB 25.43

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.25 PAB 45.25

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$809 PAB 809

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$710 PAB 710

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,567 PAB 1,567

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,298 PAB 1,298

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,188 PAB 1,188

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,152 PAB 1,152

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$815 PAB 815

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

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

Last update for Boquete: August 18, 2026

Last update for Las Tablas: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $41.00 in Boquete vs $30.00 in Las Tablas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $104 per month, with Las Tablas 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 Las Tablas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Las Tablas is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear. The 221% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $2,186 in Boquete and $680 in Las Tablas 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 180% higher in Boquete. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Las Tablas – a meal for two runs $30.00 versus $41.00 in Boquete. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $454 in Las Tablas versus $1,457 in Boquete, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Las Tablas but tight or insufficient in Boquete. The gap between the two cities makes Las Tablas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Las Tablas 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 Las Tablas 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 Las Tablas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 221% less than in Boquete. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.