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: $1,393 in Boquete versus $849 in Las Tablas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,063 in Boquete versus $755 in Las Tablas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,733 in Boquete versus $661 in Las Tablas.

Living in Boquete is roughly 64% more expensive than Las Tablas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Boquete is 4% above, Las Tablas is 37% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.44 PAB 5.44

$9.85 PAB 9.85

-44.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.54 PAB 29.54

$30.32 PAB 30.32

-2.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.70 PAB 7.70

Cappuccino

$3.41 PAB 3.41

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

$1.35 PAB 1.35

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 PAB 0.86

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PAB 1.72

$1.53 PAB 1.53

12.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 PAB 1.95

$3.06 PAB 3.06

-36.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 PAB 1.55

White Bread (500g)

$2.41 PAB 2.41

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.41 PAB 1.41

Eggs

$2.54 PAB 2.54

$2.05 PAB 2.05

23.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.80 PAB 8.80

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.71 PAB 7.71

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.98 PAB 10.98

Apples (1kg)

$4.50 PAB 4.50

Banana (1kg)

$0.99 PAB 0.99

Oranges (1kg)

$3.29 PAB 3.29

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 PAB 1.58

Potato (1kg)

$2.27 PAB 2.27

Onion (1kg)

$1.70 PAB 1.70

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.26 PAB 2.26

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 PAB 1.65

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.39 PAB 5.39

Wine (Bottle)

$8.10 PAB 8.10

$5.86 PAB 5.86

38.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 PAB 1.16

$1.42 PAB 1.42

-18.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 PAB 2.75

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.48 PAB 1.48

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.41 PAB 25.41

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 PAB 1.02

$0.98 PAB 0.98

4.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 PAB 1.95

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.20 PAB 30.20

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 PAB 0.95

$0.88 PAB 0.88

7.95%

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

$25.2K PAB 25.2K

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

$20.6K PAB 20.6K

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

$53.2 PAB 53.2

$152 PAB 152

-65.08%

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

$28.67 PAB 28.67

$15.18 PAB 15.18

88.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.86 PAB 46.86

$29.81 PAB 29.81

57.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$87.1 PAB 87.1

$20.16 PAB 20.16

332.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.20 PAB 17.20

Cinema Ticket

$6.38 PAB 6.38

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

$250 PAB 250

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.18 PAB 35.18

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.86 PAB 24.86

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$52.0 PAB 52.0

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$60.3 PAB 60.3

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$749 PAB 749

$713 PAB 713

5.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$649 PAB 649

$510 PAB 510

27.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,572 PAB 1,572

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,147 PAB 1,147

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,202 PAB 1,202

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,165 PAB 1,165

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$676 PAB 676

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Boquete: April 26, 2026

Last update for Las Tablas: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $749 in Boquete and $713 in Las Tablas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $30.00 in Boquete vs $30.00 in Las Tablas. Groceries flip the comparison at $269 vs $27.00, with Las Tablas cheaper for home cooking.

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, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 64% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $2,089 in Boquete and $1,273 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $749 in Boquete versus $713 in Las Tablas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 897% 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 $30.00 in Boquete. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $849 in Las Tablas versus $1,393 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 64% less than in Boquete. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.