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: $1,365 in Boquete versus $841 in Las Tablas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,091 in Boquete versus $744 in Las Tablas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,818 in Boquete versus $647 in Las Tablas.

Living in Boquete is roughly 62% more expensive than Las Tablas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Boquete is 2% above, Las Tablas is 37% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.45 PAB 5.45

$10.07 PAB 10.07

-45.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.29 PAB 30.29

$29.80 PAB 29.80

1.64%

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

$1.46 PAB 1.46

18.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 PAB 2.05

$3.07 PAB 3.07

-33.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.57 PAB 1.57

White Bread (500g)

$2.42 PAB 2.42

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.37 PAB 1.37

Eggs

$2.63 PAB 2.63

$2.05 PAB 2.05

28.29%

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

$5.65 PAB 5.65

40.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 PAB 1.20

$1.46 PAB 1.46

-17.81%

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

$0.98 PAB 0.98

5.10%

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

$0.93 PAB 0.93

-6.45%

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

$148 PAB 148

-63.29%

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

$29.41 PAB 29.41

$15.18 PAB 15.18

93.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.44 PAB 46.44

$29.61 PAB 29.61

56.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$88.3 PAB 88.3

$19.63 PAB 19.63

349.57%

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

$692 PAB 692

9.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$640 PAB 640

$495 PAB 495

29.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,589 PAB 1,589

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,115 PAB 1,115

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 Las Tablas: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $757 in Boquete and $692 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 62% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $2,047 in Boquete and $1,262 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: $757 in Boquete versus $692 in Las Tablas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 903% 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 $841 in Las Tablas versus $1,365 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 62% less than in Boquete. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.