Cost of Living Comparison Between Boquete and Panama City Cost of Living Comparison Between Boquete and Panama City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,389 in Boquete versus $1,763 in Panama City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,065 in Boquete versus $2,717 in Panama City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,741 in Boquete versus $3,671 in Panama City.

Living in Boquete costs roughly 21% less than in Panama City, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Boquete 4% above, Panama City 32% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.43 PAB 5.43

$10.08 PAB 10.08

-46.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.91 PAB 29.91

$50.4 PAB 50.4

-40.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.36 PAB 7.36

$7.80 PAB 7.80

-5.64%

Cappuccino

$3.32 PAB 3.32

$3.69 PAB 3.69

-10.03%

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

$1.40 PAB 1.40

$1.70 PAB 1.70

-17.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 PAB 0.87

$1.35 PAB 1.35

-35.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.77 PAB 1.77

$3.06 PAB 3.06

-42.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 PAB 2.02

$3.91 PAB 3.91

-48.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 PAB 1.62

$1.82 PAB 1.82

-10.99%

White Bread (500g)

$2.41 PAB 2.41

$2.56 PAB 2.56

-5.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.41 PAB 1.41

$2.49 PAB 2.49

-43.37%

Eggs

$2.66 PAB 2.66

$2.96 PAB 2.96

-10.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.11 PAB 9.11

$11.25 PAB 11.25

-19.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.62 PAB 7.62

$7.22 PAB 7.22

5.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.00 PAB 11.00

$10.19 PAB 10.19

7.95%

Apples (1kg)

$4.44 PAB 4.44

$3.43 PAB 3.43

29.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.00 PAB 1.00

$1.50 PAB 1.50

-33.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.18 PAB 3.18

$2.85 PAB 2.85

11.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.64 PAB 1.64

$3.19 PAB 3.19

-48.59%

Potato (1kg)

$2.28 PAB 2.28

$2.21 PAB 2.21

3.17%

Onion (1kg)

$1.68 PAB 1.68

$2.77 PAB 2.77

-39.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.23 PAB 2.23

$2.25 PAB 2.25

-0.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 PAB 1.65

$1.58 PAB 1.58

4.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.35 PAB 5.35

$5.91 PAB 5.91

-9.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.08 PAB 8.08

$11.11 PAB 11.11

-27.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 PAB 1.20

$1.28 PAB 1.28

-6.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 PAB 2.70

$2.32 PAB 2.32

16.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 PAB 1.52

$0.40 PAB 0.40

280.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.34 PAB 25.34

$22.08 PAB 22.08

14.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.01 PAB 1.01

$2.57 PAB 2.57

-60.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.06 PAB 2.06

$1.78 PAB 1.78

15.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.39 PAB 30.39

$21.73 PAB 21.73

39.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 PAB 0.89

$0.93 PAB 0.93

-4.30%

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

$25.8K PAB 25.8K

$19.7K PAB 19.7K

30.84%

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

$20.8K PAB 20.8K

$20.9K PAB 20.9K

-0.38%

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

$53.7 PAB 53.7

$121 PAB 121

-55.80%

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

$28.49 PAB 28.49

$29.44 PAB 29.44

-3.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$45.79 PAB 45.79

$49.27 PAB 49.27

-7.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$87.9 PAB 87.9

$45.92 PAB 45.92

91.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.68 PAB 17.68

$32.32 PAB 32.32

-45.30%

Cinema Ticket

$6.41 PAB 6.41

$8.11 PAB 8.11

-20.96%

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

$245 PAB 245

$484 PAB 484

-49.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K PAB 15.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.53 PAB 35.53

$51.2 PAB 51.2

-30.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.36 PAB 25.36

$45.98 PAB 45.98

-44.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$51.4 PAB 51.4

$89.0 PAB 89.0

-42.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.9 PAB 58.9

$122 PAB 122

-51.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$743 PAB 743

$1,157 PAB 1,157

-35.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$652 PAB 652

$893 PAB 893

-27.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,564 PAB 1,564

$1,996 PAB 1,996

-21.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,142 PAB 1,142

$1,580 PAB 1,580

-27.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,181 PAB 1,181

$3,069 PAB 3,069

-61.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,155 PAB 1,155

$1,730 PAB 1,730

-33.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$800 PAB 800

$962 PAB 962

-16.82%

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 Panama City: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $743 in Boquete and $1,157 in Panama City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Panama City pays 20% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $30.00 in Boquete vs $50.0 in Panama City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $293 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 Panama City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Boquete is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Panama City earns 20% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $743 in Boquete versus $1,157 in Panama City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Panama City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Boquete – a meal for two runs $30.00 versus $50.0 in Panama City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,389 in Boquete versus $1,763 in Panama City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Boquete but tight or insufficient in Panama City. The gap between the two cities makes Boquete the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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

Safety-wise, Boquete and Panama City 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 Boquete gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Panama City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.