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: $1,373 in Boquete versus $1,814 in Panama City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,102 in Boquete versus $2,728 in Panama City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,832 in Boquete versus $3,643 in Panama City.

Living in Boquete costs roughly 24% less than in Panama City, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Boquete 3% above, Panama City 36% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.57 PAB 5.57

$10.13 PAB 10.13

-45.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.59 PAB 29.59

$49.65 PAB 49.65

-40.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.66 PAB 7.66

$8.06 PAB 8.06

-4.96%

Cappuccino

$3.40 PAB 3.40

$3.60 PAB 3.60

-5.56%

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

$1.36 PAB 1.36

$1.72 PAB 1.72

-20.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 PAB 0.93

$1.36 PAB 1.36

-31.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.78 PAB 1.78

$2.95 PAB 2.95

-39.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 PAB 2.01

$4.03 PAB 4.03

-50.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 PAB 1.64

$1.81 PAB 1.81

-9.39%

White Bread (500g)

$2.41 PAB 2.41

$2.46 PAB 2.46

-2.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.41 PAB 1.41

$2.41 PAB 2.41

-41.49%

Eggs

$2.54 PAB 2.54

$2.93 PAB 2.93

-13.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.71 PAB 8.71

$11.38 PAB 11.38

-23.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.63 PAB 7.63

$7.06 PAB 7.06

8.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.07 PAB 11.07

$9.85 PAB 9.85

12.39%

Apples (1kg)

$4.54 PAB 4.54

$3.37 PAB 3.37

34.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 PAB 1.04

$1.51 PAB 1.51

-31.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.27 PAB 3.27

$2.86 PAB 2.86

14.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.57 PAB 1.57

$3.12 PAB 3.12

-49.68%

Potato (1kg)

$2.27 PAB 2.27

$2.23 PAB 2.23

1.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.71 PAB 1.71

$2.76 PAB 2.76

-38.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 PAB 2.22

$2.18 PAB 2.18

1.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 PAB 1.71

$1.53 PAB 1.53

11.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.17 PAB 5.17

$6.09 PAB 6.09

-15.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.06 PAB 8.06

$10.78 PAB 10.78

-25.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 PAB 1.21

$1.28 PAB 1.28

-5.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 PAB 2.72

$2.36 PAB 2.36

15.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 PAB 1.54

$0.44 PAB 0.44

250.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.95 PAB 24.95

$22.10 PAB 22.10

12.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.97 PAB 0.97

$2.44 PAB 2.44

-60.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.02 PAB 2.02

$1.77 PAB 1.77

14.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.59 PAB 29.59

$21.61 PAB 21.61

36.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 PAB 0.88

$0.95 PAB 0.95

-7.37%

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

$25.9K PAB 25.9K

$19.6K PAB 19.6K

32.27%

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

$20.5K PAB 20.5K

$20.6K PAB 20.6K

-0.55%

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

$53.6 PAB 53.6

$122 PAB 122

-56.10%

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

$28.49 PAB 28.49

$29.88 PAB 29.88

-4.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$45.90 PAB 45.90

$49.49 PAB 49.49

-7.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$86.6 PAB 86.6

$45.36 PAB 45.36

90.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.76 PAB 17.76

$32.73 PAB 32.73

-45.74%

Cinema Ticket

$6.69 PAB 6.69

$7.85 PAB 7.85

-14.78%

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

$245 PAB 245

$484 PAB 484

-49.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K PAB 15.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$34.67 PAB 34.67

$51.6 PAB 51.6

-32.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.47 PAB 25.47

$46.50 PAB 46.50

-45.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$51.3 PAB 51.3

$88.6 PAB 88.6

-42.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$60.1 PAB 60.1

$121 PAB 121

-50.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$756 PAB 756

$1,158 PAB 1,158

-34.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$640 PAB 640

$894 PAB 894

-28.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,588 PAB 1,588

$2,037 PAB 2,037

-22.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,119 PAB 1,119

$1,578 PAB 1,578

-29.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,203 PAB 1,203

$3,124 PAB 3,124

-61.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,143 PAB 1,143

$1,693 PAB 1,693

-32.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$789 PAB 789

$926 PAB 926

-14.80%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Panama City: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $756 in Boquete and $1,158 in Panama City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Panama City pays 17% 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 $288 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 32% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 17% lower in Panama City. 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: $756 in Boquete versus $1,158 in Panama City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 6% 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 $1,373 in Boquete versus $1,814 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 32% less than in Panama City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.