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: $1,459 in Boquete versus $1,875 in Panama City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,218 in Boquete versus $2,722 in Panama City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,978 in Boquete versus $3,569 in Panama City.

Living in Boquete costs roughly 22% less than in Panama City, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Boquete 6% above, Panama City 36% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.56 PAB 6.56

$10.05 PAB 10.05

-34.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.60 PAB 40.60

$45.07 PAB 45.07

-9.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.62 PAB 7.62

$7.91 PAB 7.91

-3.67%

Cappuccino

$3.80 PAB 3.80

$4.12 PAB 4.12

-7.77%

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

$1.35 PAB 1.35

$1.93 PAB 1.93

-30.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.21 PAB 1.21

$1.56 PAB 1.56

-22.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.30 PAB 2.30

$2.95 PAB 2.95

-22.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.11 PAB 5.11

$4.07 PAB 4.07

25.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 PAB 1.83

$1.91 PAB 1.91

-4.19%

White Bread (500g)

$2.13 PAB 2.13

$2.44 PAB 2.44

-12.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.21 PAB 2.21

$3.12 PAB 3.12

-29.17%

Eggs

$2.56 PAB 2.56

$2.81 PAB 2.81

-8.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.32 PAB 9.32

$12.63 PAB 12.63

-26.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.41 PAB 7.41

$6.49 PAB 6.49

14.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.55 PAB 15.55

$10.25 PAB 10.25

51.71%

Apples (1kg)

$4.36 PAB 4.36

$4.49 PAB 4.49

-2.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 PAB 1.02

$1.69 PAB 1.69

-39.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.28 PAB 4.28

$3.99 PAB 3.99

7.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 PAB 2.24

$3.94 PAB 3.94

-43.15%

Potato (1kg)

$2.24 PAB 2.24

$3.24 PAB 3.24

-30.86%

Onion (1kg)

$2.21 PAB 2.21

$4.27 PAB 4.27

-48.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.19 PAB 2.19

$2.17 PAB 2.17

0.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 PAB 1.69

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.14 PAB 5.14

$5.98 PAB 5.98

-14.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.84 PAB 7.84

$10.78 PAB 10.78

-27.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 PAB 1.21

$1.42 PAB 1.42

-14.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 PAB 2.65

$2.71 PAB 2.71

-2.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.34 PAB 1.34

$0.37 PAB 0.37

262.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.16 PAB 25.16

$20.77 PAB 20.77

21.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 PAB 0.98

$2.53 PAB 2.53

-61.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.98 PAB 1.98

$1.85 PAB 1.85

7.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.10 PAB 30.10

$21.85 PAB 21.85

37.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 PAB 1.08

$1.16 PAB 1.16

-6.90%

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

$25.1K PAB 25.1K

$21.7K PAB 21.7K

15.65%

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

$22.1K PAB 22.1K

$21.4K PAB 21.4K

3.59%

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

$58.5 PAB 58.5

$132 PAB 132

-55.86%

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

$25.76 PAB 25.76

$28.93 PAB 28.93

-10.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.20 PAB 42.20

$49.52 PAB 49.52

-14.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$83.5 PAB 83.5

$47.25 PAB 47.25

76.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.19 PAB 17.19

$33.24 PAB 33.24

-48.29%

Cinema Ticket

$6.32 PAB 6.32

$7.88 PAB 7.88

-19.80%

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

$546 PAB 546

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 PAB 5,965

$9,732 PAB 9,732

-38.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.99 PAB 24.99

$59.5 PAB 59.5

-58.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.54 PAB 24.54

$46.26 PAB 46.26

-46.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.19 PAB 44.19

$92.3 PAB 92.3

-52.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 PAB 116

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$827 PAB 827

$1,276 PAB 1,276

-35.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$700 PAB 700

$904 PAB 904

-22.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,559 PAB 1,559

$2,126 PAB 2,126

-26.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,295 PAB 1,295

$1,469 PAB 1,469

-11.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,203 PAB 1,203

$3,086 PAB 3,086

-61.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,149 PAB 1,149

$1,697 PAB 1,697

-32.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$814 PAB 814

$925 PAB 925

-11.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

6.39

1.72%

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

Last update for Boquete: August 29, 2026

Last update for Panama City: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $827 in Boquete and $1,276 in Panama City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Panama City pays 14% 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: $41.00 in Boquete vs $45.00 in Panama City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $294 vs $318 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, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear. The 29% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 14% 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: $827 in Boquete versus $1,276 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.

All in, you'll spend $1,459 per month in Boquete versus $1,875 in Panama City – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,459 in Boquete versus $1,875 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 29% less than in Panama City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.