Cost of Living Comparison Between Boquete and San Miguelito Cost of Living Comparison Between Boquete and San Miguelito

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,389 in Boquete versus $893 in San Miguelito.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,065 in Boquete versus $1,439 in San Miguelito.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,741 in Boquete versus $1,986 in San Miguelito.

Living in Boquete is roughly 56% more expensive than San Miguelito, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Boquete is 4% above, San Miguelito is 33% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.43 PAB 5.43

$9.80 PAB 9.80

-44.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.91 PAB 29.91

$49.67 PAB 49.67

-39.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.36 PAB 7.36

$7.85 PAB 7.85

-6.24%

Cappuccino

$3.32 PAB 3.32

$3.65 PAB 3.65

-9.04%

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

$1.40 PAB 1.40

$1.68 PAB 1.68

-16.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 PAB 0.87

$1.14 PAB 1.14

-23.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.77 PAB 1.77

$2.99 PAB 2.99

-40.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 PAB 2.02

$4.01 PAB 4.01

-49.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 PAB 1.62

$1.84 PAB 1.84

-11.96%

White Bread (500g)

$2.41 PAB 2.41

$2.58 PAB 2.58

-6.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.41 PAB 1.41

$2.51 PAB 2.51

-43.82%

Eggs

$2.66 PAB 2.66

$2.82 PAB 2.82

-5.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.11 PAB 9.11

$9.92 PAB 9.92

-8.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.62 PAB 7.62

$7.25 PAB 7.25

5.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.00 PAB 11.00

$9.70 PAB 9.70

13.40%

Apples (1kg)

$4.44 PAB 4.44

$3.30 PAB 3.30

34.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.00 PAB 1.00

$1.55 PAB 1.55

-35.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.18 PAB 3.18

$2.84 PAB 2.84

11.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.64 PAB 1.64

$3.09 PAB 3.09

-46.93%

Potato (1kg)

$2.28 PAB 2.28

$2.32 PAB 2.32

-1.72%

Onion (1kg)

$1.68 PAB 1.68

$2.85 PAB 2.85

-41.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.23 PAB 2.23

$2.13 PAB 2.13

4.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 PAB 1.65

$1.54 PAB 1.54

7.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.35 PAB 5.35

$5.93 PAB 5.93

-9.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.08 PAB 8.08

$10.78 PAB 10.78

-25.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 PAB 1.20

$1.26 PAB 1.26

-4.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 PAB 2.70

$2.44 PAB 2.44

10.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 PAB 1.52

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.34 PAB 25.34

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.01 PAB 1.01

$2.51 PAB 2.51

-59.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.06 PAB 2.06

$1.77 PAB 1.77

16.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.39 PAB 30.39

$21.77 PAB 21.77

39.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 PAB 0.89

$0.87 PAB 0.87

2.30%

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

$25.8K PAB 25.8K

$20.0K PAB 20.0K

28.56%

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

$20.8K PAB 20.8K

$20.9K PAB 20.9K

-0.37%

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

$53.7 PAB 53.7

$123 PAB 123

-56.26%

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

$28.49 PAB 28.49

$29.50 PAB 29.50

-3.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$45.79 PAB 45.79

$49.20 PAB 49.20

-6.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$87.9 PAB 87.9

$49.95 PAB 49.95

76.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.68 PAB 17.68

Cinema Ticket

$6.41 PAB 6.41

$7.86 PAB 7.86

-18.45%

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

$245 PAB 245

$472 PAB 472

-48.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.0K PAB 16.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.53 PAB 35.53

$51.2 PAB 51.2

-30.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.36 PAB 25.36

$46.20 PAB 46.20

-45.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$51.4 PAB 51.4

$89.6 PAB 89.6

-42.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.9 PAB 58.9

$119 PAB 119

-50.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$743 PAB 743

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$652 PAB 652

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,564 PAB 1,564

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,142 PAB 1,142

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,181 PAB 1,181

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,155 PAB 1,155

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$800 PAB 800

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 San Miguelito: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $30.00 in Boquete vs $50.0 in San Miguelito for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $286 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 San Miguelito: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

San Miguelito is cheaper overall, especially in Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 56% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $2,083 in Boquete and $1,339 in San Miguelito 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.

Shoppers in Boquete pay roughly 5% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,389 per month in Boquete versus $893 in San Miguelito – a 56% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $893 in San Miguelito versus $1,389 in Boquete, a $1,000 budget is realistic in San Miguelito but tight or insufficient in Boquete. The gap between the two cities makes San Miguelito the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, San Miguelito 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 San Miguelito 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 San Miguelito gentler on the wallet – expenses run 56% less than in Boquete. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.