Cost of Living Comparison Between Las Tablas and Boquete Cost of Living Comparison Between Las Tablas and Boquete

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $454 in Las Tablas versus $1,457 in Boquete.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $677 in Las Tablas versus $2,249 in Boquete.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $901 in Las Tablas versus $3,041 in Boquete.

Living in Las Tablas costs roughly 69% less than in Boquete, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Las Tablas is 67% below, Boquete is 6% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.80 PAB 9.80

$6.40 PAB 6.40

53.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.43 PAB 30.43

$40.51 PAB 40.51

-24.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.61 PAB 8.61

$7.30 PAB 7.30

17.95%

Cappuccino

$3.84 PAB 3.84

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

$0.98 PAB 0.98

$1.39 PAB 1.39

-29.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 PAB 0.97

$1.16 PAB 1.16

-16.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.27 PAB 1.27

$2.23 PAB 2.23

-43.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 PAB 2.82

$5.06 PAB 5.06

-44.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 PAB 1.85

White Bread (500g)

$1.99 PAB 1.99

$2.08 PAB 2.08

-4.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 PAB 2.25

Eggs

$2.12 PAB 2.12

$2.51 PAB 2.51

-15.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.28 PAB 9.28

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.37 PAB 7.37

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.16 PAB 15.16

Apples (1kg)

$4.31 PAB 4.31

$4.33 PAB 4.33

-0.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 PAB 1.30

$1.01 PAB 1.01

28.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.33 PAB 4.33

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 PAB 1.56

$2.25 PAB 2.25

-30.67%

Potato (1kg)

$2.21 PAB 2.21

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 PAB 2.18

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.22 PAB 1.22

$2.21 PAB 2.21

-44.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 PAB 1.03

$1.63 PAB 1.63

-36.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.17 PAB 5.17

Wine (Bottle)

$5.60 PAB 5.60

$7.79 PAB 7.79

-28.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 PAB 1.31

$1.21 PAB 1.21

8.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 PAB 1.72

$2.75 PAB 2.75

-37.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.41 PAB 1.41

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.44 PAB 25.44

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 PAB 0.98

$1.01 PAB 1.01

-2.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 PAB 1.96

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.39 PAB 30.39

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 PAB 0.93

$1.03 PAB 1.03

-9.71%

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

$25.3K PAB 25.3K

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

$21.9K PAB 21.9K

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

$152 PAB 152

$57.8 PAB 57.8

163.07%

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

$23.36 PAB 23.36

$26.60 PAB 26.60

-12.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.22 PAB 38.22

$42.64 PAB 42.64

-10.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.06 PAB 20.06

$80.7 PAB 80.7

-75.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.62 PAB 17.62

Cinema Ticket

$6.47 PAB 6.47

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,088 PAB 6,088

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.67 PAB 24.67

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.43 PAB 25.43

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.25 PAB 45.25

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$809 PAB 809

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$710 PAB 710

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,567 PAB 1,567

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,298 PAB 1,298

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,188 PAB 1,188

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,152 PAB 1,152

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$815 PAB 815

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

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

Last update for Las Tablas: August 16, 2026

Last update for Boquete: August 18, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $30.00 in Las Tablas vs $41.00 in Boquete for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $104 vs $291 per month, with Las Tablas 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

Las Tablas vs Boquete: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Las Tablas is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 221% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $680 in Las Tablas and $2,186 in Boquete 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 180% 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 $41.00 in Boquete. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $454 in Las Tablas versus $1,457 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, Las Tablas and Boquete 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 221% less than in Boquete. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.