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: $849 in Las Tablas versus $1,393 in Boquete.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $755 in Las Tablas versus $2,063 in Boquete.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $661 in Las Tablas versus $2,733 in Boquete.

Living in Las Tablas costs roughly 39% less than in Boquete, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Las Tablas is 37% below, Boquete is 4% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.85 PAB 9.85

$5.44 PAB 5.44

81.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.32 PAB 30.32

$29.54 PAB 29.54

2.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.70 PAB 7.70

Cappuccino

$3.41 PAB 3.41

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

$1.35 PAB 1.35

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 PAB 0.86

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.53 PAB 1.53

$1.72 PAB 1.72

-11.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.06 PAB 3.06

$1.95 PAB 1.95

56.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 PAB 1.55

White Bread (500g)

$2.41 PAB 2.41

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.41 PAB 1.41

Eggs

$2.05 PAB 2.05

$2.54 PAB 2.54

-19.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.80 PAB 8.80

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.71 PAB 7.71

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.98 PAB 10.98

Apples (1kg)

$4.50 PAB 4.50

Banana (1kg)

$0.99 PAB 0.99

Oranges (1kg)

$3.29 PAB 3.29

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 PAB 1.58

Potato (1kg)

$2.27 PAB 2.27

Onion (1kg)

$1.70 PAB 1.70

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.26 PAB 2.26

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 PAB 1.65

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.39 PAB 5.39

Wine (Bottle)

$5.86 PAB 5.86

$8.10 PAB 8.10

-27.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 PAB 1.42

$1.16 PAB 1.16

22.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 PAB 2.75

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.48 PAB 1.48

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.41 PAB 25.41

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 PAB 0.98

$1.02 PAB 1.02

-3.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 PAB 1.95

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.20 PAB 30.20

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)

$25.2K PAB 25.2K

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

$20.6K PAB 20.6K

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

$152 PAB 152

$53.2 PAB 53.2

186.38%

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

$15.18 PAB 15.18

$28.67 PAB 28.67

-47.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.81 PAB 29.81

$46.86 PAB 46.86

-36.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.16 PAB 20.16

$87.1 PAB 87.1

-76.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.20 PAB 17.20

Cinema Ticket

$6.38 PAB 6.38

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

$250 PAB 250

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.18 PAB 35.18

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.86 PAB 24.86

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$52.0 PAB 52.0

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$60.3 PAB 60.3

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$713 PAB 713

$749 PAB 749

-4.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$510 PAB 510

$649 PAB 649

-21.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,572 PAB 1,572

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,147 PAB 1,147

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,202 PAB 1,202

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,165 PAB 1,165

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$676 PAB 676

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Las Tablas: April 27, 2026

Last update for Boquete: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $713 in Las Tablas and $749 in Boquete. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $30.00 in Las Tablas vs $30.00 in Boquete for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $27.00 vs $269 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, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 64% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,273 in Las Tablas and $2,089 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $713 in Las Tablas versus $749 in Boquete. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 897% 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 $30.00 in Boquete. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $849 in Las Tablas versus $1,393 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 64% less than in Boquete. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.