Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and Boquete Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and Boquete

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,814 in Panama City versus $1,373 in Boquete.

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

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

Living in Panama City is roughly 32% more expensive than in Boquete, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.13 PAB 10.13

$5.57 PAB 5.57

81.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.65 PAB 49.65

$29.59 PAB 29.59

67.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.06 PAB 8.06

$7.66 PAB 7.66

5.22%

Cappuccino

$3.60 PAB 3.60

$3.40 PAB 3.40

5.88%

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

$1.72 PAB 1.72

$1.36 PAB 1.36

26.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.36 PAB 1.36

$0.93 PAB 0.93

46.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 PAB 2.95

$1.78 PAB 1.78

65.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 PAB 4.03

$2.01 PAB 2.01

100.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 PAB 1.81

$1.64 PAB 1.64

10.37%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 PAB 2.46

$2.41 PAB 2.41

2.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.41 PAB 2.41

$1.41 PAB 1.41

70.92%

Eggs

$2.93 PAB 2.93

$2.54 PAB 2.54

15.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.38 PAB 11.38

$8.71 PAB 8.71

30.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.06 PAB 7.06

$7.63 PAB 7.63

-7.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.85 PAB 9.85

$11.07 PAB 11.07

-11.02%

Apples (1kg)

$3.37 PAB 3.37

$4.54 PAB 4.54

-25.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 PAB 1.51

$1.04 PAB 1.04

45.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.86 PAB 2.86

$3.27 PAB 3.27

-12.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.12 PAB 3.12

$1.57 PAB 1.57

98.73%

Potato (1kg)

$2.23 PAB 2.23

$2.27 PAB 2.27

-1.76%

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 PAB 2.76

$1.71 PAB 1.71

61.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.18 PAB 2.18

$2.22 PAB 2.22

-1.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.53 PAB 1.53

$1.71 PAB 1.71

-10.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.09 PAB 6.09

$5.17 PAB 5.17

17.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.78 PAB 10.78

$8.06 PAB 8.06

33.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 PAB 1.28

$1.21 PAB 1.21

5.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 PAB 2.36

$2.72 PAB 2.72

-13.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 PAB 0.44

$1.54 PAB 1.54

-71.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.10 PAB 22.10

$24.95 PAB 24.95

-11.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.44 PAB 2.44

$0.97 PAB 0.97

151.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.77 PAB 1.77

$2.02 PAB 2.02

-12.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.61 PAB 21.61

$29.59 PAB 29.59

-26.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 PAB 0.95

$0.88 PAB 0.88

7.95%

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

$19.6K PAB 19.6K

$25.9K PAB 25.9K

-24.40%

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

$20.6K PAB 20.6K

$20.5K PAB 20.5K

0.55%

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

$122 PAB 122

$53.6 PAB 53.6

127.77%

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

$29.88 PAB 29.88

$28.49 PAB 28.49

4.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.49 PAB 49.49

$45.90 PAB 45.90

7.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.36 PAB 45.36

$86.6 PAB 86.6

-47.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$32.73 PAB 32.73

$17.76 PAB 17.76

84.29%

Cinema Ticket

$7.85 PAB 7.85

$6.69 PAB 6.69

17.34%

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

$484 PAB 484

$245 PAB 245

97.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K PAB 15.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.6 PAB 51.6

$34.67 PAB 34.67

48.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.50 PAB 46.50

$25.47 PAB 25.47

82.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 PAB 88.6

$51.3 PAB 51.3

72.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 PAB 121

$60.1 PAB 60.1

101.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,158 PAB 1,158

$756 PAB 756

53.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$894 PAB 894

$640 PAB 640

39.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,037 PAB 2,037

$1,588 PAB 1,588

28.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 PAB 1,578

$1,119 PAB 1,119

41.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,124 PAB 3,124

$1,203 PAB 1,203

159.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,693 PAB 1,693

$1,143 PAB 1,143

48.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$926 PAB 926

$789 PAB 789

17.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.23

-11.00%

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

Last update for Panama City: July 12, 2026

Last update for Boquete: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,158 in Panama City and $756 in Boquete. 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: $50.0 in Panama City vs $30.00 in Boquete for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $271 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

Panama City vs Boquete: 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.

Average pay runs 17% higher in Panama City, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,158 in Panama City versus $756 in Boquete. 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, Panama City 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 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.