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: $1,763 in Panama City versus $1,389 in Boquete.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,717 in Panama City versus $2,065 in Boquete.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,671 in Panama City versus $2,741 in Boquete.

Living in Panama City is roughly 27% more expensive than Boquete, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Panama City 32% above, Boquete 4% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.08 PAB 10.08

$5.43 PAB 5.43

85.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.4 PAB 50.4

$29.91 PAB 29.91

68.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.80 PAB 7.80

$7.36 PAB 7.36

5.98%

Cappuccino

$3.69 PAB 3.69

$3.32 PAB 3.32

11.14%

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

$1.70 PAB 1.70

$1.40 PAB 1.40

21.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 PAB 1.35

$0.87 PAB 0.87

55.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.06 PAB 3.06

$1.77 PAB 1.77

72.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 PAB 3.91

$2.02 PAB 2.02

93.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 PAB 1.82

$1.62 PAB 1.62

12.35%

White Bread (500g)

$2.56 PAB 2.56

$2.41 PAB 2.41

6.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.49 PAB 2.49

$1.41 PAB 1.41

76.60%

Eggs

$2.96 PAB 2.96

$2.66 PAB 2.66

11.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.25 PAB 11.25

$9.11 PAB 9.11

23.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.22 PAB 7.22

$7.62 PAB 7.62

-5.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.19 PAB 10.19

$11.00 PAB 11.00

-7.36%

Apples (1kg)

$3.43 PAB 3.43

$4.44 PAB 4.44

-22.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 PAB 1.50

$1.00 PAB 1.00

50.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.85 PAB 2.85

$3.18 PAB 3.18

-10.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.19 PAB 3.19

$1.64 PAB 1.64

94.51%

Potato (1kg)

$2.21 PAB 2.21

$2.28 PAB 2.28

-3.07%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 PAB 2.77

$1.68 PAB 1.68

64.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.25 PAB 2.25

$2.23 PAB 2.23

0.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 PAB 1.58

$1.65 PAB 1.65

-4.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.91 PAB 5.91

$5.35 PAB 5.35

10.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.11 PAB 11.11

$8.08 PAB 8.08

37.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 PAB 1.28

$1.20 PAB 1.20

6.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 PAB 2.32

$2.70 PAB 2.70

-14.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 PAB 0.40

$1.52 PAB 1.52

-73.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.08 PAB 22.08

$25.34 PAB 25.34

-12.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 PAB 2.57

$1.01 PAB 1.01

154.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 PAB 1.78

$2.06 PAB 2.06

-13.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.73 PAB 21.73

$30.39 PAB 30.39

-28.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 PAB 0.93

$0.89 PAB 0.89

4.49%

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

$19.7K PAB 19.7K

$25.8K PAB 25.8K

-23.57%

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

$20.9K PAB 20.9K

$20.8K PAB 20.8K

0.38%

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

$121 PAB 121

$53.7 PAB 53.7

126.24%

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

$29.44 PAB 29.44

$28.49 PAB 28.49

3.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.27 PAB 49.27

$45.79 PAB 45.79

7.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.92 PAB 45.92

$87.9 PAB 87.9

-47.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$32.32 PAB 32.32

$17.68 PAB 17.68

82.81%

Cinema Ticket

$8.11 PAB 8.11

$6.41 PAB 6.41

26.52%

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

$484 PAB 484

$245 PAB 245

97.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K PAB 15.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.2 PAB 51.2

$35.53 PAB 35.53

44.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.98 PAB 45.98

$25.36 PAB 25.36

81.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.0 PAB 89.0

$51.4 PAB 51.4

73.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 PAB 122

$58.9 PAB 58.9

107.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,157 PAB 1,157

$743 PAB 743

55.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$893 PAB 893

$652 PAB 652

36.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,996 PAB 1,996

$1,564 PAB 1,564

27.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,580 PAB 1,580

$1,142 PAB 1,142

38.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,069 PAB 3,069

$1,181 PAB 1,181

159.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,730 PAB 1,730

$1,155 PAB 1,155

49.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$962 PAB 962

$800 PAB 800

20.21%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Boquete: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,157 in Panama City and $743 in Boquete. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Panama City pays 20% 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 $293 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 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Panama City pays 20% more on average, 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: $1,157 in Panama City versus $743 in Boquete. 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.

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 $1,389 in Boquete versus $1,763 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 27% less than in Panama City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.