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: $1,875 in Panama City versus $1,459 in Boquete.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,722 in Panama City versus $2,218 in Boquete.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,569 in Panama City versus $2,978 in Boquete.

Living in Panama City is roughly 29% more expensive than in Boquete, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Panama City 36% above, Boquete 6% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.05 PAB 10.05

$6.56 PAB 6.56

53.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.07 PAB 45.07

$40.60 PAB 40.60

11.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.91 PAB 7.91

$7.62 PAB 7.62

3.81%

Cappuccino

$4.12 PAB 4.12

$3.80 PAB 3.80

8.42%

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

$1.93 PAB 1.93

$1.35 PAB 1.35

42.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 PAB 1.56

$1.21 PAB 1.21

28.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 PAB 2.95

$2.30 PAB 2.30

28.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.07 PAB 4.07

$5.11 PAB 5.11

-20.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 PAB 1.91

$1.83 PAB 1.83

4.37%

White Bread (500g)

$2.44 PAB 2.44

$2.13 PAB 2.13

14.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.12 PAB 3.12

$2.21 PAB 2.21

41.18%

Eggs

$2.81 PAB 2.81

$2.56 PAB 2.56

9.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.63 PAB 12.63

$9.32 PAB 9.32

35.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.49 PAB 6.49

$7.41 PAB 7.41

-12.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.25 PAB 10.25

$15.55 PAB 15.55

-34.08%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 PAB 4.49

$4.36 PAB 4.36

2.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 PAB 1.69

$1.02 PAB 1.02

65.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.99 PAB 3.99

$4.28 PAB 4.28

-6.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.94 PAB 3.94

$2.24 PAB 2.24

75.89%

Potato (1kg)

$3.24 PAB 3.24

$2.24 PAB 2.24

44.64%

Onion (1kg)

$4.27 PAB 4.27

$2.21 PAB 2.21

93.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.17 PAB 2.17

$2.19 PAB 2.19

-0.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 PAB 1.69

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.98 PAB 5.98

$5.14 PAB 5.14

16.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.78 PAB 10.78

$7.84 PAB 7.84

37.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 PAB 1.42

$1.21 PAB 1.21

17.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 PAB 2.71

$2.65 PAB 2.65

2.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 PAB 0.37

$1.34 PAB 1.34

-72.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.77 PAB 20.77

$25.16 PAB 25.16

-17.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.53 PAB 2.53

$0.98 PAB 0.98

158.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.85 PAB 1.85

$1.98 PAB 1.98

-6.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.85 PAB 21.85

$30.10 PAB 30.10

-27.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 PAB 1.16

$1.08 PAB 1.08

7.41%

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

$21.7K PAB 21.7K

$25.1K PAB 25.1K

-13.53%

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

$21.4K PAB 21.4K

$22.1K PAB 22.1K

-3.46%

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

$132 PAB 132

$58.5 PAB 58.5

126.56%

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

$28.93 PAB 28.93

$25.76 PAB 25.76

12.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.52 PAB 49.52

$42.20 PAB 42.20

17.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.25 PAB 47.25

$83.5 PAB 83.5

-43.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$33.24 PAB 33.24

$17.19 PAB 17.19

93.37%

Cinema Ticket

$7.88 PAB 7.88

$6.32 PAB 6.32

24.68%

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

$546 PAB 546

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,732 PAB 9,732

$5,965 PAB 5,965

63.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 PAB 59.5

$24.99 PAB 24.99

138.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.26 PAB 46.26

$24.54 PAB 24.54

88.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.3 PAB 92.3

$44.19 PAB 44.19

108.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 PAB 116

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,276 PAB 1,276

$827 PAB 827

54.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$904 PAB 904

$700 PAB 700

29.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,126 PAB 2,126

$1,559 PAB 1,559

36.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,469 PAB 1,469

$1,295 PAB 1,295

13.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,086 PAB 3,086

$1,203 PAB 1,203

156.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,697 PAB 1,697

$1,149 PAB 1,149

47.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$925 PAB 925

$814 PAB 814

13.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.39

6.5

-1.69%

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

Last update for Panama City: August 31, 2026

Last update for Boquete: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,276 in Panama City and $827 in Boquete. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Panama City pays 14% 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: $45.00 in Panama City vs $41.00 in Boquete for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $318 vs $294 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 29% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 14% 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: $1,276 in Panama City versus $827 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.

All in, you'll spend $1,875 per month in Panama City versus $1,459 in Boquete – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,459 in Boquete versus $1,875 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 29% less than in Panama City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.