Boquete vs Manila: cost of living for digital nomads
Boquete, Panama and Manila, Philippines, line by line from the catalogue: what a month costs, rent, food, coworking, safety and internet. Every figure links back to its source on the city page.
The short version
- Manila is about 16% cheaper than Boquete for a month of nomad living ($1,300 vs $1,550).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $560 in Manila against $700 in Boquete.
- Boquete scores higher on safety (8/10 vs 6/10).
- Internet is faster in Boquete: 100 Mbps typical against 90 Mbps.
- Boquete is temperate; Manila is tropical.
Boquete wins 3 of the measured lines; Manila wins 3.
Frequently asked questions
Which city is cheaper, Boquete or Manila?
Manila is cheaper: about $1,300/month against $1,550/month in Boquete, roughly 16% less for a typical remote worker's budget.
Which city is safer, Boquete or Manila?
Boquete scores higher on safety: 8/10 against 6/10 for Manila.
Which has faster internet, Boquete or Manila?
Boquete has faster typical internet: 100 Mbps against 90 Mbps in Manila.
| Line | Boquete | Manila |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $1,550 | $1,300 |
| Rent | $700 | $560 |
| Food | $400 | $350 |
| Transport | $60 | $60 |
| Coworking | $100 | $120 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 8/10 | 6/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 100 | 90 |
| Climate | temperate | tropical |
| City size | small | metro |
| Setting | mountain | coast |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 7/10 | 7/10 |
Compare Manila with
Costs are typical monthly figures for one person in USD, from the sources named on each city page; safety and internet are the catalogue's own ratings. Cost figures verified (Eastern Time): Boquete September 10, 2026, Manila November 9, 2026.