Boquete vs Phuket: cost of living for digital nomads
Boquete, Panama and Phuket, Thailand, 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
- Phuket is about 6% cheaper than Boquete for a month of nomad living ($1,450 vs $1,550).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $600 in Phuket against $700 in Boquete.
- Boquete scores higher on safety (8/10 vs 7/10).
- Internet is faster in Phuket: 180 Mbps typical against 100 Mbps.
- Boquete is temperate; Phuket is tropical.
Boquete wins 3 of the measured lines; Phuket wins 5.
Frequently asked questions
Which city is cheaper, Boquete or Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper: about $1,450/month against $1,550/month in Boquete, roughly 6% less for a typical remote worker's budget.
Which city is safer, Boquete or Phuket?
Boquete scores higher on safety: 8/10 against 7/10 for Phuket.
Which has faster internet, Boquete or Phuket?
Phuket has faster typical internet: 180 Mbps against 100 Mbps in Boquete.
| Line | Boquete | Phuket |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $1,550 | $1,450 |
| Rent | $700 | $600 |
| Food | $400 | $380 |
| Transport | $60 | $70 |
| Coworking | $100 | $120 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 100 | 180 |
| Climate | temperate | tropical |
| City size | small | mid |
| Setting | mountain | island |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 7/10 | 8/10 |
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, Phuket September 10, 2026.