Cost of Living Comparison Between Bocas del Toro and Aguadulce Cost of Living Comparison Between Bocas del Toro and Aguadulce

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,407 in Bocas del Toro versus $893 in Aguadulce.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,997 in Bocas del Toro versus $1,432 in Aguadulce.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,588 in Bocas del Toro versus $1,971 in Aguadulce.

Living in Bocas del Toro is roughly 58% more expensive than in Aguadulce, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Bocas del Toro is 5% above, Aguadulce is 33% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.73 PAB 9.73

$10.05 PAB 10.05

-3.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.6 PAB 50.6

$50.8 PAB 50.8

-0.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.86 PAB 9.86

$7.80 PAB 7.80

26.41%

Cappuccino

$4.06 PAB 4.06

$3.64 PAB 3.64

11.54%

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

$1.80 PAB 1.80

$1.67 PAB 1.67

7.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 PAB 1.58

$1.40 PAB 1.40

12.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.98 PAB 1.98

$3.03 PAB 3.03

-34.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.99 PAB 3.99

$3.88 PAB 3.88

2.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 PAB 1.90

White Bread (500g)

$3.97 PAB 3.97

$2.51 PAB 2.51

58.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.52 PAB 2.52

Eggs

$2.64 PAB 2.64

$2.86 PAB 2.86

-7.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.70 PAB 16.70

$11.55 PAB 11.55

44.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.78 PAB 8.78

$6.99 PAB 6.99

25.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.41 PAB 8.41

$10.06 PAB 10.06

-16.40%

Apples (1kg)

$4.61 PAB 4.61

$3.30 PAB 3.30

39.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 PAB 1.53

$1.49 PAB 1.49

2.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.86 PAB 2.86

Tomato (1kg)

$5.11 PAB 5.11

$3.22 PAB 3.22

58.70%

Potato (1kg)

$3.38 PAB 3.38

$2.25 PAB 2.25

50.22%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 PAB 2.79

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.25 PAB 2.25

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.64 PAB 1.64

$1.56 PAB 1.56

5.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.92 PAB 5.92

Wine (Bottle)

$10.76 PAB 10.76

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.82 PAB 2.82

$1.24 PAB 1.24

127.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.44 PAB 2.44

$2.34 PAB 2.34

4.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 PAB 0.24

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.52 PAB 2.52

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.77 PAB 1.77

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.41 PAB 22.41

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 PAB 0.88

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

$19.7K PAB 19.7K

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

$20.5K PAB 20.5K

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

$124 PAB 124

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

$30.35 PAB 30.35

$29.68 PAB 29.68

2.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.41 PAB 34.41

$48.99 PAB 48.99

-29.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.95 PAB 46.95

Cinema Ticket

$7.77 PAB 7.77

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

$479 PAB 479

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.6K PAB 15.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.8 PAB 50.8

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.74 PAB 45.74

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.8 PAB 90.8

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 PAB 123

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$741 PAB 741

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$897 PAB 897

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,191 PAB 1,191

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,195 PAB 1,195

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$697 PAB 697

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.23

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

Last update for Bocas del Toro: July 14, 2026

Last update for Aguadulce: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $51.0 in Bocas del Toro vs $51.0 in Aguadulce for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $276 vs $291 per month, with Bocas del Toro 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

Bocas del Toro vs Aguadulce: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Aguadulce wins on cost – living expenses run 58% lower than in Bocas del Toro. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Aguadulce the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $2,110 in Bocas del Toro and $1,339 in Aguadulce to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

All in, you'll spend $1,407 per month in Bocas del Toro versus $893 in Aguadulce – a 58% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Shoppers in Bocas del Toro pay roughly 5% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

At $893 in Aguadulce versus $1,407 in Bocas del Toro, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Aguadulce but tight or insufficient in Bocas del Toro. The gap between the two cities makes Aguadulce the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Aguadulce delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $893 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Aguadulce hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Bocas del Toro and Aguadulce 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 Aguadulce gentler on the wallet – expenses run 58% less than in Bocas del Toro. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.