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: $1,475 in Bocas del Toro versus $917 in Aguadulce.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,065 in Bocas del Toro versus $1,493 in Aguadulce.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,654 in Bocas del Toro versus $2,068 in Aguadulce.

Living in Bocas del Toro is roughly 61% more expensive than in Aguadulce, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Bocas del Toro is 7% above, Aguadulce is 33% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.34 PAB 9.34

$9.98 PAB 9.98

-6.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.2 PAB 50.2

$44.44 PAB 44.44

12.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.12 PAB 10.12

$7.93 PAB 7.93

27.62%

Cappuccino

$3.93 PAB 3.93

$3.97 PAB 3.97

-1.01%

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

$1.70 PAB 1.70

$1.92 PAB 1.92

-11.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 PAB 1.59

$1.51 PAB 1.51

5.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.96 PAB 1.96

$2.93 PAB 2.93

-33.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 PAB 4.03

$3.98 PAB 3.98

1.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 PAB 1.98

$1.85 PAB 1.85

7.03%

White Bread (500g)

$3.76 PAB 3.76

$2.36 PAB 2.36

59.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.13 PAB 3.13

Eggs

$2.58 PAB 2.58

$2.75 PAB 2.75

-6.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.25 PAB 17.25

$12.56 PAB 12.56

37.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.81 PAB 8.81

$6.49 PAB 6.49

35.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.38 PAB 8.38

$10.42 PAB 10.42

-19.58%

Apples (1kg)

$9.66 PAB 9.66

$4.47 PAB 4.47

116.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 PAB 1.46

$1.68 PAB 1.68

-13.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.01 PAB 4.01

Tomato (1kg)

$4.88 PAB 4.88

$4.10 PAB 4.10

19.02%

Potato (1kg)

$3.29 PAB 3.29

$3.11 PAB 3.11

5.79%

Onion (1kg)

$4.33 PAB 4.33

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.19 PAB 2.19

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.64 PAB 1.64

$1.72 PAB 1.72

-4.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.03 PAB 6.03

Wine (Bottle)

$11.16 PAB 11.16

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 PAB 2.89

$1.40 PAB 1.40

106.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.57 PAB 2.57

$2.83 PAB 2.83

-9.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 PAB 0.26

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 PAB 2.57

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.85 PAB 1.85

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.68 PAB 21.68

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 PAB 1.15

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

$21.6K PAB 21.6K

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

$21.1K PAB 21.1K

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

$133 PAB 133

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

$40.10 PAB 40.10

$28.48 PAB 28.48

40.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.02 PAB 35.02

$48.03 PAB 48.03

-27.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.21 PAB 46.21

Cinema Ticket

$7.87 PAB 7.87

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

$536 PAB 536

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,449 PAB 9,449

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.1 PAB 61.1

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.98 PAB 45.98

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.5 PAB 95.5

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 PAB 119

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$759 PAB 759

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$902 PAB 902

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,204 PAB 1,204

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,208 PAB 1,208

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$699 PAB 699

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.39

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

Last update for Bocas del Toro: September 7, 2026

Last update for Aguadulce: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $50.0 in Bocas del Toro vs $44.00 in Aguadulce for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $318 per month, with Aguadulce 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 61% 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 $2,212 in Bocas del Toro and $1,376 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 $1,475 per month in Bocas del Toro versus $917 in Aguadulce – a 61% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 0% higher in Bocas del Toro. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $917 in Aguadulce versus $1,475 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 $917 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 61% less than in Bocas del Toro. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.