Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bocas del Toro and Asuncion

For one person, living is cheaper in Asuncion: $1,049 a month against $1,469 in Bocas del Toro, rent and utilities included – about $5,000 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Bocas del Toro outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

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Cost of Living Index in Asuncion
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Asuncion Living Index

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Bocas del Toro

🇵🇦 Panama

$1,469

/mo nomad

Asuncion

🇵🇾 Paraguay

$1,049

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bocas del Toro and in Asuncion

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Bocas del Toro and in Asuncion actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,469 per month in Bocas del Toro vs $1,049 in Asuncion, rent included.

Bocas del Toro $1,469
Asuncion $1,049

A couple spends around $2,087 per month in Bocas del Toro vs $1,635 in Asuncion, rent included.

Bocas del Toro $2,087
Asuncion $1,635

A family of three spends $2,706 per month in Bocas del Toro vs $2,221 in Asuncion, rent included.

Bocas del Toro $2,706
Asuncion $2,221

Bocas del Toro costs about 40% more than Asuncion, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Bocas del Toro sits 10% above the global median, while Asuncion is 22% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.59 PAB 9.59

$6.66 ₲37.8K

43.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.4 PAB 50.4

$43.46 ₲246.7K

15.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.18 PAB 10.18

$6.63 ₲37.6K

53.54%

Cappuccino

$3.95 PAB 3.95

$3.44 ₲19.5K

14.83%

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

$1.70 PAB 1.70

$1.07 ₲6,047

58.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 PAB 1.60

$0.58 ₲3,299

175.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.02 PAB 2.02

$1.85 ₲10.5K

9.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.89 PAB 3.89

$1.70 ₲9,643

128.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 PAB 1.96

$1.25 ₲7,087

56.80%

White Bread (500g)

$3.80 PAB 3.80

$1.49 ₲8,448

155.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.35 ₲7,645

Eggs

$2.66 PAB 2.66

$2.32 ₲13.2K

14.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.11 PAB 17.11

$9.85 ₲55.9K

73.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.66 PAB 8.66

$5.20 ₲29.5K

66.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.35 PAB 8.35

$9.91 ₲56.3K

-15.74%

Apples (1kg)

$9.73 PAB 9.73

$2.99 ₲17.0K

225.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 PAB 1.52

$1.23 ₲6,961

23.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.21 ₲6,866

Tomato (1kg)

$5.03 PAB 5.03

$2.45 ₲13.9K

105.31%

Potato (1kg)

$3.41 PAB 3.41

$1.30 ₲7,405

162.31%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 ₲7,583

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.84 ₲4,746

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 PAB 1.59

$0.69 ₲3,926

130.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.24 ₲12.7K

Wine (Bottle)

$9.02 ₲51.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 PAB 2.78

$1.33 ₲7,537

109.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 PAB 2.52

$1.68 ₲9,516

50.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.57 ₲3,213

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.02 ₲215.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.45 ₲8,222

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 ₲8,936

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.04 ₲57.0K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 ₲6,842

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

$16.9K ₲96.1M

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

$35.3K ₲200.5M

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

$50.1 ₲284.3K

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

$39.46 PAB 39.46

$16.94 ₲96.2K

132.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.14 PAB 35.14

$21.75 ₲123.5K

61.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.50 ₲207.2K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.89 ₲84.5K

Cinema Ticket

$8.59 ₲48.8K

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

$184 ₲1.0M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,873 ₲33.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.4 ₲354.4K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.4 ₲314.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 ₲592.2K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.2 ₲392.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$749 PAB 749

$620 ₲3.5M

20.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$901 PAB 901

$373 ₲2.1M

141.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,213 PAB 1,213

$1,050 ₲6.0M

15.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,220 PAB 1,220

$624 ₲3.5M

95.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,716 ₲9.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,242 ₲7.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$709 PAB 709

$723 ₲4.1M

-1.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.15

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

Last update for Bocas del Toro: October 4, 2026

Last update for Asuncion: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Bocas del Toro

–

Asuncion

$373 35.8%

Groceries & Markets

Bocas del Toro

–

Asuncion

$213 20.4%

Eating Out

Bocas del Toro

–

Asuncion

$134 12.8%

Clothing & Footwear

Bocas del Toro

–

Asuncion

$131 12.6%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Bocas del Toro

–

Asuncion

$89 8.5%

Sport & Entertainment

Bocas del Toro

–

Asuncion

$54 5.2%

Getting Around

Bocas del Toro

–

Asuncion

$50 4.8%

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $749 in Bocas del Toro versus $620 in Asuncion. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 2% higher in Asuncion, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $50.0 in Bocas del Toro versus $43.00 in Asuncion. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $319 vs $213 – making Asuncion the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇵🇦 Bocas del Toro

🇵🇾 Asuncion

🕒 Local time

07:18 7:18 AM

09:18 9:18 AM

2 h ahead of Bocas del Toro

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

159,228

742,023 Capital

💱 Currency

Panamanian Balboa PAB B/.

Paraguayan Guarani PYG ₲

📈 Exchange rate

1 PAB = 1 USD

1 PAB = 0.892 EUR

10,000 PYG = 1.76 USD

10,000 PYG = 1.57 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

PYG, USD, EUR to PAB – Panamanian Balboa Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇵🇦 Panamanian Balboa (B/.)

Panamanian Balboa exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1 PAB (1 PAB = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.12 PAB (1 PAB = 0.892 EUR).

Paraguayan Guarani exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 5,676 PYG (10,000 PYG = 1.76 USD). 1 EUR = 6,361 PYG (10,000 PYG = 1.57 EUR).

USD to PAB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Bocas del Toro Asuncion 4,680 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight

From you

Bocas del Toro
Asuncion

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Asuncion: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Bocas del Toro is pricier by about 40%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in clothing.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,203 per month in Bocas del Toro and $1,574 in Asuncion. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Asuncion, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 50% more in Bocas del Toro, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $50.0 in Bocas del Toro and $43.00 in Asuncion. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Asuncion, where all-in costs run around $1,049, than in Bocas del Toro at $1,469. In Asuncion it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bocas del Toro it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Asuncion – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Asuncion. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bocas del Toro makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.