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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,408 in Bocas del Toro versus $661 in Bugaba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,998 in Bocas del Toro versus $1,022 in Bugaba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,587 in Bocas del Toro versus $1,383 in Bugaba.

Living in Bocas del Toro is roughly 113% more expensive than Bugaba, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Bocas del Toro is 5% above, Bugaba is 51% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.39 PAB 9.39

$2.96 PAB 2.96

217.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.8 PAB 50.8

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.83 PAB 9.83

$4.93 PAB 4.93

99.39%

Cappuccino

$4.05 PAB 4.05

$1.27 PAB 1.27

218.90%

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

$1.72 PAB 1.72

$0.97 PAB 0.97

77.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 PAB 1.58

$0.52 PAB 0.52

203.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.96 PAB 1.96

$1.54 PAB 1.54

27.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.04 PAB 4.04

$1.97 PAB 1.97

105.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.58 PAB 1.58

White Bread (500g)

$3.79 PAB 3.79

$2.06 PAB 2.06

83.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.53 PAB 1.53

Eggs

$2.58 PAB 2.58

$2.71 PAB 2.71

-4.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.05 PAB 17.05

$2.97 PAB 2.97

474.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.61 PAB 8.61

$3.34 PAB 3.34

157.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.31 PAB 8.31

$4.08 PAB 4.08

103.68%

Apples (1kg)

$4.38 PAB 4.38

$1.97 PAB 1.97

122.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 PAB 1.51

$1.48 PAB 1.48

2.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.23 PAB 1.23

Tomato (1kg)

$4.83 PAB 4.83

$0.97 PAB 0.97

397.94%

Potato (1kg)

$3.23 PAB 3.23

$1.28 PAB 1.28

152.34%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 PAB 1.46

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.49 PAB 0.49

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 PAB 1.63

$1.22 PAB 1.22

33.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.16 PAB 10.16

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.80 PAB 2.80

$1.53 PAB 1.53

83.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 PAB 2.53

$1.98 PAB 1.98

27.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.43 PAB 0.43

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.27 PAB 30.27

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.53 PAB 1.53

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.94 PAB 1.94

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.93 PAB 19.93

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 PAB 1.05

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

$24.6K PAB 24.6K

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

$18.1K PAB 18.1K

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

$74.2 PAB 74.2

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

$30.40 PAB 30.40

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.51 PAB 35.51

$39.52 PAB 39.52

-10.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.59 PAB 34.59

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$49.58 PAB 49.58

Cinema Ticket

$4.05 PAB 4.05

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 PAB 54.1

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.69 PAB 40.69

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.9 PAB 60.9

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.37 PAB 49.37

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$758 PAB 758

$198 PAB 198

283.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$887 PAB 887

$152 PAB 152

483.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,208 PAB 1,208

$649 PAB 649

86.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,224 PAB 1,224

$355 PAB 355

244.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$700 PAB 700

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Bocas del Toro: April 26, 2026

Last update for Bugaba: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $758 in Bocas del Toro and $198 in Bugaba. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

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 Bugaba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bocas del Toro and Bugaba differ by about 113% in total monthly costs ($1,408 vs $661 including rent). Bugaba is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $2,112 in Bocas del Toro and $992 in Bugaba 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $758 in Bocas del Toro versus $198 in Bugaba. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 75% higher in Bocas del Toro. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,408 per month in Bocas del Toro versus $661 in Bugaba – a 113% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $661 in Bugaba versus $1,408 in Bocas del Toro, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Bugaba but tight or insufficient in Bocas del Toro. The gap between the two cities makes Bugaba the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Bugaba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 113% less than in Bocas del Toro. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.