Cost of Living Comparison Between Bocas del Toro and Las Tablas Cost of Living Comparison Between Bocas del Toro and Las Tablas

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,408 in Bocas del Toro versus $849 in Las Tablas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,998 in Bocas del Toro versus $755 in Las Tablas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,587 in Bocas del Toro versus $661 in Las Tablas.

Living in Bocas del Toro is roughly 66% more expensive than Las Tablas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Bocas del Toro is 5% above, Las Tablas is 37% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.39 PAB 9.39

$9.85 PAB 9.85

-4.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.8 PAB 50.8

$30.32 PAB 30.32

67.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.83 PAB 9.83

Cappuccino

$4.05 PAB 4.05

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

$1.72 PAB 1.72

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 PAB 1.58

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.96 PAB 1.96

$1.53 PAB 1.53

28.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.04 PAB 4.04

$3.06 PAB 3.06

32.03%

White Bread (500g)

$3.79 PAB 3.79

Eggs

$2.58 PAB 2.58

$2.05 PAB 2.05

25.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.05 PAB 17.05

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.61 PAB 8.61

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.31 PAB 8.31

Apples (1kg)

$4.38 PAB 4.38

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 PAB 1.51

Tomato (1kg)

$4.83 PAB 4.83

Potato (1kg)

$3.23 PAB 3.23

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 PAB 1.63

Wine (Bottle)

$5.86 PAB 5.86

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.80 PAB 2.80

$1.42 PAB 1.42

97.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 PAB 2.53

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 PAB 0.98

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 PAB 0.88

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

$152 PAB 152

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

$30.40 PAB 30.40

$15.18 PAB 15.18

100.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.51 PAB 35.51

$29.81 PAB 29.81

19.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.16 PAB 20.16

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$758 PAB 758

$713 PAB 713

6.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$887 PAB 887

$510 PAB 510

74.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,208 PAB 1,208

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,224 PAB 1,224

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$700 PAB 700

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 Las Tablas: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $758 in Bocas del Toro and $713 in Las Tablas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $51.0 in Bocas del Toro vs $30.00 in Las Tablas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $27.00 per month, with Las Tablas 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 Las Tablas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bocas del Toro and Las Tablas differ by about 66% in total monthly costs ($1,408 vs $849 including rent). Las Tablas 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 $1,273 in Las Tablas 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 $713 in Las Tablas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Las Tablas – a meal for two runs $30.00 versus $51.0 in Bocas del Toro. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,408 per month in Bocas del Toro versus $849 in Las Tablas – a 66% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $849 in Las Tablas versus $1,408 in Bocas del Toro, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Las Tablas but tight or insufficient in Bocas del Toro. The gap between the two cities makes Las Tablas 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.

Safety-wise, Bocas del Toro and Las Tablas 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 Las Tablas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 66% less than in Bocas del Toro. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.