Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bocas del Toro and New York, NY

For one person, living is cheaper in Bocas del Toro: $1,469 a month against $5,142 in New York, NY, rent and utilities included – about $44,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in New York, NY
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New York, NY Living Index

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Bocas del Toro

🇵🇦 Panama

$1,469

/mo nomad

New York, NY

🇺🇸 United States

$5,142

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bocas del Toro and in New York, NY

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 New York, NY actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,469 in Bocas del Toro versus $5,142 in New York, NY.

Bocas del Toro $1,469
New York, NY $5,142

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,087 in Bocas del Toro versus $7,455 in New York, NY.

Bocas del Toro $2,087
New York, NY $7,455

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,706 in Bocas del Toro versus $9,767 in New York, NY.

Bocas del Toro $2,706
New York, NY $9,767

Living in Bocas del Toro costs roughly 71% less than in New York, NY, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Bocas del Toro 10% above, New York, NY 284% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.59 PAB 9.59

$26.46 $26.46

-63.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.4 PAB 50.4

$119 $119

-57.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.18 PAB 10.18

$14.43 $14.43

-29.45%

Cappuccino

$3.95 PAB 3.95

$6.55 $6.55

-39.69%

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

$1.70 PAB 1.70

$3.84 $3.84

-55.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 PAB 1.60

$3.00 $3.00

-46.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.02 PAB 2.02

$8.27 $8.27

-75.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.89 PAB 3.89

$10.05 $10.05

-61.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 PAB 1.96

$1.31 $1.31

49.62%

White Bread (500g)

$3.80 PAB 3.80

$4.90 $4.90

-22.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$7.16 $7.16

Eggs

$2.66 PAB 2.66

$5.92 $5.92

-55.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.11 PAB 17.11

$19.06 $19.06

-10.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.66 PAB 8.66

$17.38 $17.38

-50.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.35 PAB 8.35

$18.94 $18.94

-55.91%

Apples (1kg)

$9.73 PAB 9.73

$6.96 $6.96

39.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 PAB 1.52

$2.08 $2.08

-26.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.10 $6.10

Tomato (1kg)

$5.03 PAB 5.03

$6.95 $6.95

-27.63%

Potato (1kg)

$3.41 PAB 3.41

$3.98 $3.98

-14.32%

Onion (1kg)

$4.44 $4.44

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.81 $2.81

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 PAB 1.59

$2.51 $2.51

-36.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$19.27 $19.27

Wine (Bottle)

$19.67 $19.67

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 PAB 2.78

$3.08 $3.08

-9.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.52 PAB 2.52

$3.68 $3.68

-31.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.02 $3.02

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$140 $140

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.07 $3.07

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 $2.13

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.21 $41.21

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

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

$35.0K $35.0K

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

$25.4K $25.4K

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

$217 $217

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

$39.46 PAB 39.46

$74.0 $74.0

-46.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.14 PAB 35.14

$72.5 $72.5

-51.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$120 $120

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$66.9 $66.9

Cinema Ticket

$22.32 $22.32

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

$3,425 $3,425

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$61.2K $61.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.3 $76.3

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.5 $55.5

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$131 $131

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$749 PAB 749

$4,506 $4,506

-83.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$901 PAB 901

$3,155 $3,155

-71.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,213 PAB 1,213

$8,817 $8,817

-86.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,220 PAB 1,220

$5,532 $5,532

-77.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$19.4K $19.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,754 $6,754

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$709 PAB 709

$5,290 $5,290

-86.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.82

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 New York, NY: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Bocas del Toro

–

New York, NY

$3.2K 63.2%

Groceries & Markets

Bocas del Toro

–

New York, NY

$546 11%

Eating Out

Bocas del Toro

–

New York, NY

$422 8.5%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Bocas del Toro

–

New York, NY

$364 7.3%

Clothing & Footwear

Bocas del Toro

–

New York, NY

$172 3.4%

Getting Around

Bocas del Toro

–

New York, NY

$165 3.3%

Sport & Entertainment

Bocas del Toro

–

New York, NY

$165 3.3%

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $749 in Bocas del Toro and $4,506 in New York, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

New York, NY pays 646% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $50.0 in Bocas del Toro vs $119 in New York, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $546 per month, with Bocas del Toro cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇵🇦 Bocas del Toro

🇺🇸 New York, NY

🕒 Local time

04:54 4:54 AM

05:54 5:54 AM

1 h ahead of Bocas del Toro

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

159,228

8,804,190

💱 Currency

Panamanian Balboa PAB B/.

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 PAB = 1 USD

1 PAB = 0.892 EUR

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

USD to PAB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Bocas del Toro New York, NY 3,570 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight

From you

Bocas del Toro
New York, NY

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 New York, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bocas del Toro and New York, NY differ by about 250% in total monthly costs ($1,469 vs $5,142 including rent). Bocas del Toro is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 646% lower in New York, NY. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $749 in Bocas del Toro versus $4,506 in New York, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Bocas del Toro – a meal for two runs $50.0 versus $119 in New York, NY. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,469 per month in Bocas del Toro versus $5,142 in New York, NY – a 250% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,469 in Bocas del Toro versus $5,142 in New York, NY, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Bocas del Toro but tight or insufficient in New York, NY. The gap between the two cities makes Bocas del Toro 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 Bocas del Toro gentler on the wallet – expenses run 250% less than in New York, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.