Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bocastown, Isla Colon and Boquete

For one person, living is cheaper in Bocastown, Isla Colon: $1,205 a month against $1,462 in Boquete, rent and utilities included – about $3,100 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Boquete
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Boquete Living Index

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Bocastown, Isla Colon

🇵🇦 Panama

$1,205

/mo nomad

Boquete

🇵🇦 Panama

$1,462

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bocastown, Isla Colon and in Boquete

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

A single person spends $1,205 per month in Bocastown, Isla Colon vs $1,462 in Boquete, rent included.

Bocastown, Isla Colon $1,205
Boquete $1,462

A couple spends around $2,060 per month in Bocastown, Isla Colon vs $2,237 in Boquete, rent included.

Bocastown, Isla Colon $2,060
Boquete $2,237

A family of three spends $2,915 per month in Bocastown, Isla Colon vs $3,011 in Boquete, rent included.

Bocastown, Isla Colon $2,915
Boquete $3,011

Bocastown, Isla Colon is about 18% cheaper than Boquete, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Bocastown, Isla Colon sits 11% below the global median, while Boquete is 8% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.44 PAB 5.44

$6.48 PAB 6.48

-16.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.68 PAB 44.68

$39.69 PAB 39.69

12.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.19 PAB 13.19

$7.65 PAB 7.65

72.42%

Cappuccino

$3.88 PAB 3.88

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

$1.01 PAB 1.01

$1.36 PAB 1.36

-25.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 PAB 1.15

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.48 PAB 2.48

$2.27 PAB 2.27

9.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.08 PAB 5.08

Milk (1 liter)

$2.08 PAB 2.08

$1.81 PAB 1.81

14.92%

White Bread (500g)

$3.11 PAB 3.11

$2.15 PAB 2.15

44.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.45 PAB 2.45

$2.25 PAB 2.25

8.89%

Eggs

$2.79 PAB 2.79

$2.60 PAB 2.60

7.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.77 PAB 15.77

$9.62 PAB 9.62

63.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.00 PAB 9.00

$7.53 PAB 7.53

19.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.40 PAB 8.40

$15.28 PAB 15.28

-45.03%

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 PAB 3.84

$4.33 PAB 4.33

-11.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 PAB 1.45

$1.01 PAB 1.01

43.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.40 PAB 4.40

Tomato (1kg)

$5.34 PAB 5.34

$2.23 PAB 2.23

139.46%

Potato (1kg)

$2.14 PAB 2.14

$2.21 PAB 2.21

-3.17%

Onion (1kg)

$1.61 PAB 1.61

$2.14 PAB 2.14

-24.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.52 PAB 2.52

$2.30 PAB 2.30

9.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 PAB 1.72

$1.65 PAB 1.65

4.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.61 PAB 4.61

$5.02 PAB 5.02

-8.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.09 PAB 9.09

$7.85 PAB 7.85

15.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 PAB 1.78

$1.20 PAB 1.20

48.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 PAB 2.56

$2.59 PAB 2.59

-1.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.02 PAB 1.02

$1.35 PAB 1.35

-24.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.55 PAB 24.55

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 PAB 0.98

$1.02 PAB 1.02

-3.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.06 PAB 2.06

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.39 PAB 30.39

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 PAB 1.33

$1.13 PAB 1.13

17.70%

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

$25.5K PAB 25.5K

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

$22.1K PAB 22.1K

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

$87.7 PAB 87.7

$58.0 PAB 58.0

51.19%

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

$25.71 PAB 25.71

$25.95 PAB 25.95

-0.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.5 PAB 50.5

$42.16 PAB 42.16

19.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.08 PAB 35.08

$82.5 PAB 82.5

-57.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.48 PAB 17.48

Cinema Ticket

$6.33 PAB 6.33

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,075 PAB 6,075

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.42 PAB 25.42

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.48 PAB 25.48

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.14 PAB 44.14

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$744 PAB 744

$825 PAB 825

-9.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$584 PAB 584

$710 PAB 710

-17.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,216 PAB 1,216

$1,551 PAB 1,551

-21.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,506 PAB 1,506

$1,284 PAB 1,284

17.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,181 PAB 1,181

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,150 PAB 1,150

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$675 PAB 675

$784 PAB 784

-13.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

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

Last update for Bocastown, Isla Colon: October 10, 2026

Last update for Boquete: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Bocastown, Isla Colon

–

Boquete

$710 48.5%

Groceries & Markets

Bocastown, Isla Colon

–

Boquete

$295 20.2%

Eating Out

Bocastown, Isla Colon

–

Boquete

$153 10.5%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Bocastown, Isla Colon

–

Boquete

$126 8.6%

Sport & Entertainment

Bocastown, Isla Colon

–

Boquete

$95 6.5%

Clothing & Footwear

Bocastown, Isla Colon

–

Boquete

$43 * 2.9%

Getting Around

Bocastown, Isla Colon

–

Boquete

$41 2.8%

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $744 in Bocastown, Isla Colon versus $825 in Boquete. 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 16% higher in Boquete, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Bocastown, Isla Colon versus $40.00 in Boquete. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $318 vs $295 – making Boquete the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇵🇦 Bocastown, Isla Colon

🇵🇦 Boquete

🕒 Local time

20:45 8:45 PM

Same time as Bocastown, Isla Colon

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

5,380

7,000

💱 Currency

Panamanian Balboa PAB B/.

📈 Exchange rate

1 PAB = 1 USD

1 PAB = 0.89 EUR

1 PAB = 1 USD

1 PAB = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Bocastown, Isla Colon Boquete 70 km

From you

Bocastown, Isla Colon
Boquete

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

Bocastown, Isla Colon vs Boquete: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Boquete costs about 21% more than Bocastown, Isla Colon, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from leisure. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,808 per month in Bocastown, Isla Colon and $2,194 in Boquete. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,205 in Bocastown, Isla Colon and $1,462 in Boquete. That's a gap of about 21%.

Interestingly, groceries are about 8% cheaper in Boquete – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bocastown, Isla Colon, where all-in costs run around $1,205, than in Boquete at $1,462. In Bocastown, Isla Colon it covers expenses comfortably, while in Boquete it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bocastown, Isla Colon costs $1,205 versus $1,462 in Boquete. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Bocastown, Isla Colon. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Boquete makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.