Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Boquete and Bocastown, Isla Colon

For one person, living is cheaper in Bocastown, Isla Colon: $1,203 a month against $1,459 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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Boquete

🇵🇦 Panama

$1,459

/mo nomad

Bocastown, Isla Colon

🇵🇦 Panama

$1,203

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $1,459 per month in Boquete vs $1,203 in Bocastown, Isla Colon, rent included.

Boquete $1,459
Bocastown, Isla Colon $1,203

A couple spends around $2,245 per month in Boquete vs $2,054 in Bocastown, Isla Colon, rent included.

Boquete $2,245
Bocastown, Isla Colon $2,054

A family of three spends $3,032 per month in Boquete vs $2,905 in Bocastown, Isla Colon, rent included.

Boquete $3,032
Bocastown, Isla Colon $2,905

Boquete costs about 21% more than Bocastown, Isla Colon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.61 PAB 6.61

$5.48 PAB 5.48

20.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.63 PAB 39.63

$44.72 PAB 44.72

-11.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.68 PAB 7.68

$13.05 PAB 13.05

-41.15%

Cappuccino

$3.72 PAB 3.72

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

$1.40 PAB 1.40

$1.01 PAB 1.01

38.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 PAB 1.15

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.28 PAB 2.28

$2.52 PAB 2.52

-9.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.88 PAB 4.88

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 PAB 1.82

$1.99 PAB 1.99

-8.54%

White Bread (500g)

$2.12 PAB 2.12

$3.10 PAB 3.10

-31.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.22 PAB 2.22

$2.52 PAB 2.52

-11.90%

Eggs

$2.49 PAB 2.49

$2.82 PAB 2.82

-11.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.25 PAB 9.25

$16.07 PAB 16.07

-42.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.45 PAB 7.45

$9.35 PAB 9.35

-20.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.49 PAB 15.49

$8.17 PAB 8.17

89.60%

Apples (1kg)

$4.47 PAB 4.47

$3.77 PAB 3.77

18.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 PAB 1.02

$1.44 PAB 1.44

-29.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.53 PAB 4.53

Tomato (1kg)

$2.18 PAB 2.18

$5.41 PAB 5.41

-59.70%

Potato (1kg)

$2.26 PAB 2.26

$2.24 PAB 2.24

0.89%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 PAB 2.23

$1.68 PAB 1.68

32.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 PAB 2.22

$2.48 PAB 2.48

-10.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 PAB 1.66

$1.78 PAB 1.78

-6.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.15 PAB 5.15

$4.82 PAB 4.82

6.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.97 PAB 7.97

$9.25 PAB 9.25

-13.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 PAB 1.16

$1.76 PAB 1.76

-34.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 PAB 2.65

$2.47 PAB 2.47

7.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 PAB 1.37

$1.02 PAB 1.02

34.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.26 PAB 25.26

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 PAB 0.98

$1.02 PAB 1.02

-3.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.02 PAB 2.02

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.30 PAB 30.30

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 PAB 1.17

$1.32 PAB 1.32

-11.36%

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)

$22.4K PAB 22.4K

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

$58.6 PAB 58.6

$76.1 PAB 76.1

-23.01%

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

$25.83 PAB 25.83

$25.63 PAB 25.63

0.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.71 PAB 41.71

$50.4 PAB 50.4

-17.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$83.2 PAB 83.2

$34.52 PAB 34.52

140.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.84 PAB 17.84

Cinema Ticket

$6.57 PAB 6.57

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,105 PAB 6,105

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.55 PAB 24.55

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.29 PAB 25.29

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.76 PAB 45.76

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$814 PAB 814

$745 PAB 745

9.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$706 PAB 706

$592 PAB 592

19.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,554 PAB 1,554

$1,182 PAB 1,182

31.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,303 PAB 1,303

$1,504 PAB 1,504

-13.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,163 PAB 1,163

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,152 PAB 1,152

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$800 PAB 800

$683 PAB 683

17.17%

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 Boquete: November 1, 2026

Last update for Bocastown, Isla Colon: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Boquete

$706 48.4%

Bocastown, Isla Colon

–

Groceries & Markets

Boquete

$294 20.2%

Bocastown, Isla Colon

–

Eating Out

Boquete

$152 10.4%

Bocastown, Isla Colon

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Boquete

$126 8.6%

Bocastown, Isla Colon

–

Sport & Entertainment

Boquete

$96 6.6%

Bocastown, Isla Colon

–

Clothing & Footwear

Boquete

$43 * 3%

Bocastown, Isla Colon

–

Getting Around

Boquete

$42 2.9%

Bocastown, Isla Colon

–

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $814 in Boquete versus $745 in Bocastown, Isla Colon. 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 17% 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 $40 in Boquete versus $45 in Bocastown, Isla Colon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $294 vs $320 – making Boquete the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇵🇦 Boquete

🇵🇦 Bocastown, Isla Colon

🕒 Local time

15:34 3:34 PM

Same time as Boquete

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

7,000

5,380

💱 Currency

Panamanian Balboa PAB B/.

📈 Exchange rate

1 PAB = 1 USD

1 PAB = 0.895 EUR

1 PAB = 1 USD

1 PAB = 0.895 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Boquete Bocastown, Isla Colon 70 km

From you

Boquete
Bocastown, Isla Colon

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

Boquete vs Bocastown, Isla Colon: 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 $2,189 per month in Boquete and $1,805 in Bocastown, Isla Colon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A central 1-bedroom goes for about $814 in Boquete and $745 in Bocastown, Isla Colon. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,459 in Boquete and $1,203 in Bocastown, Isla Colon. That makes Bocastown, Isla Colon about 18% cheaper.

Interestingly, groceries are about 8% cheaper in Boquete – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.

$1,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,459 in Boquete and $1,203 in Bocastown, Isla Colon. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bocastown, Isla Colon costs $1,203 versus $1,459 in Boquete. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

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