Cost of Living Comparison Between Boquete and Bugaba Cost of Living Comparison Between Boquete and Bugaba

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,373 in Boquete versus $656 in Bugaba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,102 in Boquete versus $1,023 in Bugaba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,832 in Boquete versus $1,389 in Bugaba.

Living in Boquete is roughly 109% more expensive than in Bugaba, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Boquete is 3% above, Bugaba is 51% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.57 PAB 5.57

$3.08 PAB 3.08

80.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.59 PAB 29.59

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.66 PAB 7.66

$4.93 PAB 4.93

55.38%

Cappuccino

$3.40 PAB 3.40

$1.24 PAB 1.24

174.19%

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

$1.36 PAB 1.36

$0.97 PAB 0.97

40.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 PAB 0.93

$0.49 PAB 0.49

89.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.78 PAB 1.78

$1.46 PAB 1.46

21.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 PAB 2.01

$2.05 PAB 2.05

-1.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 PAB 1.64

$1.58 PAB 1.58

3.80%

White Bread (500g)

$2.41 PAB 2.41

$2.04 PAB 2.04

18.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.41 PAB 1.41

$1.54 PAB 1.54

-8.44%

Eggs

$2.54 PAB 2.54

$2.69 PAB 2.69

-5.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.71 PAB 8.71

$2.91 PAB 2.91

199.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.63 PAB 7.63

$3.22 PAB 3.22

136.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.07 PAB 11.07

$4.11 PAB 4.11

169.34%

Apples (1kg)

$4.54 PAB 4.54

$1.98 PAB 1.98

129.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 PAB 1.04

$1.46 PAB 1.46

-28.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.27 PAB 3.27

$1.22 PAB 1.22

168.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.57 PAB 1.57

$1.01 PAB 1.01

55.45%

Potato (1kg)

$2.27 PAB 2.27

$1.23 PAB 1.23

84.55%

Onion (1kg)

$1.71 PAB 1.71

$1.48 PAB 1.48

15.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 PAB 2.22

$0.52 PAB 0.52

326.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 PAB 1.71

$1.22 PAB 1.22

40.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.17 PAB 5.17

$10.09 PAB 10.09

-48.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.06 PAB 8.06

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 PAB 1.21

$1.52 PAB 1.52

-20.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 PAB 2.72

$2.03 PAB 2.03

33.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 PAB 1.54

$0.47 PAB 0.47

227.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.95 PAB 24.95

$30.08 PAB 30.08

-17.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.97 PAB 0.97

$1.51 PAB 1.51

-35.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.02 PAB 2.02

$1.94 PAB 1.94

4.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.59 PAB 29.59

$20.13 PAB 20.13

46.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 PAB 0.88

$1.05 PAB 1.05

-16.19%

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

$25.9K PAB 25.9K

$24.6K PAB 24.6K

5.35%

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

$20.5K PAB 20.5K

$18.3K PAB 18.3K

11.62%

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

$53.6 PAB 53.6

$75.9 PAB 75.9

-29.38%

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

$28.49 PAB 28.49

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$45.90 PAB 45.90

$40.38 PAB 40.38

13.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$86.6 PAB 86.6

$35.25 PAB 35.25

145.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.76 PAB 17.76

$50.1 PAB 50.1

-64.54%

Cinema Ticket

$6.69 PAB 6.69

$3.89 PAB 3.89

71.98%

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

$245 PAB 245

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$34.67 PAB 34.67

$55.0 PAB 55.0

-36.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.47 PAB 25.47

$39.40 PAB 39.40

-35.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$51.3 PAB 51.3

$59.0 PAB 59.0

-12.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$60.1 PAB 60.1

$50.8 PAB 50.8

18.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$756 PAB 756

$201 PAB 201

276.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$640 PAB 640

$153 PAB 153

318.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,588 PAB 1,588

$650 PAB 650

144.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,119 PAB 1,119

$350 PAB 350

219.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,203 PAB 1,203

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,143 PAB 1,143

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$789 PAB 789

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

133.33%

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

Last update for Boquete: July 14, 2026

Last update for Bugaba: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $756 in Boquete and $201 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

Boquete vs Bugaba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bugaba is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 109% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $2,059 in Boquete and $985 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: $756 in Boquete versus $201 in Bugaba. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 76% higher in Boquete. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

A monthly transit pass in Bugaba runs roughly 21% less than in Boquete. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $656 in Bugaba versus $1,373 in Boquete, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Bugaba but tight or insufficient in Boquete. The gap between the two cities makes Bugaba the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Bugaba is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Boquete, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Boquete and Bugaba 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 Bugaba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 109% less than in Boquete. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.