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: $1,389 in Boquete versus $663 in Bugaba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,065 in Boquete versus $1,039 in Bugaba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,741 in Boquete versus $1,416 in Bugaba.

Living in Boquete is roughly 110% more expensive than Bugaba, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Boquete is 4% above, Bugaba is 51% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.43 PAB 5.43

$2.98 PAB 2.98

82.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.91 PAB 29.91

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.36 PAB 7.36

$4.85 PAB 4.85

51.75%

Cappuccino

$3.32 PAB 3.32

$1.28 PAB 1.28

159.38%

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

$1.40 PAB 1.40

$0.99 PAB 0.99

41.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 PAB 0.87

$0.51 PAB 0.51

70.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.77 PAB 1.77

$1.51 PAB 1.51

17.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 PAB 2.02

$2.03 PAB 2.03

-0.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 PAB 1.62

$1.61 PAB 1.61

0.62%

White Bread (500g)

$2.41 PAB 2.41

$2.04 PAB 2.04

18.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.41 PAB 1.41

$1.51 PAB 1.51

-6.62%

Eggs

$2.66 PAB 2.66

$2.71 PAB 2.71

-1.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.11 PAB 9.11

$2.93 PAB 2.93

210.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.62 PAB 7.62

$3.27 PAB 3.27

133.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.00 PAB 11.00

$3.88 PAB 3.88

183.51%

Apples (1kg)

$4.44 PAB 4.44

$1.97 PAB 1.97

125.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.00 PAB 1.00

$1.49 PAB 1.49

-32.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.18 PAB 3.18

$1.27 PAB 1.27

150.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.64 PAB 1.64

$1.02 PAB 1.02

60.78%

Potato (1kg)

$2.28 PAB 2.28

$1.27 PAB 1.27

79.53%

Onion (1kg)

$1.68 PAB 1.68

$1.48 PAB 1.48

13.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.23 PAB 2.23

$0.52 PAB 0.52

328.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 PAB 1.65

$1.22 PAB 1.22

35.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.35 PAB 5.35

$9.80 PAB 9.80

-45.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.08 PAB 8.08

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 PAB 1.20

$1.46 PAB 1.46

-17.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 PAB 2.70

$2.05 PAB 2.05

31.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 PAB 1.52

$0.43 PAB 0.43

253.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.34 PAB 25.34

$30.50 PAB 30.50

-16.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.01 PAB 1.01

$1.49 PAB 1.49

-32.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.06 PAB 2.06

$2.02 PAB 2.02

1.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.39 PAB 30.39

$19.78 PAB 19.78

53.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 PAB 0.89

$1.05 PAB 1.05

-15.24%

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

$25.8K PAB 25.8K

$25.3K PAB 25.3K

1.83%

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

$20.8K PAB 20.8K

$18.2K PAB 18.2K

14.54%

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

$53.7 PAB 53.7

$76.4 PAB 76.4

-29.74%

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

$28.49 PAB 28.49

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$45.79 PAB 45.79

$39.42 PAB 39.42

16.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$87.9 PAB 87.9

$34.72 PAB 34.72

153.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.68 PAB 17.68

$50.4 PAB 50.4

-64.89%

Cinema Ticket

$6.41 PAB 6.41

$3.95 PAB 3.95

62.28%

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

$245 PAB 245

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.53 PAB 35.53

$54.4 PAB 54.4

-34.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.36 PAB 25.36

$39.60 PAB 39.60

-35.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$51.4 PAB 51.4

$61.1 PAB 61.1

-15.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.9 PAB 58.9

$49.25 PAB 49.25

19.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$743 PAB 743

$201 PAB 201

268.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$652 PAB 652

$151 PAB 151

332.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,564 PAB 1,564

$655 PAB 655

139.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,142 PAB 1,142

$349 PAB 349

226.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,181 PAB 1,181

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,155 PAB 1,155

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$800 PAB 800

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Bugaba: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $743 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 110% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $2,083 in Boquete and $994 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: $743 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 20% less than in Boquete. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $663 in Bugaba versus $1,389 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 110% less than in Boquete. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.