๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $666 in Botucatu versus $828 in Panglao.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,121 in Botucatu versus $1,232 in Panglao.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,576 in Botucatu versus $1,636 in Panglao.
๐Living in Botucatu costs roughly 20% less than in Panglao, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Both cities sit below the global median: Botucatu50% lower, Panglao38% lower.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Botucatu
Panglao
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.33R$26.51
$4.55โฑ274
17.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.00R$164
$12.21โฑ735
170.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.13R$30.45
$4.38โฑ264
39.95%
Cappuccino
$1.80R$8.94
$2.55โฑ153
-29.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32R$6.55
$0.83โฑ50.2
59.04%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92R$4.56
$0.26โฑ15.60
253.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.84R$9.14
$1.48โฑ89.1
24.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.51R$17.44
$1.90โฑ114
84.74%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Botucatu
Panglao
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.75R$3.74
$1.68โฑ101
-55.36%
White Bread(500g)
$1.03R$5.12
$1.09โฑ65.6
-5.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.87R$4.31
$1.04โฑ62.4
-16.35%
Eggs
$1.17R$5.81
$1.94โฑ117
-39.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.37R$36.64
$9.64โฑ580
-23.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.62R$13.04
$5.19โฑ312
-49.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.67R$33.16
$7.89โฑ475
-15.46%
Apples(1kg)
$1.55R$7.69
$2.10โฑ126
-26.19%
Banana(1kg)
$0.69R$3.44
$1.45โฑ87.0
-52.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.52R$2.59
$2.09โฑ126
-75.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.14R$5.67
$1.99โฑ120
-42.71%
Potato(1kg)
$0.93R$4.60
$2.63โฑ158
-64.64%
Onion(1kg)
$0.93R$4.61
$2.47โฑ149
-62.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.56R$2.80
$1.00โฑ59.9
-44.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62R$3.06
$0.47โฑ28.13
31.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.76R$13.70
$2.60โฑ157
6.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.96R$34.57
$5.60โฑ337
24.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04R$5.16
$0.88โฑ53.1
18.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47R$12.25
$1.75โฑ105
41.14%
๐ Getting Around
Botucatu
Panglao
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.93R$4.63
$0.28โฑ16.96
232.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$37.98R$189
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.88R$4.36
$0.81โฑ48.77
8.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.06R$5.28
$0.23โฑ13.76
360.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.59R$42.67
$2.59โฑ156
231.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94R$4.69
$1.07โฑ64.3
-12.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.0KR$109.4K
$29.7Kโฑ1.8M
-25.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.5KR$146.4K
$27.8Kโฑ1.7M
5.97%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Botucatu
Panglao
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$23.50R$117
$97.8โฑ5,886
-75.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.11R$45.28
$8.80โฑ530
3.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.30R$71.1
$26.51โฑ1,596
-46.06%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Botucatu
Panglao
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.95R$114
$14.70โฑ885
56.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.86R$109
$4.31โฑ259
407.19%
Cinema Ticket
$5.37R$26.67
$4.34โฑ261
23.73%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Botucatu
Panglao
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$246R$1,221
$231โฑ13.9K
6.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,726R$28.5K
$3,926โฑ236.3K
45.84%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Botucatu
Panglao
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.64R$202
$45.73โฑ2,752
-11.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.89R$193
$22.72โฑ1,367
71.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$44.23R$220
$76.2โฑ4,586
-41.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.2R$339
$53.6โฑ3,227
27.20%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Botucatu
Panglao
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$310R$1,540
$330โฑ19.8K
-5.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$212R$1,055
$284โฑ17.1K
-25.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$594R$2,952
$720โฑ43.3K
-17.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$432R$2,148
$497โฑ29.9K
-13.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$994โฑ59.8K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$871โฑ52.4K
-
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Botucatu
Panglao
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$423R$2,100
$134โฑ8,038
216.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.5
8
18.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Botucatu: April 21, 2026
Last update for Panglao: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $310 in Botucatu and $330 in Panglao. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐBotucatu pays 216% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
๐Dining out: $33 in Botucatu vs $12 in Panglao. Groceries flip the comparison at $139 vs $197, with Botucatu cheaper for home cooking.
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
Botucatu vs Panglao: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Botucatu or Panglao?
Botucatu wins on cost โ living expenses run 24% lower than in Panglao. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Botucatu the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Botucatu or Panglao?
Botucatu pays 216% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Botucatu vs Panglao?
Rent for a central apartment: $310 in Botucatu versus $330 in Panglao. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Botucatu and Panglao?
Childcare runs $246 in Botucatu versus $231 in Panglao. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Botucatu vs Panglao?
Dining out is cheaper in Botucatu โ a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $12.00 in Panglao. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $800/month in Botucatu or Panglao?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Botucatu gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Botucatu or Panglao?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is Botucatu compared to Panglao?
Safety-wise, Botucatu and Panglao are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Botucatu gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 24% less than in Panglao. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.