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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $663 in Bugaba versus $1,389 in Boquete.

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

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

Living in Bugaba costs roughly 52% less than in Boquete, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.98 PAB 2.98

$5.43 PAB 5.43

-45.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.91 PAB 29.91

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.85 PAB 4.85

$7.36 PAB 7.36

-34.10%

Cappuccino

$1.28 PAB 1.28

$3.32 PAB 3.32

-61.45%

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

$0.99 PAB 0.99

$1.40 PAB 1.40

-29.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 PAB 0.51

$0.87 PAB 0.87

-41.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.51 PAB 1.51

$1.77 PAB 1.77

-14.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 PAB 2.03

$2.02 PAB 2.02

0.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 PAB 1.61

$1.62 PAB 1.62

-0.62%

White Bread (500g)

$2.04 PAB 2.04

$2.41 PAB 2.41

-15.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 PAB 1.51

$1.41 PAB 1.41

7.09%

Eggs

$2.71 PAB 2.71

$2.66 PAB 2.66

1.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.93 PAB 2.93

$9.11 PAB 9.11

-67.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.27 PAB 3.27

$7.62 PAB 7.62

-57.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.88 PAB 3.88

$11.00 PAB 11.00

-64.73%

Apples (1kg)

$1.97 PAB 1.97

$4.44 PAB 4.44

-55.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 PAB 1.49

$1.00 PAB 1.00

49.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.27 PAB 1.27

$3.18 PAB 3.18

-60.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.02 PAB 1.02

$1.64 PAB 1.64

-37.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 PAB 1.27

$2.28 PAB 2.28

-44.30%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 PAB 1.48

$1.68 PAB 1.68

-11.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.52 PAB 0.52

$2.23 PAB 2.23

-76.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.22 PAB 1.22

$1.65 PAB 1.65

-26.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.80 PAB 9.80

$5.35 PAB 5.35

83.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.08 PAB 8.08

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 PAB 1.46

$1.20 PAB 1.20

21.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 PAB 2.05

$2.70 PAB 2.70

-24.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.43 PAB 0.43

$1.52 PAB 1.52

-71.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.50 PAB 30.50

$25.34 PAB 25.34

20.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 PAB 1.49

$1.01 PAB 1.01

47.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.02 PAB 2.02

$2.06 PAB 2.06

-1.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.78 PAB 19.78

$30.39 PAB 30.39

-34.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 PAB 1.05

$0.89 PAB 0.89

17.98%

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

$25.3K PAB 25.3K

$25.8K PAB 25.8K

-1.80%

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

$18.2K PAB 18.2K

$20.8K PAB 20.8K

-12.70%

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

$76.4 PAB 76.4

$53.7 PAB 53.7

42.33%

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

$28.49 PAB 28.49

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.42 PAB 39.42

$45.79 PAB 45.79

-13.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.72 PAB 34.72

$87.9 PAB 87.9

-60.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$50.4 PAB 50.4

$17.68 PAB 17.68

184.79%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 PAB 3.95

$6.41 PAB 6.41

-38.38%

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

$245 PAB 245

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 PAB 54.4

$35.53 PAB 35.53

53.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.60 PAB 39.60

$25.36 PAB 25.36

56.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.1 PAB 61.1

$51.4 PAB 51.4

18.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.25 PAB 49.25

$58.9 PAB 58.9

-16.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$201 PAB 201

$743 PAB 743

-72.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$151 PAB 151

$652 PAB 652

-76.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$655 PAB 655

$1,564 PAB 1,564

-58.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$349 PAB 349

$1,142 PAB 1,142

-69.40%

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 %)

-57.14%

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

Last update for Bugaba: May 31, 2026

Last update for Boquete: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $201 in Bugaba and $743 in Boquete. 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

Bugaba vs Boquete: 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 $994 in Bugaba and $2,083 in Boquete 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: $201 in Bugaba versus $743 in Boquete. 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, Bugaba and Boquete 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.