Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Las Tablas and Bocas del Toro

For one person, living is cheaper in Las Tablas: $458 a month against $1,477 in Bocas del Toro, rent and utilities included – about $12,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

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Las Tablas

🇵🇦 Panama

$458

/mo nomad

Bocas del Toro

🇵🇦 Panama

$1,477

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Las Tablas and in Bocas del Toro

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Las Tablas and in Bocas del Toro actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $458 in Las Tablas versus $1,477 in Bocas del Toro.

Las Tablas $458
Bocas del Toro $1,477

Estimated couple costs with rent: $681 in Las Tablas versus $2,083 in Bocas del Toro.

Las Tablas $681
Bocas del Toro $2,083

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $904 in Las Tablas versus $2,688 in Bocas del Toro.

Las Tablas $904
Bocas del Toro $2,688

Living in Las Tablas costs roughly 69% less than in Bocas del Toro, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Las Tablas is 66% below, Bocas del Toro is 9% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.08 PAB 10.08

$9.52 PAB 9.52

5.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.60 PAB 29.60

$50.3 PAB 50.3

-41.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.75 PAB 8.75

$10.06 PAB 10.06

-13.02%

Cappuccino

$4.09 PAB 4.09

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

$1.02 PAB 1.02

$1.73 PAB 1.73

-41.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 PAB 1.02

$1.60 PAB 1.60

-36.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.24 PAB 1.24

$2.03 PAB 2.03

-38.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 PAB 2.71

$4.11 PAB 4.11

-34.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 PAB 2.05

White Bread (500g)

$1.97 PAB 1.97

$3.88 PAB 3.88

-49.23%

Eggs

$2.06 PAB 2.06

$2.68 PAB 2.68

-23.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.27 PAB 17.27

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.58 PAB 8.58

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.24 PAB 8.24

Apples (1kg)

$4.38 PAB 4.38

$9.85 PAB 9.85

-55.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.29 PAB 1.29

$1.51 PAB 1.51

-14.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.51 PAB 1.51

$4.84 PAB 4.84

-68.80%

Potato (1kg)

$3.26 PAB 3.26

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.28 PAB 1.28

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 PAB 0.98

$1.63 PAB 1.63

-39.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.80 PAB 5.80

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.30 PAB 1.30

$2.92 PAB 2.92

-55.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 PAB 1.72

$2.52 PAB 2.52

-31.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.01 PAB 1.01

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 PAB 0.94

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

$147 PAB 147

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

$22.59 PAB 22.59

$40.27 PAB 40.27

-43.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.18 PAB 37.18

$34.72 PAB 34.72

7.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.02 PAB 20.02

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$754 PAB 754

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$894 PAB 894

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,189 PAB 1,189

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,193 PAB 1,193

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$710 PAB 710

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

Last update for Las Tablas: November 1, 2026

Last update for Bocas del Toro: October 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $30 in Las Tablas vs $50 in Bocas del Toro for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $104 vs $321 per month, with Las Tablas cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇵🇦 Las Tablas

🇵🇦 Bocas del Toro

🕒 Local time

03:30 3:30 AM

Same time as Las Tablas

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

8,939

159,228

💱 Currency

Panamanian Balboa PAB B/.

📈 Exchange rate

1 PAB = 1 USD

1 PAB = 0.89 EUR

1 PAB = 1 USD

1 PAB = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Las Tablas Bocas del Toro 280 km

From you

Las Tablas
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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

Las Tablas vs Bocas del Toro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Total monthly costs including rent come to $458 in Las Tablas and $1,477 in Bocas del Toro, so Las Tablas is about 69% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You’d need roughly $687 in Las Tablas and $2,216 in Bocas del Toro 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.

Dining out is cheaper in Las Tablas – a meal for two runs $30 versus $50 in Bocas del Toro. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you’ll spend $458 per month in Las Tablas versus $1,477 in Bocas del Toro – Las Tablas is about 69% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.

At $458 in Las Tablas versus $1,477 in Bocas del Toro, a $800 budget is realistic in Las Tablas but tight or insufficient in Bocas del Toro. The gap between the two cities makes Las Tablas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.