Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and Bocas del Toro Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and Bocas del Toro

😐 Solo nomad: Panama City is 40.6% more expensive than Bocas del Toro without rent, and 25% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Panama City is 36.2% more expensive than Bocas del Toro without rent, and 44.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Panama City
Bocas del Toro
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.17 PAB 10.17
$9.58 PAB 9.58
6.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.4 PAB 50.4
$49.60 PAB 49.60
1.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.88 PAB 7.88
$10.17 PAB 10.17
-22.52%
Cappuccino
$3.71 PAB 3.71
$4.09 PAB 4.09
-9.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 PAB 1.64
$1.73 PAB 1.73
-5.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33 PAB 1.33
$1.61 PAB 1.61
-17.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 PAB 2.95
$2.02 PAB 2.02
46.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.06 PAB 4.06
$4.08 PAB 4.08
-0.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Panama City
Bocas del Toro
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.83 PAB 1.83
-
-
White Bread (500g)
$2.58 PAB 2.58
$3.83 PAB 3.83
-32.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.40 PAB 2.40
-
-
Eggs
$2.97 PAB 2.97
$2.56 PAB 2.56
16.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.34 PAB 11.34
$16.92 PAB 16.92
-32.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.06 PAB 7.06
$8.89 PAB 8.89
-20.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.76 PAB 9.76
$8.32 PAB 8.32
17.31%
Apples (1kg)
$3.40 PAB 3.40
$4.51 PAB 4.51
-24.61%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 PAB 1.50
$1.52 PAB 1.52
-1.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.77 PAB 2.77
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$3.23 PAB 3.23
$5.10 PAB 5.10
-36.67%
Potato (1kg)
$2.20 PAB 2.20
$3.29 PAB 3.29
-33.13%
Onion (1kg)
$2.87 PAB 2.87
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.17 PAB 2.17
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 PAB 1.54
$1.58 PAB 1.58
-2.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.99 PAB 5.99
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$10.31 PAB 10.31
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30 PAB 1.30
$2.81 PAB 2.81
-53.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 PAB 2.33
$2.49 PAB 2.49
-6.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Panama City
Bocas del Toro
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.43 PAB 0.43
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.39 PAB 22.39
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.46 PAB 2.46
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.82 PAB 1.82
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.57 PAB 21.57
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 PAB 0.95
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.1K PAB 20.1K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.1K PAB 20.1K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Panama City
Bocas del Toro
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$123 PAB 123
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.81 PAB 29.81
$29.69 PAB 29.69
0.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.87 PAB 49.87
$34.87 PAB 34.87
43.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Panama City
Bocas del Toro
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.19 PAB 46.19
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$32.83 PAB 32.83
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.09 PAB 8.09
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Panama City
Bocas del Toro
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$478 PAB 478
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K PAB 15.8K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Panama City
Bocas del Toro
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.0 PAB 52.0
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.66 PAB 46.66
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.6 PAB 89.6
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 PAB 123
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Panama City
Bocas del Toro
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,124 PAB 1,124
$740 PAB 740
51.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$894 PAB 894
$895 PAB 895
-0.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,059 PAB 2,059
$1,221 PAB 1,221
68.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,553 PAB 1,553
$1,186 PAB 1,186
30.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,128 PAB 3,128
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,730 PAB 1,730
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Panama City
Bocas del Toro
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$967 PAB 967
$703 PAB 703
37.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.23
0
-

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

Last update for Panama City: March 1, 2026

Last update for Bocas del Toro: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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