Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and Bocastown, Isla Colon

For one person, living is cheaper in Bocastown, Isla Colon: $1,203 a month against $1,972 in Panama City, rent and utilities included – about $9,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Panama City
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Panama City Living Index

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Panama City

🇵🇦 Panama

$1,972

/mo nomad

Bocastown, Isla Colon

🇵🇦 Panama

$1,203

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Panama City and in Bocastown, Isla Colon

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Panama City and in Bocastown, Isla Colon actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,972 per month in Panama City vs $1,203 in Bocastown, Isla Colon, rent included.

Panama City $1,972
Bocastown, Isla Colon $1,203

A couple spends around $2,930 per month in Panama City vs $2,054 in Bocastown, Isla Colon, rent included.

Panama City $2,930
Bocastown, Isla Colon $2,054

A family of three spends $3,888 per month in Panama City vs $2,905 in Bocastown, Isla Colon, rent included.

Panama City $3,888
Bocastown, Isla Colon $2,905

Panama City costs about 64% more than Bocastown, Isla Colon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Panama City sits 46% above the global median, while Bocastown, Isla Colon is 11% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.37 PAB 11.37

$5.48 PAB 5.48

107.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.69 PAB 46.69

$44.72 PAB 44.72

4.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.98 PAB 7.98

$13.05 PAB 13.05

-38.85%

Cappuccino

$4.12 PAB 4.12

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

$2.01 PAB 2.01

$1.01 PAB 1.01

99.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 PAB 1.57

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.28 PAB 3.28

$2.52 PAB 2.52

30.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 PAB 3.88

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 PAB 1.82

$1.99 PAB 1.99

-8.54%

White Bread (500g)

$2.61 PAB 2.61

$3.10 PAB 3.10

-15.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.45 PAB 3.45

$2.52 PAB 2.52

36.90%

Eggs

$2.68 PAB 2.68

$2.82 PAB 2.82

-4.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.42 PAB 12.42

$16.07 PAB 16.07

-22.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.73 PAB 6.73

$9.35 PAB 9.35

-28.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.44 PAB 10.44

$8.17 PAB 8.17

27.78%

Apples (1kg)

$4.21 PAB 4.21

$3.77 PAB 3.77

11.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 PAB 1.95

$1.44 PAB 1.44

35.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.07 PAB 4.07

Tomato (1kg)

$4.02 PAB 4.02

$5.41 PAB 5.41

-25.69%

Potato (1kg)

$3.46 PAB 3.46

$2.24 PAB 2.24

54.46%

Onion (1kg)

$4.42 PAB 4.42

$1.68 PAB 1.68

163.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.43 PAB 2.43

$2.48 PAB 2.48

-2.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 PAB 1.72

$1.78 PAB 1.78

-3.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.04 PAB 6.04

$4.82 PAB 4.82

25.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.68 PAB 11.68

$9.25 PAB 9.25

26.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.41 PAB 1.41

$1.76 PAB 1.76

-19.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 PAB 2.74

$2.47 PAB 2.47

10.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 PAB 0.33

$1.02 PAB 1.02

-67.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.65 PAB 20.65

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.45 PAB 2.45

$1.02 PAB 1.02

140.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.76 PAB 1.76

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.86 PAB 21.86

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 PAB 1.20

$1.32 PAB 1.32

-9.09%

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

$24.6K PAB 24.6K

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

$20.9K PAB 20.9K

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

$132 PAB 132

$76.1 PAB 76.1

73.13%

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

$27.89 PAB 27.89

$25.63 PAB 25.63

8.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.10 PAB 49.10

$50.4 PAB 50.4

-2.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.53 PAB 44.53

$34.52 PAB 34.52

29.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.01 PAB 34.01

Cinema Ticket

$8.70 PAB 8.70

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

$537 PAB 537

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.5K PAB 20.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.8 PAB 65.8

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.45 PAB 48.45

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.4 PAB 95.4

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 PAB 114

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,405 PAB 1,405

$745 PAB 745

88.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$994 PAB 994

$592 PAB 592

67.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,221 PAB 2,221

$1,182 PAB 1,182

87.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,714 PAB 1,714

$1,504 PAB 1,504

13.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,139 PAB 3,139

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,724 PAB 1,724

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$936 PAB 936

$683 PAB 683

37.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.39

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

Last update for Panama City: November 3, 2026

Last update for Bocastown, Isla Colon: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Panama City

$994 50.4%

Bocastown, Isla Colon

–

Groceries & Markets

Panama City

$326 16.5%

Bocastown, Isla Colon

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Panama City

$209 10.6%

Bocastown, Isla Colon

–

Eating Out

Panama City

$203 10.3%

Bocastown, Isla Colon

–

Clothing & Footwear

Panama City

$145 7.4%

Bocastown, Isla Colon

–

Sport & Entertainment

Panama City

$62 3.1%

Bocastown, Isla Colon

–

Getting Around

Panama City

$33 1.7%

Bocastown, Isla Colon

–

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,405 in Panama City versus $745 in Bocastown, Isla Colon. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 37% higher in Panama City, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Panama City versus $45 in Bocastown, Isla Colon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $326 vs $320 – making Bocastown, Isla Colon the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇵🇦 Panama City

🇵🇦 Bocastown, Isla Colon

🕒 Local time

13:42 1:42 PM

Same time as Panama City

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,086,990 Capital

5,380

💱 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

On the map

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Between locations

Panama City Bocastown, Isla Colon 300 km

From you

Panama City
Bocastown, Isla Colon

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

Panama City vs Bocastown, Isla Colon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Panama City costs about 64% more than Bocastown, Isla Colon, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from clothing. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,958 per month in Panama City and $1,805 in Bocastown, Isla Colon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bocastown, Isla Colon, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $745 there versus $1,405 in Panama City.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,972 in Panama City and $1,203 in Bocastown, Isla Colon. That makes Bocastown, Isla Colon about 39% cheaper.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Panama City and $45 in Bocastown, Isla Colon. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,972 in Panama City and $1,203 in Bocastown, Isla Colon. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bocastown, Isla Colon costs $1,203 versus $1,972 in Panama City. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Bocastown, Isla Colon. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Panama City makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.