Cost of Living Comparison Between Panglao and Botucatu Cost of Living Comparison Between Panglao and Botucatu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $821 in Panglao versus $668 in Botucatu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,231 in Panglao versus $1,111 in Botucatu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,641 in Panglao versus $1,555 in Botucatu.

Living in Panglao is roughly 23% more expensive than Botucatu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Panglao 39% lower, Botucatu 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.49 ₱277

$5.51 R$28.39

-18.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.16 ₱751

$33.19 R$171

-63.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.32 ₱267

$6.43 R$33.12

-32.81%

Cappuccino

$2.59 ₱160

$1.79 R$9.22

44.69%

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

$0.83 ₱51.2

$1.32 R$6.82

-37.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ₱17.40

$0.86 R$4.41

-67.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.47 ₱90.8

$1.83 R$9.40

-19.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.86 ₱115

$3.36 R$17.31

-44.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 ₱108

$0.69 R$3.54

153.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.09 ₱67.4

$1.00 R$5.13

9.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.09 ₱67.4

$0.83 R$4.30

31.33%

Eggs

$2.01 ₱124

$1.16 R$5.96

73.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.48 ₱585

$7.31 R$37.68

29.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.35 ₱330

$2.64 R$13.59

102.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.68 ₱474

$6.47 R$33.30

18.70%

Apples (1kg)

$2.08 ₱129

$1.57 R$8.09

32.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 ₱93.0

$0.69 R$3.58

118.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.07 ₱128

$0.51 R$2.65

305.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.89 ₱117

$1.09 R$5.60

73.39%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 ₱165

$0.87 R$4.48

206.90%

Onion (1kg)

$2.57 ₱158

$0.92 R$4.76

179.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 ₱61.9

$0.53 R$2.73

88.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 ₱29.04

$0.65 R$3.34

-27.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.59 ₱160

$2.75 R$14.16

-5.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.34 ₱330

$6.68 R$34.39

-20.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 ₱54.4

$1.04 R$5.35

-15.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 ₱107

$2.45 R$12.62

-29.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱16.01

$0.86 R$4.43

-69.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.88 R$200

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.89 ₱54.8

$0.86 R$4.44

3.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.18

$1.03 R$5.29

-77.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 ₱161

$8.72 R$44.90

-70.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 ₱66.5

$0.95 R$4.88

13.68%

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

$29.9K ₱1.8M

$22.7K R$117.0K

31.43%

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

$27.0K ₱1.7M

$29.5K R$152.0K

-8.39%

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

$98.5 ₱6,079

$23.83 R$123

313.30%

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

$8.94 ₱552

$9.23 R$47.54

-3.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.02 ₱1,668

$14.17 R$73.0

90.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.78 ₱912

$22.18 R$114

-33.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.31 ₱266

$21.26 R$109

-79.73%

Cinema Ticket

$4.49 ₱277

$5.49 R$28.27

-18.21%

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

$230 ₱14.2K

$248 R$1,277

-7.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,876 ₱239.2K

$5,709 R$29.4K

-32.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.05 ₱2,843

$41.36 R$213

11.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.63 ₱1,397

$38.46 R$198

-41.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.6 ₱4,667

$45.08 R$232

67.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.0 ₱3,330

$68.1 R$351

-20.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$327 ₱20.2K

$318 R$1,640

2.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$280 ₱17.3K

$214 R$1,104

30.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$704 ₱43.5K

$578 R$2,979

21.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$500 ₱30.8K

$425 R$2,187

17.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$960 ₱59.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$873 ₱53.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$131 ₱8,095

$422 R$2,175

-68.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.5

-15.79%

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

Last update for Panglao: June 1, 2026

Last update for Botucatu: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $327 in Panglao and $318 in Botucatu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Botucatu pays 222% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $12.00 in Panglao vs $33.00 in Botucatu. Groceries flip the comparison at $198 vs $137, 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

Panglao vs Botucatu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Botucatu wins on cost – living expenses run 23% 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.

On paper, Botucatu earns 222% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $327 in Panglao versus $318 in Botucatu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $230 in Panglao versus $248 in Botucatu. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Botucatu – 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.

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.

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.

Safety-wise, Panglao and Botucatu 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 Botucatu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Panglao. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.