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: $819 in Panglao versus $671 in Botucatu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,133 in Panglao versus $1,089 in Botucatu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,447 in Panglao versus $1,508 in Botucatu.

Living in Panglao is roughly 22% more expensive than in Botucatu, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Panglao 41% lower, Botucatu 51% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Panglao
Botucatu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.00 ₱188
$5.83 R$29.87
-48.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.22 ₱1,456
$38.76 R$199
-40.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.95 ₱247
$6.72 R$34.45
-41.22%
Cappuccino
$2.25 ₱141
$2.15 R$11.03
4.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63 ₱39.37
$1.74 R$8.91
-63.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50 ₱31.16
$1.24 R$6.34
-59.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.56 ₱97.7
$2.88 R$14.77
-45.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 ₱124
$5.02 R$25.71
-60.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Panglao
Botucatu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.60 ₱100
$0.90 R$4.64
77.78%
White Bread (500g)
$1.16 ₱73.0
$1.27 R$6.50
-8.66%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.92 ₱57.7
$0.90 R$4.61
2.22%
Eggs
$1.73 ₱108
$1.98 R$10.13
-12.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.34 ₱523
$8.32 R$42.63
0.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.40 ₱276
$3.81 R$19.53
15.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.75 ₱486
$7.46 R$38.25
3.89%
Apples (1kg)
$1.94 ₱122
$2.13 R$10.93
-8.92%
Banana (1kg)
$1.41 ₱88.3
$1.33 R$6.83
6.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.88 ₱118
$0.93 R$4.79
102.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.48 ₱92.7
$1.20 R$6.15
23.33%
Potato (1kg)
$2.38 ₱149
$1.39 R$7.11
71.22%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 ₱119
$0.96 R$4.94
96.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.21 ₱75.9
$0.87 R$4.45
39.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50 ₱31.23
$0.80 R$4.08
-37.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.86 ₱179
$2.79 R$14.30
2.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.74 ₱360
$6.53 R$33.49
-12.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 ₱49.95
$1.13 R$5.79
-29.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₱99.5
$2.76 R$14.13
-42.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Panglao
Botucatu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 ₱15.51
$0.91 R$4.67
-72.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.03 ₱691
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.74 ₱46.40
$1.27 R$6.51
-41.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.21 ₱13.11
$1.35 R$6.90
-84.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.97 ₱123
$9.57 R$49.07
-79.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.90 ₱56.5
$1.20 R$6.13
-25.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ₱1.3M
$23.0K R$117.7K
-7.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.2K ₱1.2M
$33.4K R$171.0K
-42.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Panglao
Botucatu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.3 ₱3,846
$25.16 R$129
143.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.71 ₱421
$9.90 R$50.8
-32.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.14 ₱1,576
$15.44 R$79.2
62.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Panglao
Botucatu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.41 ₱1,343
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.76 ₱298
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.05 ₱254
$7.92 R$40.62
-48.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Panglao
Botucatu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$133 ₱8,319
$280 R$1,434
-52.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,062 ₱505.4K
$6,189 R$31.7K
30.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Panglao
Botucatu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.31 ₱2,025
$50.8 R$260
-36.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.37 ₱1,214
$58.5 R$300
-66.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$67.4 ₱4,225
$94.8 R$486
-28.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.4 ₱3,473
$81.7 R$419
-32.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Panglao
Botucatu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$283 ₱17.7K
$269 R$1,381
5.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$349 ₱21.8K
$176 R$903
97.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$571 ₱35.8K
$597 R$3,058
-4.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$405 ₱25.4K
$294 R$1,505
38.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$978 ₱61.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$863 ₱54.1K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Panglao
Botucatu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$418 R$2,145
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.2
9.5
-24.21%

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

Last update for Panglao: September 5, 2026

Last update for Botucatu: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $283 in Panglao and $269 in Botucatu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $23.00 in Panglao vs $39.00 in Botucatu. Groceries flip the comparison at $182 vs $171, 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
Which city is more expensive, Panglao or Botucatu?
Botucatu wins on cost – living expenses run 22% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Panglao and in Botucatu?
You'd need roughly $1,229 in Panglao and $1,006 in Botucatu 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Panglao compared to Botucatu?
Rent for a central apartment: $283 in Panglao versus $269 in Botucatu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Panglao and in Botucatu?
Childcare runs $133 in Panglao versus $280 in Botucatu. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Panglao and in Botucatu?
Dining out is cheaper in Botucatu – a meal for two runs $39.00 versus $23.00 in Panglao. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $800/month in Panglao or in Botucatu?
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.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Panglao or Botucatu?
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.
How safe is Panglao compared to Botucatu?
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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Botucatu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Panglao. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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