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: $829 in Panglao versus $670 in Botucatu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,237 in Panglao versus $1,129 in Botucatu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,645 in Panglao versus $1,589 in Botucatu.

Living in Panglao is roughly 24% more expensive than in Botucatu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Panglao 38% lower, Botucatu 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.36 ₱269

$5.47 R$27.76

-20.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.24 ₱755

$32.54 R$165

-62.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.50 ₱278

$6.28 R$31.87

-28.34%

Cappuccino

$2.61 ₱161

$1.80 R$9.15

45.00%

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

$0.77 ₱47.42

$1.31 R$6.65

-41.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 ₱16.03

$0.91 R$4.64

-71.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.54 ₱95.1

$1.79 R$9.08

-13.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 ₱114

$3.35 R$16.98

-44.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 ₱105

$0.69 R$3.48

144.93%

White Bread (500g)

$1.09 ₱67.2

$1.03 R$5.23

5.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.04 ₱64.1

$0.87 R$4.41

19.54%

Eggs

$1.90 ₱117

$1.21 R$6.13

57.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.48 ₱585

$7.27 R$36.92

30.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.27 ₱325

$2.73 R$13.86

93.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.94 ₱490

$6.83 R$34.65

16.25%

Apples (1kg)

$2.10 ₱129

$1.52 R$7.69

38.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 ₱89.7

$0.75 R$3.83

94.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.17 ₱134

$0.52 R$2.62

317.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.91 ₱118

$1.09 R$5.54

75.23%

Potato (1kg)

$2.65 ₱163

$0.88 R$4.49

201.14%

Onion (1kg)

$2.45 ₱151

$0.86 R$4.34

184.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 ₱58.5

$0.56 R$2.84

69.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 ₱29.05

$0.65 R$3.29

-27.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.60 ₱160

$2.67 R$13.55

-2.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.76 ₱355

$6.61 R$33.56

-12.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 ₱54.9

$1.09 R$5.52

-18.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 ₱110

$2.52 R$12.76

-28.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.34

$0.87 R$4.43

-67.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.26 R$199

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₱53.1

$0.89 R$4.51

-3.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.46

$1.07 R$5.42

-76.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.73 ₱168

$8.62 R$43.72

-68.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 ₱65.7

$0.98 R$4.97

8.16%

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

$30.4K ₱1.9M

$22.0K R$111.5K

38.26%

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

$27.0K ₱1.7M

$28.9K R$146.8K

-6.54%

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

$98.1 ₱6,049

$23.45 R$119

318.34%

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

$8.82 ₱544

$8.74 R$44.38

0.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.41 ₱1,629

$14.68 R$74.5

79.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.83 ₱914

$22.23 R$113

-33.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.53 ₱279

$21.52 R$109

-78.95%

Cinema Ticket

$4.36 ₱269

$5.30 R$26.89

-17.74%

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

$231 ₱14.3K

$245 R$1,243

-5.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,910 ₱241.1K

$5,701 R$28.9K

-31.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.28 ₱2,854

$40.65 R$206

13.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.91 ₱1,413

$39.45 R$200

-41.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.3 ₱4,579

$45.38 R$230

63.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.9 ₱3,324

$68.3 R$346

-21.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$329 ₱20.3K

$318 R$1,611

3.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$274 ₱16.9K

$214 R$1,086

28.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$710 ₱43.8K

$573 R$2,910

23.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$508 ₱31.3K

$428 R$2,171

18.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$966 ₱59.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$844 ₱52.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$424 R$2,154

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: July 19, 2026

Last update for Botucatu: July 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $329 in Panglao and $318 in Botucatu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $12.00 in Panglao vs $33.00 in Botucatu. Groceries flip the comparison at $198 vs $139, 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 24% 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.

You'd need roughly $1,243 in Panglao and $1,005 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $329 in Panglao versus $318 in Botucatu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $231 in Panglao versus $245 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 24% less than in Panglao. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.