Cost of Living Comparison Between Santiago and Bocas del Toro Cost of Living Comparison Between Santiago and Bocas del Toro

😐 Solo nomad: Santiago is 10.2% more expensive than Bocas del Toro without rent, and 0.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Santiago is 26.8% more expensive than Bocas del Toro without rent, and 4.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santiago
Bocas del Toro
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41 PAB 4.41
$9.29 PAB 9.29
-52.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.52 PAB 30.52
$49.55 PAB 49.55
-38.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.89 PAB 4.89
$10.01 PAB 10.01
-51.15%
Cappuccino
$3.62 PAB 3.62
$3.97 PAB 3.97
-8.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 PAB 0.68
$1.72 PAB 1.72
-60.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 PAB 0.82
$1.66 PAB 1.66
-50.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.99 PAB 0.99
$2.02 PAB 2.02
-50.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 PAB 1.97
$4.04 PAB 4.04
-51.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santiago
Bocas del Toro
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.8 PAB 1.8
-
-
White Bread (500g)
$2.44 PAB 2.44
$3.83 PAB 3.83
-36.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.5 PAB 2.5
-
-
Eggs
$2.94 PAB 2.94
$2.64 PAB 2.64
11.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.56 PAB 11.56
$16.96 PAB 16.96
-31.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.15 PAB 7.15
$9.08 PAB 9.08
-21.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.97 PAB 9.97
$8.49 PAB 8.49
17.43%
Apples (1kg)
$3.42 PAB 3.42
$4.57 PAB 4.57
-25.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 PAB 1.57
$1.51 PAB 1.51
3.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.86 PAB 2.86
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$3.21 PAB 3.21
$4.99 PAB 4.99
-35.67%
Potato (1kg)
$2.19 PAB 2.19
$3.3 PAB 3.3
-33.64%
Onion (1kg)
$2.88 PAB 2.88
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.24 PAB 2.24
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.51 PAB 1.51
$1.58 PAB 1.58
-4.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.98 PAB 5.98
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$10.15 PAB 10.15
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 PAB 1.28
$2.79 PAB 2.79
-54.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 PAB 2.45
$2.52 PAB 2.52
-2.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Santiago
Bocas del Toro
Difference
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.55 PAB 2.55
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.84 PAB 1.84
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.22 PAB 22.22
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.93 PAB 0.93
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.6K PAB 19.6K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7K PAB 20.7K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santiago
Bocas del Toro
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 PAB 120
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.76 PAB 14.76
$30.59 PAB 30.59
-51.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.61 PAB 42.61
$34.59 PAB 34.59
23.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santiago
Bocas del Toro
Difference
Cinema Ticket
$7.77 PAB 7.77
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santiago
Bocas del Toro
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$473 PAB 473
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K PAB 15.8K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santiago
Bocas del Toro
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.6 PAB 50.6
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.72 PAB 45.72
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.2 PAB 88.2
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 PAB 120
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santiago
Bocas del Toro
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$449 PAB 449
$744 PAB 744
-39.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$638 PAB 638
$896 PAB 896
-28.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$650 PAB 650
$1,190 PAB 1,190
-45.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,112 PAB 1,112
$1,186 PAB 1,186
-6.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santiago
Bocas del Toro
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$697 PAB 697
-
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 Santiago: October 28, 2025

Last update for Bocas del Toro: October 27, 2025

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