Bugaba, a charming town in Panama, offers a unique lifestyle with its own set of living costs. Understanding the cost of living here is crucial for anyone considering a move or planning a budget.

This guide provides a detailed breakdown of expenses in Bugaba, covering everything from dining and groceries to housing and transportation.

Cost of Living Summary

Dining and Restaurants

  • Inexpensive Restaurant Meal - A meal at a casual restaurant will typically cost $3 on average.
  • Fast Food (e.g., McDonald's) - A McMeal or equivalent combo meal averages $5.
  • Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught) - Domestic beer is priced at $1.5.
  • Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) - Imported beer costs around $2.
  • Coke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle) - A bottle of Coke or Pepsi is priced at $1.
  • Water (0.33 liter bottle) - A small bottle of water costs $0.5.
  • Cappuccino (regular) - A regular cappuccino is priced at $1.25.

Grocery Prices

  • Milk - Milk is priced at $1.6 per liter.
  • Bread (Loaf of Fresh White Bread) - A loaf of fresh white bread costs $2.
  • Eggs (Dozen) - A dozen eggs are priced at $2.64.
  • Local Cheese (1kg) - Local cheese costs $3 per kg.
  • Chicken Fillets (1kg) - Chicken fillets are priced at $3.25 per kg.
  • Fruits (e.g., Apples, Oranges) - Apples cost $2 per kg, while oranges are priced at $1.25 per kg.
  • Vegetables (e.g., Potatoes, Lettuce) - Potatoes and lettuce are priced at $1.25 and $0.5 respectively.
  • Rice (1kg) - Rice is priced at $1.5 per kg.
  • Tomato (1kg) - Tomatoes cost $1 per kg.
  • Banana (1kg) - Bananas are priced at $1.5 per kg.
  • Onion (1kg) - Onions cost $1.5 per kg.
  • Beef Round (1kg) - Beef round is priced at $4 per kg.

Transportation

  • Public Transport (One-Way Ticket) - A one-way local transport ticket costs $0.45.
  • Monthly Pass - A monthly pass for public transport is priced at $30.
  • Fuel (Gasoline) - Gasoline is priced at $1.03 per liter.
  • Taxi Fares - Taxi fares start at $1.5, with a cost of $2 per km and $20 per hour of waiting.

Housing Costs

  • 1-Bedroom Apartment Rent (City Centre) - Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in the city centre is $200.
  • 1-Bedroom Apartment Rent (Outside Centre) - Outside the centre, rent is $150.
  • 3-Bedroom Apartment Rent (City Centre) - Rent for a 3-bedroom apartment in the city centre is $650.
  • 3-Bedroom Apartment Rent (Outside Centre) - Outside the centre, rent is $350.
  • Buying Price per Square Meter (City Centre) - The price per square meter to buy an apartment in the city centre is $800.

Utilities

  • Basic Utilities (Electricity, Heating, Water, etc.) - Basic utilities for an 85m2 apartment cost $75.
  • Internet - Internet services cost $40.
Worldwide
Panama

Cost of Living Rankings

The cost of living indices for Panama are compared to New York City (NYC), which serves as the baseline with an index of 100. These provide insights into the relative cost of living in different cities in Panama, covering factors like consumer goods, rent, and purchasing power.

Highest to LowestUpdated: Dec, 2024

Cost of Living Data

The following pricing data has been gathered from 1 user contributions, as of the most recent update in May, 2023.
Restaurants
Avg / Range
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant
$3.00
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)
$5.00
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.50
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00
Coke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50
Cappuccino (regular)
$1.25
Markets
Avg / Range
Milk (regular), (1 liter)
$1.60
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g)
$2.00
Eggs (regular) (12)
$2.64
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.00
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)
$12.00
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)
$10.00
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.25
Apples (1kg)
$2.00
Oranges (1kg)
$1.25
Potato (1kg)
$1.25
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.50
Rice (white), (1kg)
$1.50
Tomato (1kg)
$1.00
Banana (1kg)
$1.50
Onion (1kg)
$1.50
Beef Round (1kg) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)
$4.00
Transportation
Avg / Range
One-way Ticket (Local Transport)
$0.45
Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.00
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.03
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)
$25,000.00
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.50
Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff)
$2.00
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.00
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)
$18,000.00
Rent Per Month
Avg / Range
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre
$200.00
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre
$150.00
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre
$650.00
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre
$350.00
Utilities (Monthly)
Avg / Range
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment
$75.00
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)
$40.00
Sports And Leisure
Avg / Range
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult
$35.00
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)
$50.00
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat
$4.00
Clothing And Shoes
Avg / Range
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.00
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)
$40.00
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)
$60.00
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes
$50.00
Buy Apartment Price
Avg / Range
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment in City Centre
$800.00
Salaries And Financing
Avg / Range
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$450.00
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate
3%
Bugaba Cost of Living

"Key Takeaways"

Bugaba offers a relatively low cost of living compared to many urban areas, with affordable housing and dining options.

Transportation costs are minimal, making it easy to get around without breaking the bank.

Grocery prices are reasonable, allowing for a balanced diet without high expenses.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Bugaba presents an affordable living environment with its low housing and transportation costs.

For those seeking a cost-effective lifestyle in Panama, Bugaba is an attractive option, offering essential amenities at reasonable prices.