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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,500 in Bocas del Toro versus $890 in David.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,069 in Bocas del Toro versus $957 in David.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,639 in Bocas del Toro versus $1,024 in David.

Living in Bocas del Toro is roughly 68% more expensive than in David, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Bocas del Toro is 9% above, David is 35% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.43 PAB 9.43

$5.37 PAB 5.37

75.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.7 PAB 50.7

$37.77 PAB 37.77

34.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.81 PAB 9.81

$7.09 PAB 7.09

38.36%

Cappuccino

$4.09 PAB 4.09

$3.19 PAB 3.19

28.21%

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

$1.78 PAB 1.78

$1.47 PAB 1.47

21.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 PAB 1.59

$1.54 PAB 1.54

3.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.05 PAB 2.05

$1.98 PAB 1.98

3.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.89 PAB 3.89

$2.69 PAB 2.69

44.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.01 PAB 2.01

$1.72 PAB 1.72

16.86%

White Bread (500g)

$3.89 PAB 3.89

$2.13 PAB 2.13

82.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.46 PAB 2.46

Eggs

$2.59 PAB 2.59

$2.36 PAB 2.36

9.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.90 PAB 16.90

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.66 PAB 8.66

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.40 PAB 8.40

Apples (1kg)

$9.67 PAB 9.67

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 PAB 1.53

Tomato (1kg)

$5.00 PAB 5.00

Potato (1kg)

$3.22 PAB 3.22

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 PAB 2.01

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 PAB 1.61

Wine (Bottle)

$9.95 PAB 9.95

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.91 PAB 2.91

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.44 PAB 2.44

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 PAB 0.72

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.05 PAB 3.05

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.04 PAB 2.04

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 PAB 0.96

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

$24.8K PAB 24.8K

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

$29.9K PAB 29.9K

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

$184 PAB 184

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

$40.20 PAB 40.20

$28.78 PAB 28.78

39.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.38 PAB 35.38

$48.89 PAB 48.89

-27.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.62 PAB 30.62

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,947 PAB 5,947

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$763 PAB 763

$356 PAB 356

114.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$908 PAB 908

$354 PAB 354

156.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,197 PAB 1,197

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,200 PAB 1,200

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$691 PAB 691

$606 PAB 606

14.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Bocas del Toro: September 1, 2026

Last update for David: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $763 in Bocas del Toro and $356 in David. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bocas del Toro pays 14% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $51.0 in Bocas del Toro vs $38.00 in David for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 vs $86.0 per month, with David cheaper across the board.

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

Bocas del Toro vs David: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bocas del Toro and David differ by about 68% in total monthly costs ($1,500 vs $890 including rent). David is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 14% higher in Bocas del Toro, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $763 in Bocas del Toro versus $356 in David. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in David – a meal for two runs $38.00 versus $51.0 in Bocas del Toro. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,500 per month in Bocas del Toro versus $890 in David – a 68% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $890 in David versus $1,500 in Bocas del Toro, a $1,500 budget is realistic in David but tight or insufficient in Bocas del Toro. The gap between the two cities makes David the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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, Bocas del Toro and David 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 David gentler on the wallet – expenses run 68% less than in Bocas del Toro. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.