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: $1,407 in Bocas del Toro versus $997 in David.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,977 in Bocas del Toro versus $1,168 in David.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,546 in Bocas del Toro versus $1,338 in David.

Living in Bocas del Toro is roughly 41% more expensive than David, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Bocas del Toro is 5% above, David is 26% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.63 PAB 9.63

$5.04 PAB 5.04

91.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.0 PAB 50.0

$36.52 PAB 36.52

36.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.98 PAB 9.98

$6.81 PAB 6.81

46.55%

Cappuccino

$4.09 PAB 4.09

$2.66 PAB 2.66

53.76%

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

$1.71 PAB 1.71

$1.41 PAB 1.41

21.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 PAB 1.60

$1.38 PAB 1.38

15.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 PAB 1.99

$1.46 PAB 1.46

36.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.97 PAB 3.97

$2.20 PAB 2.20

80.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 PAB 1.80

White Bread (500g)

$3.81 PAB 3.81

$2.14 PAB 2.14

78.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.48 PAB 2.48

Eggs

$2.57 PAB 2.57

$2.04 PAB 2.04

25.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.92 PAB 16.92

$5.41 PAB 5.41

212.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.94 PAB 8.94

$11.11 PAB 11.11

-19.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.24 PAB 8.24

$2.87 PAB 2.87

187.11%

Apples (1kg)

$4.45 PAB 4.45

$7.94 PAB 7.94

-43.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 PAB 1.54

Tomato (1kg)

$4.97 PAB 4.97

Potato (1kg)

$3.24 PAB 3.24

Onion (1kg)

$2.65 PAB 2.65

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.35 PAB 1.35

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 PAB 1.58

$2.52 PAB 2.52

-37.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.81 PAB 9.81

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 PAB 2.78

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 PAB 2.53

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 PAB 0.78

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 PAB 3.02

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.94 PAB 1.94

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 PAB 1.01

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)

$30.6K PAB 30.6K

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

$174 PAB 174

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

$30.31 PAB 30.31

$27.59 PAB 27.59

9.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.61 PAB 35.61

$42.92 PAB 42.92

-17.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.56 PAB 30.56

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,892 PAB 5,892

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$758 PAB 758

$346 PAB 346

119.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$890 PAB 890

$351 PAB 351

153.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,211 PAB 1,211

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,205 PAB 1,205

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$698 PAB 698

$591 PAB 591

18.07%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for David: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $758 in Bocas del Toro and $346 in David. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bocas del Toro pays 18% 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: $50.0 in Bocas del Toro vs $37.00 in David for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $273 vs $238 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 41% in total monthly costs ($1,407 vs $997 including rent). David is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Bocas del Toro pays 18% more on average, 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: $758 in Bocas del Toro versus $346 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 $37.00 versus $50.0 in Bocas del Toro. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,407 per month in Bocas del Toro versus $997 in David – a 41% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $997 in David versus $1,407 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 41% less than in Bocas del Toro. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.