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 $977 in David.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,997 in Bocas del Toro versus $1,152 in David.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,588 in Bocas del Toro versus $1,327 in David.

Living in Bocas del Toro is roughly 44% more expensive than in David, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Bocas del Toro is 5% above, David is 27% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.73 PAB 9.73

$4.86 PAB 4.86

100.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.6 PAB 50.6

$35.40 PAB 35.40

42.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.86 PAB 9.86

$6.61 PAB 6.61

49.17%

Cappuccino

$4.06 PAB 4.06

$2.67 PAB 2.67

52.06%

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

$1.80 PAB 1.80

$1.44 PAB 1.44

25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 PAB 1.58

$1.44 PAB 1.44

9.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.98 PAB 1.98

$1.46 PAB 1.46

35.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.99 PAB 3.99

$2.22 PAB 2.22

79.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 PAB 1.78

White Bread (500g)

$3.97 PAB 3.97

$2.13 PAB 2.13

86.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.49 PAB 2.49

Eggs

$2.64 PAB 2.64

$2.02 PAB 2.02

30.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.70 PAB 16.70

$5.49 PAB 5.49

204.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.78 PAB 8.78

$11.07 PAB 11.07

-20.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.41 PAB 8.41

$2.80 PAB 2.80

200.36%

Apples (1kg)

$4.61 PAB 4.61

$7.70 PAB 7.70

-40.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 PAB 1.53

Tomato (1kg)

$5.11 PAB 5.11

Potato (1kg)

$3.38 PAB 3.38

Onion (1kg)

$2.68 PAB 2.68

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.34 PAB 1.34

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.64 PAB 1.64

$2.44 PAB 2.44

-32.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.04 PAB 10.04

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.82 PAB 2.82

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.44 PAB 2.44

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 PAB 0.77

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 PAB 3.03

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.97 PAB 1.97

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 PAB 1.01

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

$25.3K PAB 25.3K

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

$30.4K PAB 30.4K

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)

$30.35 PAB 30.35

$28.40 PAB 28.40

6.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.41 PAB 34.41

$42.47 PAB 42.47

-18.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.64 PAB 30.64

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,087 PAB 6,087

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$741 PAB 741

$352 PAB 352

110.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$897 PAB 897

$348 PAB 348

157.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,191 PAB 1,191

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,195 PAB 1,195

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$697 PAB 697

$594 PAB 594

17.38%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for David: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $741 in Bocas del Toro and $352 in David. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bocas del Toro pays 17% 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 $35.00 in David for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $276 vs $236 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 44% in total monthly costs ($1,407 vs $977 including rent). David is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 17% 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: $741 in Bocas del Toro versus $352 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 $35.00 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 $1,407 per month in Bocas del Toro versus $977 in David – a 44% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $977 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 44% less than in Bocas del Toro. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.