Cost of Living Comparison Between Boquete and David Cost of Living Comparison Between Boquete and David

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,459 in Boquete versus $890 in David.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,218 in Boquete versus $957 in David.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,978 in Boquete versus $1,024 in David.

Living in Boquete is roughly 64% more expensive than in David, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Boquete is 6% above, David is 35% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.56 PAB 6.56

$5.37 PAB 5.37

22.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.60 PAB 40.60

$37.77 PAB 37.77

7.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.62 PAB 7.62

$7.09 PAB 7.09

7.48%

Cappuccino

$3.80 PAB 3.80

$3.19 PAB 3.19

19.12%

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

$1.35 PAB 1.35

$1.47 PAB 1.47

-8.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.21 PAB 1.21

$1.54 PAB 1.54

-21.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.30 PAB 2.30

$1.98 PAB 1.98

16.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.11 PAB 5.11

$2.69 PAB 2.69

89.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 PAB 1.83

$1.72 PAB 1.72

6.40%

White Bread (500g)

$2.13 PAB 2.13

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.21 PAB 2.21

$2.46 PAB 2.46

-10.16%

Eggs

$2.56 PAB 2.56

$2.36 PAB 2.36

8.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.32 PAB 9.32

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.41 PAB 7.41

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.55 PAB 15.55

Apples (1kg)

$4.36 PAB 4.36

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 PAB 1.02

Oranges (1kg)

$4.28 PAB 4.28

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 PAB 2.24

Potato (1kg)

$2.24 PAB 2.24

Onion (1kg)

$2.21 PAB 2.21

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.19 PAB 2.19

$2.01 PAB 2.01

8.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 PAB 1.69

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.14 PAB 5.14

Wine (Bottle)

$7.84 PAB 7.84

$9.95 PAB 9.95

-21.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 PAB 1.21

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 PAB 2.65

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.34 PAB 1.34

$0.72 PAB 0.72

86.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.16 PAB 25.16

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 PAB 0.98

$3.05 PAB 3.05

-67.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.98 PAB 1.98

$2.04 PAB 2.04

-2.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.10 PAB 30.10

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 PAB 1.08

$0.96 PAB 0.96

12.50%

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

$25.1K PAB 25.1K

$24.8K PAB 24.8K

1.00%

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

$22.1K PAB 22.1K

$29.9K PAB 29.9K

-25.84%

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

$58.5 PAB 58.5

$184 PAB 184

-68.22%

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

$25.76 PAB 25.76

$28.78 PAB 28.78

-10.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.20 PAB 42.20

$48.89 PAB 48.89

-13.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$83.5 PAB 83.5

$30.62 PAB 30.62

172.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.19 PAB 17.19

Cinema Ticket

$6.32 PAB 6.32

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 PAB 5,965

$5,947 PAB 5,947

0.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.99 PAB 24.99

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.54 PAB 24.54

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.19 PAB 44.19

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$827 PAB 827

$356 PAB 356

131.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$700 PAB 700

$354 PAB 354

97.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,559 PAB 1,559

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,295 PAB 1,295

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,203 PAB 1,203

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,149 PAB 1,149

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$814 PAB 814

$606 PAB 606

34.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

-7.14%

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

Last update for Boquete: August 29, 2026

Last update for David: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $827 in Boquete and $356 in David. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Boquete pays 34% 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: $41.00 in Boquete vs $38.00 in David for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $294 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

Boquete vs David: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

David is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 64% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 34% higher in Boquete, 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: $827 in Boquete versus $356 in David. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 242% higher in Boquete. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in David – a meal for two runs $38.00 versus $41.00 in Boquete. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $890 in David versus $1,459 in Boquete, a $1,500 budget is realistic in David but tight or insufficient in Boquete. The gap between the two cities makes David the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, David is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Boquete, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Boquete 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 64% less than in Boquete. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.