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: $1,389 in Boquete versus $997 in David.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,065 in Boquete versus $1,168 in David.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,741 in Boquete versus $1,338 in David.

Living in Boquete is roughly 39% more expensive than David, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Boquete is 4% above, David is 26% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.43 PAB 5.43

$5.04 PAB 5.04

7.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.91 PAB 29.91

$36.52 PAB 36.52

-18.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.36 PAB 7.36

$6.81 PAB 6.81

8.08%

Cappuccino

$3.32 PAB 3.32

$2.66 PAB 2.66

24.81%

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

$1.40 PAB 1.40

$1.41 PAB 1.41

-0.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 PAB 0.87

$1.38 PAB 1.38

-36.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.77 PAB 1.77

$1.46 PAB 1.46

21.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 PAB 2.02

$2.20 PAB 2.20

-8.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 PAB 1.62

$1.80 PAB 1.80

-10.00%

White Bread (500g)

$2.41 PAB 2.41

$2.14 PAB 2.14

12.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.41 PAB 1.41

$2.48 PAB 2.48

-43.15%

Eggs

$2.66 PAB 2.66

$2.04 PAB 2.04

30.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.11 PAB 9.11

$5.41 PAB 5.41

68.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.62 PAB 7.62

$11.11 PAB 11.11

-31.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.00 PAB 11.00

$2.87 PAB 2.87

283.28%

Apples (1kg)

$4.44 PAB 4.44

$7.94 PAB 7.94

-44.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.00 PAB 1.00

Oranges (1kg)

$3.18 PAB 3.18

Tomato (1kg)

$1.64 PAB 1.64

Potato (1kg)

$2.28 PAB 2.28

Onion (1kg)

$1.68 PAB 1.68

$2.65 PAB 2.65

-36.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.23 PAB 2.23

$1.35 PAB 1.35

65.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 PAB 1.65

$2.52 PAB 2.52

-34.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.35 PAB 5.35

Wine (Bottle)

$8.08 PAB 8.08

$9.81 PAB 9.81

-17.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 PAB 1.20

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 PAB 2.70

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 PAB 1.52

$0.78 PAB 0.78

94.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.34 PAB 25.34

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.01 PAB 1.01

$3.02 PAB 3.02

-66.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.06 PAB 2.06

$1.94 PAB 1.94

6.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.39 PAB 30.39

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 PAB 0.89

$1.01 PAB 1.01

-11.88%

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

$25.8K PAB 25.8K

$24.8K PAB 24.8K

3.97%

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

$20.8K PAB 20.8K

$30.6K PAB 30.6K

-31.95%

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

$53.7 PAB 53.7

$174 PAB 174

-69.09%

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

$28.49 PAB 28.49

$27.59 PAB 27.59

3.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$45.79 PAB 45.79

$42.92 PAB 42.92

6.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$87.9 PAB 87.9

$30.56 PAB 30.56

187.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.68 PAB 17.68

Cinema Ticket

$6.41 PAB 6.41

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$245 PAB 245

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,892 PAB 5,892

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.53 PAB 35.53

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.36 PAB 25.36

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$51.4 PAB 51.4

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.9 PAB 58.9

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$743 PAB 743

$346 PAB 346

115.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$652 PAB 652

$351 PAB 351

85.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,564 PAB 1,564

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,142 PAB 1,142

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,181 PAB 1,181

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,155 PAB 1,155

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$800 PAB 800

$591 PAB 591

35.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Boquete: June 2, 2026

Last update for David: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $743 in Boquete and $346 in David. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Boquete pays 35% 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: $30.00 in Boquete vs $37.00 in David. Groceries flip the comparison at $271 vs $238, with David cheaper for home cooking.

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, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 39% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Boquete pays 35% 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: $743 in Boquete versus $346 in David. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 14% 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 $37.00 versus $30.00 in Boquete. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $997 in David versus $1,389 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 39% less than in Boquete. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.