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: $1,373 in Boquete versus $977 in David.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,102 in Boquete versus $1,152 in David.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,832 in Boquete versus $1,327 in David.

Living in Boquete is roughly 40% more expensive than in David, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Boquete is 3% above, David is 27% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.57 PAB 5.57

$4.86 PAB 4.86

14.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.59 PAB 29.59

$35.40 PAB 35.40

-16.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.66 PAB 7.66

$6.61 PAB 6.61

15.89%

Cappuccino

$3.40 PAB 3.40

$2.67 PAB 2.67

27.34%

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

$1.36 PAB 1.36

$1.44 PAB 1.44

-5.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 PAB 0.93

$1.44 PAB 1.44

-35.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.78 PAB 1.78

$1.46 PAB 1.46

21.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 PAB 2.01

$2.22 PAB 2.22

-9.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 PAB 1.64

$1.78 PAB 1.78

-7.87%

White Bread (500g)

$2.41 PAB 2.41

$2.13 PAB 2.13

13.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.41 PAB 1.41

$2.49 PAB 2.49

-43.37%

Eggs

$2.54 PAB 2.54

$2.02 PAB 2.02

25.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.71 PAB 8.71

$5.49 PAB 5.49

58.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.63 PAB 7.63

$11.07 PAB 11.07

-31.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.07 PAB 11.07

$2.80 PAB 2.80

295.36%

Apples (1kg)

$4.54 PAB 4.54

$7.70 PAB 7.70

-41.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 PAB 1.04

Oranges (1kg)

$3.27 PAB 3.27

Tomato (1kg)

$1.57 PAB 1.57

Potato (1kg)

$2.27 PAB 2.27

Onion (1kg)

$1.71 PAB 1.71

$2.68 PAB 2.68

-36.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.22 PAB 2.22

$1.34 PAB 1.34

65.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 PAB 1.71

$2.44 PAB 2.44

-29.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.17 PAB 5.17

Wine (Bottle)

$8.06 PAB 8.06

$10.04 PAB 10.04

-19.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 PAB 1.21

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 PAB 2.72

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 PAB 1.54

$0.77 PAB 0.77

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.95 PAB 24.95

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.97 PAB 0.97

$3.03 PAB 3.03

-67.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.02 PAB 2.02

$1.97 PAB 1.97

2.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.59 PAB 29.59

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 PAB 0.88

$1.01 PAB 1.01

-12.87%

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

$25.9K PAB 25.9K

$25.3K PAB 25.3K

2.48%

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

$20.5K PAB 20.5K

$30.4K PAB 30.4K

-32.68%

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

$53.6 PAB 53.6

$174 PAB 174

-69.13%

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

$28.49 PAB 28.49

$28.40 PAB 28.40

0.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$45.90 PAB 45.90

$42.47 PAB 42.47

8.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$86.6 PAB 86.6

$30.64 PAB 30.64

182.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.76 PAB 17.76

Cinema Ticket

$6.69 PAB 6.69

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

$245 PAB 245

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,087 PAB 6,087

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$34.67 PAB 34.67

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.47 PAB 25.47

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$51.3 PAB 51.3

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$60.1 PAB 60.1

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$756 PAB 756

$352 PAB 352

114.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$640 PAB 640

$348 PAB 348

83.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,588 PAB 1,588

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,119 PAB 1,119

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,203 PAB 1,203

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,143 PAB 1,143

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$789 PAB 789

$594 PAB 594

32.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Boquete: July 14, 2026

Last update for David: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $756 in Boquete and $352 in David. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Boquete pays 33% 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 $35.00 in David. Groceries flip the comparison at $271 vs $236, 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 40% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 33% 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: $756 in Boquete versus $352 in David. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 15% 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 $35.00 versus $30.00 in Boquete. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $977 in David versus $1,373 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 40% less than in Boquete. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.