Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between David and Barcelona

For one person, living is cheaper in David: $882 a month against $2,399 in Barcelona, rent and utilities included – about $18,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

David
🇵🇦 Panama
$882
/mo nomad
Barcelona
🇪🇸 Spain
$2,399
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in David and in Barcelona

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in David and in Barcelona actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $882 in David versus $2,399 in Barcelona.

  • David $882
  • Barcelona $2,399

Estimated couple costs with rent: $946 in David versus $3,410 in Barcelona.

  • David $946
  • Barcelona $3,410

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,011 in David versus $4,421 in Barcelona.

  • David $1,011
  • Barcelona $4,421

Living in David costs roughly 63% less than in Barcelona, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: David is 35% below, Barcelona is 78% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
David
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.52 PAB 5.52
$17.94 €15.96
-69.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.03 PAB 37.03
$68.1 €60.5
-45.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.27 PAB 7.27
$13.28 €11.81
-45.26%
Cappuccino
$3.13 PAB 3.13
$3.25 €2.89
-3.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 PAB 1.47
$3.01 €2.67
-51.16%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 PAB 1.52
$1.87 €1.66
-18.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.99 PAB 1.99
$3.85 €3.42
-48.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 PAB 2.72
$4.48 €3.98
-39.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
David
Barcelona
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 PAB 1.73
$1.29 €1.15
34.11%
White Bread (500g)
$2.26 PAB 2.26
$2.04 €1.81
10.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.46 PAB 2.46
$1.72 €1.53
43.02%
Eggs
$2.41 PAB 2.41
$4.77 €4.24
-49.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$16.77 €14.92
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$8.93 €7.94
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$19.88 €17.68
-
Apples (1kg)
-
$2.98 €2.65
-
Banana (1kg)
-
$2.03 €1.80
-
Oranges (1kg)
-
$2.73 €2.43
-
Tomato (1kg)
-
$2.68 €2.38
-
Potato (1kg)
-
$2.10 €1.87
-
Onion (1kg)
-
$2.08 €1.85
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.99 PAB 1.99
$1.45 €1.29
37.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.89 €0.79
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$6.94 €6.17
-
Wine (Bottle)
$10.18 PAB 10.18
$7.78 €6.92
30.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.45 €1.29
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.57 €2.29
-
🚌 Getting Around
David
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.76 PAB 0.76
$2.99 €2.66
-74.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$25.20 €22.41
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.96 PAB 2.96
$3.12 €2.77
-5.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.04 PAB 2.04
$1.44 €1.28
41.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$33.50 €29.80
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.07 PAB 1.07
$1.79 €1.59
-40.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0K PAB 25.0K
$34.6K €30.8K
-27.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.6K PAB 30.6K
$30.1K €26.7K
1.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
David
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$184 PAB 184
$178 €158
3.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.48 PAB 28.48
$13.32 €11.85
113.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.40 PAB 49.40
$34.88 €31.03
41.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
David
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.21 PAB 31.21
$53.3 €47.37
-41.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.01 €14.24
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$11.06 €9.84
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
David
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$957 €851
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,091 PAB 6,091
$16.6K €14.7K
-63.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
David
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$88.2 €78.4
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$39.49 €35.12
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$103 €91.5
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$121 €108
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
David
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$343 PAB 343
$1,653 €1,470
-79.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$354 PAB 354
$1,302 €1,158
-72.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,557 €2,275
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,915 €1,703
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$7,286 €6,481
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$5,080 €4,519
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
David
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$604 PAB 604
$2,281 €2,029
-73.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7
3.28
113.41%

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

Last update for David: October 13, 2026

Last update for Barcelona: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
David
–
Barcelona
$1.3K
Groceries & Markets
David
–
Barcelona
$320
Eating Out
David
–
Barcelona
$270
Monthly Utilities & Internet
David
–
Barcelona
$226
Clothing & Footwear
David
–
Barcelona
$158
Sport & Entertainment
David
–
Barcelona
$75
Getting Around
David
–
Barcelona
$47

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $343 in David and $1,653 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barcelona pays 277% 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: $37.00 in David vs $68.0 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $88.0 vs $320 per month, with David cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇦 David
🇪🇸 Barcelona
🕒 Local time
12:16 12:16 PM
19:16 7:16 PM
7 h ahead of David
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
82,907
1,660,122
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to PAB – Panamanian Balboa Converter

Panamanian Balboa exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 1 PAB (1 PAB = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.12 PAB (1 PAB = 0.89 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • David Barcelona 8,940 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • David
  • Barcelona

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
David vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in David and in Barcelona?
David and Barcelona differ by about 172% in total monthly costs ($882 vs $2,399 including rent). David is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 277% lower in Barcelona. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in David and in Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $343 in David versus $1,653 in Barcelona. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in David – a meal for two runs $37.00 versus $68.0 in Barcelona. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: David or Barcelona?
All in, you'll spend $882 per month in David versus $2,399 in Barcelona – a 172% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $882 in David versus $2,399 in Barcelona, a $1,500 budget is realistic in David but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes David the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between David and Barcelona?
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.
Is David or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, David and Barcelona are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: David or Barcelona?
Expats usually find David gentler on the wallet – expenses run 172% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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