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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Living in David costs roughly 39% less than in Boquete, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.37 PAB 5.37

$6.56 PAB 6.56

-18.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.77 PAB 37.77

$40.60 PAB 40.60

-6.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 PAB 7.09

$7.62 PAB 7.62

-6.96%

Cappuccino

$3.19 PAB 3.19

$3.80 PAB 3.80

-16.05%

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

$1.47 PAB 1.47

$1.35 PAB 1.35

8.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 PAB 1.54

$1.21 PAB 1.21

27.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.98 PAB 1.98

$2.30 PAB 2.30

-13.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 PAB 2.69

$5.11 PAB 5.11

-47.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 PAB 1.72

$1.83 PAB 1.83

-6.01%

White Bread (500g)

$2.13 PAB 2.13

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.46 PAB 2.46

$2.21 PAB 2.21

11.31%

Eggs

$2.36 PAB 2.36

$2.56 PAB 2.56

-7.81%

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)

$2.01 PAB 2.01

$2.19 PAB 2.19

-8.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 PAB 1.69

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.14 PAB 5.14

Wine (Bottle)

$9.95 PAB 9.95

$7.84 PAB 7.84

26.91%

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)

$0.72 PAB 0.72

$1.34 PAB 1.34

-46.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.16 PAB 25.16

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.05 PAB 3.05

$0.98 PAB 0.98

211.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.04 PAB 2.04

$1.98 PAB 1.98

3.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.10 PAB 30.10

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 PAB 0.96

$1.08 PAB 1.08

-11.11%

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

$24.8K PAB 24.8K

$25.1K PAB 25.1K

-0.99%

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

$29.9K PAB 29.9K

$22.1K PAB 22.1K

34.85%

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

$184 PAB 184

$58.5 PAB 58.5

214.65%

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

$28.78 PAB 28.78

$25.76 PAB 25.76

11.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.89 PAB 48.89

$42.20 PAB 42.20

15.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.62 PAB 30.62

$83.5 PAB 83.5

-63.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.19 PAB 17.19

Cinema Ticket

$6.32 PAB 6.32

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,947 PAB 5,947

$5,965 PAB 5,965

-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)

$356 PAB 356

$827 PAB 827

-56.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$354 PAB 354

$700 PAB 700

-49.48%

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)

$606 PAB 606

$814 PAB 814

-25.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

7.69%

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

Last update for David: August 31, 2026

Last update for Boquete: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $356 in David and $827 in Boquete. 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: $38.00 in David vs $41.00 in Boquete for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $86.0 vs $294 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

David vs Boquete: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

On paper, salaries run 34% lower in Boquete. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $356 in David versus $827 in Boquete. 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, David and Boquete 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.