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

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

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

Living in David costs roughly 28% less than in Boquete, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.04 PAB 5.04

$5.43 PAB 5.43

-7.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.52 PAB 36.52

$29.91 PAB 29.91

22.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.81 PAB 6.81

$7.36 PAB 7.36

-7.47%

Cappuccino

$2.66 PAB 2.66

$3.32 PAB 3.32

-19.88%

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

$1.41 PAB 1.41

$1.40 PAB 1.40

0.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 PAB 1.38

$0.87 PAB 0.87

58.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.46 PAB 1.46

$1.77 PAB 1.77

-17.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 PAB 2.20

$2.02 PAB 2.02

8.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 PAB 1.80

$1.62 PAB 1.62

11.11%

White Bread (500g)

$2.14 PAB 2.14

$2.41 PAB 2.41

-11.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.48 PAB 2.48

$1.41 PAB 1.41

75.89%

Eggs

$2.04 PAB 2.04

$2.66 PAB 2.66

-23.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.41 PAB 5.41

$9.11 PAB 9.11

-40.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.11 PAB 11.11

$7.62 PAB 7.62

45.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.87 PAB 2.87

$11.00 PAB 11.00

-73.91%

Apples (1kg)

$7.94 PAB 7.94

$4.44 PAB 4.44

78.83%

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)

$2.65 PAB 2.65

$1.68 PAB 1.68

57.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.35 PAB 1.35

$2.23 PAB 2.23

-39.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 PAB 2.52

$1.65 PAB 1.65

52.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.35 PAB 5.35

Wine (Bottle)

$9.81 PAB 9.81

$8.08 PAB 8.08

21.41%

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)

$0.78 PAB 0.78

$1.52 PAB 1.52

-48.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.34 PAB 25.34

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 PAB 3.02

$1.01 PAB 1.01

199.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.94 PAB 1.94

$2.06 PAB 2.06

-5.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.39 PAB 30.39

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 PAB 1.01

$0.89 PAB 0.89

13.48%

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

$24.8K PAB 24.8K

$25.8K PAB 25.8K

-3.82%

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

$30.6K PAB 30.6K

$20.8K PAB 20.8K

46.95%

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

$174 PAB 174

$53.7 PAB 53.7

223.54%

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

$27.59 PAB 27.59

$28.49 PAB 28.49

-3.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.92 PAB 42.92

$45.79 PAB 45.79

-6.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.56 PAB 30.56

$87.9 PAB 87.9

-65.24%

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)

$346 PAB 346

$743 PAB 743

-53.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$351 PAB 351

$652 PAB 652

-46.07%

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)

$591 PAB 591

$800 PAB 800

-26.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for David: June 2, 2026

Last update for Boquete: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $346 in David and $743 in Boquete. 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: $37.00 in David vs $30.00 in Boquete. Groceries flip the comparison at $238 vs $271, 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

David vs Boquete: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

David is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 39% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Boquete earns 35% less. 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: $346 in David versus $743 in Boquete. 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, 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 39% less than in Boquete. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.