Cost of Living Comparison Between David and Panama City Cost of Living Comparison Between David and Panama City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $890 per month in David vs $1,875 in Panama City, rent included.

A couple spends around $957 per month in David vs $2,722 in Panama City, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,024 per month in David vs $3,569 in Panama City, rent included.

David is about 53% cheaper than Panama City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

David sits 35% below the global median, while Panama City is 36% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.37 PAB 5.37

$10.05 PAB 10.05

-46.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.77 PAB 37.77

$45.07 PAB 45.07

-16.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 PAB 7.09

$7.91 PAB 7.91

-10.37%

Cappuccino

$3.19 PAB 3.19

$4.12 PAB 4.12

-22.57%

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

$1.47 PAB 1.47

$1.93 PAB 1.93

-23.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 PAB 1.54

$1.56 PAB 1.56

-1.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.98 PAB 1.98

$2.95 PAB 2.95

-32.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 PAB 2.69

$4.07 PAB 4.07

-33.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 PAB 1.72

$1.91 PAB 1.91

-9.95%

White Bread (500g)

$2.13 PAB 2.13

$2.44 PAB 2.44

-12.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.46 PAB 2.46

$3.12 PAB 3.12

-21.15%

Eggs

$2.36 PAB 2.36

$2.81 PAB 2.81

-16.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.63 PAB 12.63

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.49 PAB 6.49

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.25 PAB 10.25

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 PAB 4.49

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 PAB 1.69

Oranges (1kg)

$3.99 PAB 3.99

Tomato (1kg)

$3.94 PAB 3.94

Potato (1kg)

$3.24 PAB 3.24

Onion (1kg)

$4.27 PAB 4.27

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 PAB 2.01

$2.17 PAB 2.17

-7.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 PAB 1.69

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.98 PAB 5.98

Wine (Bottle)

$9.95 PAB 9.95

$10.78 PAB 10.78

-7.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 PAB 1.42

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 PAB 2.71

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 PAB 0.72

$0.37 PAB 0.37

94.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.77 PAB 20.77

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.05 PAB 3.05

$2.53 PAB 2.53

20.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.04 PAB 2.04

$1.85 PAB 1.85

10.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.85 PAB 21.85

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 PAB 0.96

$1.16 PAB 1.16

-17.24%

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

$24.8K PAB 24.8K

$21.7K PAB 21.7K

14.50%

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

$29.9K PAB 29.9K

$21.4K PAB 21.4K

39.69%

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

$184 PAB 184

$132 PAB 132

38.89%

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

$28.78 PAB 28.78

$28.93 PAB 28.93

-0.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.89 PAB 48.89

$49.52 PAB 49.52

-1.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.62 PAB 30.62

$47.25 PAB 47.25

-35.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$33.24 PAB 33.24

Cinema Ticket

$7.88 PAB 7.88

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

$546 PAB 546

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,947 PAB 5,947

$9,732 PAB 9,732

-38.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 PAB 59.5

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.26 PAB 46.26

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.3 PAB 92.3

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 PAB 116

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$356 PAB 356

$1,276 PAB 1,276

-72.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$354 PAB 354

$904 PAB 904

-60.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,126 PAB 2,126

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,469 PAB 1,469

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,086 PAB 3,086

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,697 PAB 1,697

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$606 PAB 606

$925 PAB 925

-34.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.39

9.55%

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

Last update for David: August 31, 2026

Last update for Panama City: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $356 in David versus $1,276 in Panama City. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 53% higher in Panama City, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in David versus $45.00 in Panama City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $86.0 vs $318 – making David the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Panama City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Panama City is pricier by about 111%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,335 per month in David and $2,812 in Panama City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in David, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 270% more in Panama City, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in David and $45.00 in Panama City. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in David, where all-in costs run around $890, than in Panama City at $1,875. In David it covers expenses comfortably, while in Panama City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward David – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with David. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Panama City makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.