Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between David and Panama City

For one person, living is cheaper in David: $882 a month against $1,855 in Panama City, rent and utilities included – about $11,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Panama City
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Panama City Living Index

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David

🇵🇦 Panama

$882

/mo nomad

Panama City

🇵🇦 Panama

$1,855

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in David and in Panama City

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 Panama City actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $882 per month in David vs $1,855 in Panama City, rent included.

David $882
Panama City $1,855

A couple spends around $946 per month in David vs $2,804 in Panama City, rent included.

David $946
Panama City $2,804

A family of three spends $1,011 per month in David vs $3,753 in Panama City, rent included.

David $1,011
Panama City $3,753

David is about 52% cheaper than Panama City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

David sits 35% below the global median, while Panama City is 37% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.52 PAB 5.52

$11.63 PAB 11.63

-52.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.03 PAB 37.03

$47.92 PAB 47.92

-22.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.27 PAB 7.27

$7.96 PAB 7.96

-8.67%

Cappuccino

$3.13 PAB 3.13

$4.22 PAB 4.22

-25.83%

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

$1.47 PAB 1.47

$2.01 PAB 2.01

-26.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 PAB 1.52

$1.56 PAB 1.56

-2.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 PAB 1.99

$3.39 PAB 3.39

-41.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 PAB 2.72

$3.94 PAB 3.94

-30.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 PAB 1.73

$1.85 PAB 1.85

-6.49%

White Bread (500g)

$2.26 PAB 2.26

$2.56 PAB 2.56

-11.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.46 PAB 2.46

$3.48 PAB 3.48

-29.31%

Eggs

$2.41 PAB 2.41

$2.69 PAB 2.69

-10.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.57 PAB 12.57

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.83 PAB 6.83

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.58 PAB 10.58

Apples (1kg)

$4.18 PAB 4.18

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 PAB 1.83

Oranges (1kg)

$4.20 PAB 4.20

Tomato (1kg)

$4.03 PAB 4.03

Potato (1kg)

$3.48 PAB 3.48

Onion (1kg)

$4.22 PAB 4.22

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 PAB 1.99

$2.41 PAB 2.41

-17.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 PAB 1.69

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.14 PAB 6.14

Wine (Bottle)

$10.18 PAB 10.18

$11.30 PAB 11.30

-9.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 PAB 1.42

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 PAB 2.73

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.76 PAB 0.76

$0.33 PAB 0.33

130.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.23 PAB 21.23

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.96 PAB 2.96

$2.52 PAB 2.52

17.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.04 PAB 2.04

$1.86 PAB 1.86

9.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.78 PAB 21.78

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 PAB 1.07

$1.25 PAB 1.25

-14.40%

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

$25.0K PAB 25.0K

$21.2K PAB 21.2K

17.54%

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

$30.6K PAB 30.6K

$21.0K PAB 21.0K

45.33%

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

$184 PAB 184

$130 PAB 130

41.46%

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

$28.48 PAB 28.48

$28.13 PAB 28.13

1.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.40 PAB 49.40

$48.21 PAB 48.21

2.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.21 PAB 31.21

$45.78 PAB 45.78

-31.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.92 PAB 34.92

Cinema Ticket

$8.67 PAB 8.67

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

$544 PAB 544

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,091 PAB 6,091

$9,697 PAB 9,697

-37.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.8 PAB 66.8

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.14 PAB 49.14

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.9 PAB 93.9

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 PAB 112

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$343 PAB 343

$1,257 PAB 1,257

-72.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$354 PAB 354

$875 PAB 875

-59.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,155 PAB 2,155

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,564 PAB 1,564

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,122 PAB 3,122

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,709 PAB 1,709

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$604 PAB 604

$916 PAB 916

-34.03%

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: October 13, 2026

Last update for Panama City: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

David

–

Panama City

$875 47.2%

Groceries & Markets

David

–

Panama City

$325 17.5%

Eating Out

David

–

Panama City

$207 11.1%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

David

–

Panama City

$206 11.1%

Clothing & Footwear

David

–

Panama City

$145 7.8%

Sport & Entertainment

David

–

Panama City

$63 3.4%

Getting Around

David

–

Panama City

$34 1.9%

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $343 in David versus $1,257 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 52% 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 $37.00 in David versus $48.00 in Panama City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $88.0 vs $325 – making David the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇵🇦 David

🇵🇦 Panama City

🕒 Local time

11:17 11:17 AM

Same time as David

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

82,907

1,086,990 Capital

💱 Currency

Panamanian Balboa PAB B/.

📈 Exchange rate

1 PAB = 1 USD

1 PAB = 0.89 EUR

1 PAB = 1 USD

1 PAB = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

David Panama City 320 km

From you

David
Panama City

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 Panama City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Panama City is pricier by about 110%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,323 per month in David and $2,783 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 $37.00 in David and $48.00 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 $882, than in Panama City at $1,855. 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.