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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,763 per month in Panama City vs $997 in David, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,717 per month in Panama City vs $1,168 in David, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,671 per month in Panama City vs $1,338 in David, rent included.

Panama City costs about 77% more than David, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Panama City sits 32% above the global median, while David is 26% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.08 PAB 10.08

$5.04 PAB 5.04

100.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.4 PAB 50.4

$36.52 PAB 36.52

37.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.80 PAB 7.80

$6.81 PAB 6.81

14.54%

Cappuccino

$3.69 PAB 3.69

$2.66 PAB 2.66

38.72%

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

$1.70 PAB 1.70

$1.41 PAB 1.41

20.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 PAB 1.35

$1.38 PAB 1.38

-2.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.06 PAB 3.06

$1.46 PAB 1.46

109.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 PAB 3.91

$2.20 PAB 2.20

77.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 PAB 1.82

$1.80 PAB 1.80

1.11%

White Bread (500g)

$2.56 PAB 2.56

$2.14 PAB 2.14

19.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.49 PAB 2.49

$2.48 PAB 2.48

0.40%

Eggs

$2.96 PAB 2.96

$2.04 PAB 2.04

45.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.25 PAB 11.25

$5.41 PAB 5.41

107.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.22 PAB 7.22

$11.11 PAB 11.11

-35.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.19 PAB 10.19

$2.87 PAB 2.87

255.05%

Apples (1kg)

$3.43 PAB 3.43

$7.94 PAB 7.94

-56.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 PAB 1.50

Oranges (1kg)

$2.85 PAB 2.85

Tomato (1kg)

$3.19 PAB 3.19

Potato (1kg)

$2.21 PAB 2.21

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 PAB 2.77

$2.65 PAB 2.65

4.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.25 PAB 2.25

$1.35 PAB 1.35

66.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 PAB 1.58

$2.52 PAB 2.52

-37.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.91 PAB 5.91

Wine (Bottle)

$11.11 PAB 11.11

$9.81 PAB 9.81

13.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 PAB 1.28

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 PAB 2.32

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 PAB 0.40

$0.78 PAB 0.78

-48.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.08 PAB 22.08

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 PAB 2.57

$3.02 PAB 3.02

-14.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.78 PAB 1.78

$1.94 PAB 1.94

-8.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.73 PAB 21.73

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 PAB 0.93

$1.01 PAB 1.01

-7.92%

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

$19.7K PAB 19.7K

$24.8K PAB 24.8K

-20.54%

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

$20.9K PAB 20.9K

$30.6K PAB 30.6K

-31.69%

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

$121 PAB 121

$174 PAB 174

-30.07%

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

$29.44 PAB 29.44

$27.59 PAB 27.59

6.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.27 PAB 49.27

$42.92 PAB 42.92

14.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.92 PAB 45.92

$30.56 PAB 30.56

50.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$32.32 PAB 32.32

Cinema Ticket

$8.11 PAB 8.11

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

$484 PAB 484

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K PAB 15.8K

$5,892 PAB 5,892

168.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.2 PAB 51.2

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.98 PAB 45.98

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.0 PAB 89.0

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 PAB 122

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,157 PAB 1,157

$346 PAB 346

234.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$893 PAB 893

$351 PAB 351

154.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,996 PAB 1,996

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,580 PAB 1,580

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,069 PAB 3,069

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,730 PAB 1,730

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$962 PAB 962

$591 PAB 591

62.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.23

-11.00%

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

Last update for Panama City: May 30, 2026

Last update for David: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,157 in Panama City versus $346 in David. 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 63% 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 $50.0 in Panama City versus $37.00 in David. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $238 – 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

Panama City vs David: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Panama City is pricier by about 77%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,644 per month in Panama City and $1,495 in David. 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 23% 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 $50.0 in Panama City and $37.00 in David. 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 $997, than in Panama City at $1,763. 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.