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 $1,814 per month in Panama City vs $977 in David, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,728 per month in Panama City vs $1,152 in David, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,643 per month in Panama City vs $1,327 in David, rent included.

Panama City costs about 86% more than David, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Panama City sits 36% above the global median, while David is 27% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.13 PAB 10.13

$4.86 PAB 4.86

108.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.65 PAB 49.65

$35.40 PAB 35.40

40.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.06 PAB 8.06

$6.61 PAB 6.61

21.94%

Cappuccino

$3.60 PAB 3.60

$2.67 PAB 2.67

34.83%

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

$1.72 PAB 1.72

$1.44 PAB 1.44

19.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.36 PAB 1.36

$1.44 PAB 1.44

-5.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 PAB 2.95

$1.46 PAB 1.46

102.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 PAB 4.03

$2.22 PAB 2.22

81.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 PAB 1.81

$1.78 PAB 1.78

1.69%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 PAB 2.46

$2.13 PAB 2.13

15.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.41 PAB 2.41

$2.49 PAB 2.49

-3.21%

Eggs

$2.93 PAB 2.93

$2.02 PAB 2.02

45.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.38 PAB 11.38

$5.49 PAB 5.49

107.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.06 PAB 7.06

$11.07 PAB 11.07

-36.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.85 PAB 9.85

$2.80 PAB 2.80

251.79%

Apples (1kg)

$3.37 PAB 3.37

$7.70 PAB 7.70

-56.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 PAB 1.51

Oranges (1kg)

$2.86 PAB 2.86

Tomato (1kg)

$3.12 PAB 3.12

Potato (1kg)

$2.23 PAB 2.23

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 PAB 2.76

$2.68 PAB 2.68

2.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.18 PAB 2.18

$1.34 PAB 1.34

62.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.53 PAB 1.53

$2.44 PAB 2.44

-37.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.09 PAB 6.09

Wine (Bottle)

$10.78 PAB 10.78

$10.04 PAB 10.04

7.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 PAB 1.28

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 PAB 2.36

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 PAB 0.44

$0.77 PAB 0.77

-42.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.10 PAB 22.10

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.44 PAB 2.44

$3.03 PAB 3.03

-19.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.77 PAB 1.77

$1.97 PAB 1.97

-10.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.61 PAB 21.61

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 PAB 0.95

$1.01 PAB 1.01

-5.94%

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

$19.6K PAB 19.6K

$25.3K PAB 25.3K

-22.52%

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

$20.6K PAB 20.6K

$30.4K PAB 30.4K

-32.31%

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

$122 PAB 122

$174 PAB 174

-29.69%

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

$29.88 PAB 29.88

$28.40 PAB 28.40

5.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.49 PAB 49.49

$42.47 PAB 42.47

16.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.36 PAB 45.36

$30.64 PAB 30.64

48.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$32.73 PAB 32.73

Cinema Ticket

$7.85 PAB 7.85

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

$484 PAB 484

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K PAB 15.8K

$6,087 PAB 6,087

159.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.6 PAB 51.6

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.50 PAB 46.50

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 PAB 88.6

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 PAB 121

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,158 PAB 1,158

$352 PAB 352

228.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$894 PAB 894

$348 PAB 348

156.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,037 PAB 2,037

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,578 PAB 1,578

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,124 PAB 3,124

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,693 PAB 1,693

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$926 PAB 926

$594 PAB 594

55.97%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for David: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,158 in Panama City versus $352 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 56% 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 $35.00 in David. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 vs $236 – 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 86%, 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 $2,720 per month in Panama City and $1,466 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 22% 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 $35.00 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 $977, than in Panama City at $1,814. 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.