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 $1,875 per month in Panama City vs $890 in David, rent included.

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

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

Panama City costs about 111% more than David, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.05 PAB 10.05

$5.37 PAB 5.37

87.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.07 PAB 45.07

$37.77 PAB 37.77

19.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.91 PAB 7.91

$7.09 PAB 7.09

11.57%

Cappuccino

$4.12 PAB 4.12

$3.19 PAB 3.19

29.15%

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

$1.93 PAB 1.93

$1.47 PAB 1.47

31.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 PAB 1.56

$1.54 PAB 1.54

1.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 PAB 2.95

$1.98 PAB 1.98

48.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.07 PAB 4.07

$2.69 PAB 2.69

51.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 PAB 1.91

$1.72 PAB 1.72

11.05%

White Bread (500g)

$2.44 PAB 2.44

$2.13 PAB 2.13

14.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.12 PAB 3.12

$2.46 PAB 2.46

26.83%

Eggs

$2.81 PAB 2.81

$2.36 PAB 2.36

19.07%

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)

$2.17 PAB 2.17

$2.01 PAB 2.01

7.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 PAB 1.69

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.98 PAB 5.98

Wine (Bottle)

$10.78 PAB 10.78

$9.95 PAB 9.95

8.34%

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)

$0.37 PAB 0.37

$0.72 PAB 0.72

-48.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.77 PAB 20.77

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.53 PAB 2.53

$3.05 PAB 3.05

-17.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.85 PAB 1.85

$2.04 PAB 2.04

-9.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.85 PAB 21.85

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 PAB 1.16

$0.96 PAB 0.96

20.83%

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

$21.7K PAB 21.7K

$24.8K PAB 24.8K

-12.66%

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

$21.4K PAB 21.4K

$29.9K PAB 29.9K

-28.41%

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

$132 PAB 132

$184 PAB 184

-28.00%

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

$28.93 PAB 28.93

$28.78 PAB 28.78

0.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.52 PAB 49.52

$48.89 PAB 48.89

1.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.25 PAB 47.25

$30.62 PAB 30.62

54.31%

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)

$9,732 PAB 9,732

$5,947 PAB 5,947

63.64%

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)

$1,276 PAB 1,276

$356 PAB 356

258.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$904 PAB 904

$354 PAB 354

155.66%

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)

$925 PAB 925

$606 PAB 606

52.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.39

-8.71%

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

Last update for Panama City: August 31, 2026

Last update for David: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,276 in Panama City versus $356 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 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 $45.00 in Panama City versus $38.00 in David. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $318 vs $86.0 – 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 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 $2,812 per month in Panama City and $1,335 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 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 $45.00 in Panama City and $38.00 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 $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.