Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Panama City and David

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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Panama City

🇵🇦 Panama

$1,855

/mo nomad

David

🇵🇦 Panama

$882

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Panama City and in David actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

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

Panama City $1,855
David $882

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

Panama City $2,804
David $946

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

Panama City $3,753
David $1,011

Panama City costs about 110% more than David, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.63 PAB 11.63

$5.52 PAB 5.52

110.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.92 PAB 47.92

$37.03 PAB 37.03

29.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.96 PAB 7.96

$7.27 PAB 7.27

9.49%

Cappuccino

$4.22 PAB 4.22

$3.13 PAB 3.13

34.82%

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

$2.01 PAB 2.01

$1.47 PAB 1.47

36.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 PAB 1.56

$1.52 PAB 1.52

2.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.39 PAB 3.39

$1.99 PAB 1.99

70.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 PAB 3.94

$2.72 PAB 2.72

44.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 PAB 1.85

$1.73 PAB 1.73

6.94%

White Bread (500g)

$2.56 PAB 2.56

$2.26 PAB 2.26

13.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.48 PAB 3.48

$2.46 PAB 2.46

41.46%

Eggs

$2.69 PAB 2.69

$2.41 PAB 2.41

11.62%

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)

$2.41 PAB 2.41

$1.99 PAB 1.99

21.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 PAB 1.69

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.14 PAB 6.14

Wine (Bottle)

$11.30 PAB 11.30

$10.18 PAB 10.18

11.00%

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)

$0.33 PAB 0.33

$0.76 PAB 0.76

-56.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.23 PAB 21.23

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.52 PAB 2.52

$2.96 PAB 2.96

-14.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.86 PAB 1.86

$2.04 PAB 2.04

-8.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.78 PAB 21.78

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 PAB 1.25

$1.07 PAB 1.07

16.82%

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

$21.2K PAB 21.2K

$25.0K PAB 25.0K

-14.92%

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

$21.0K PAB 21.0K

$30.6K PAB 30.6K

-31.19%

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

$130 PAB 130

$184 PAB 184

-29.31%

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

$28.13 PAB 28.13

$28.48 PAB 28.48

-1.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$48.21 PAB 48.21

$49.40 PAB 49.40

-2.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.78 PAB 45.78

$31.21 PAB 31.21

46.68%

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)

$9,697 PAB 9,697

$6,091 PAB 6,091

59.19%

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)

$1,257 PAB 1,257

$343 PAB 343

265.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$875 PAB 875

$354 PAB 354

146.91%

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)

$916 PAB 916

$604 PAB 604

51.59%

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: October 10, 2026

Last update for David: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Panama City

$875 47.2%

David

–

Groceries & Markets

Panama City

$325 17.5%

David

–

Eating Out

Panama City

$207 11.1%

David

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Panama City

$206 11.1%

David

–

Clothing & Footwear

Panama City

$145 7.8%

David

–

Sport & Entertainment

Panama City

$63 3.4%

David

–

Getting Around

Panama City

$34 1.9%

David

–

Cost Breakdown

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

Good to know

🇵🇦 Panama City

🇵🇦 David

🕒 Local time

10:51 10:51 AM

Same time as Panama City

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,086,990 Capital

82,907

💱 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

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Panama City David 320 km

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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

Panama City vs David: 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 $2,783 per month in Panama City and $1,323 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 $48.00 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 $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.