Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and David

For one person, living is cheaper in David: $882 a month against $3,800 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $35,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

185

Cost of Living Index in Seattle, WA
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Seattle, WA Living Index

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Seattle, WA

🇺🇸 United States

$3,800

/mo nomad

David

🇵🇦 Panama

$882

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Seattle, WA 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 Seattle, WA and in David actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,800 per month in Seattle, WA vs $882 in David, rent included.

Seattle, WA $3,800
David $882

A couple spends around $5,702 per month in Seattle, WA vs $946 in David, rent included.

Seattle, WA $5,702
David $946

A family of three spends $7,603 per month in Seattle, WA vs $1,011 in David, rent included.

Seattle, WA $7,603
David $1,011

Seattle, WA costs about 331% more than David, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Seattle, WA sits 182% above the global median, while David is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.32 $25.32

$5.52 PAB 5.52

358.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$101 $101

$37.03 PAB 37.03

174.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.85 $14.85

$7.27 PAB 7.27

104.26%

Cappuccino

$6.59 $6.59

$3.13 PAB 3.13

110.54%

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

$3.22 $3.22

$1.47 PAB 1.47

119.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 $3.14

$1.52 PAB 1.52

106.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.18 $8.18

$1.99 PAB 1.99

311.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.03 $8.03

$2.72 PAB 2.72

195.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 $1.21

$1.73 PAB 1.73

-30.06%

White Bread (500g)

$5.12 $5.12

$2.26 PAB 2.26

126.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.30 $6.30

$2.46 PAB 2.46

156.10%

Eggs

$4.90 $4.90

$2.41 PAB 2.41

103.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.10 $19.10

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$18.50 $18.50

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$23.03 $23.03

Apples (1kg)

$5.81 $5.81

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 $1.95

Oranges (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

Tomato (1kg)

$6.48 $6.48

Potato (1kg)

$3.57 $3.57

Onion (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.85 $2.85

$1.99 PAB 1.99

43.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.75 $12.75

Wine (Bottle)

$14.99 $14.99

$10.18 PAB 10.18

47.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.17 $4.17

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.99 $5.99

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.04 $3.04

$0.76 PAB 0.76

300.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$110 $110

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.55 $2.55

$2.96 PAB 2.96

-13.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 $1.64

$2.04 PAB 2.04

-19.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.58 $29.58

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.07 PAB 1.07

32.71%

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

$35.7K $35.7K

$25.0K PAB 25.0K

43.21%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$30.6K PAB 30.6K

-16.33%

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

$299 $299

$184 PAB 184

62.80%

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

$70.8 $70.8

$28.48 PAB 28.48

148.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$88.3 $88.3

$49.40 PAB 49.40

78.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.5 $79.5

$31.21 PAB 31.21

154.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.37 $35.37

Cinema Ticket

$17.12 $17.12

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

$3,013 $3,013

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.6K $31.6K

$6,091 PAB 6,091

419.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.2 $77.2

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.1 $55.1

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 $126

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$163 $163

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,464 $2,464

$343 PAB 343

617.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,956 $1,956

$354 PAB 354

452.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,711 $4,711

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,550 $3,550

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,346 $7,346

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,048 $5,048

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,286 $6,286

$604 PAB 604

940.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.85

-2.14%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 13, 2026

Last update for David: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Seattle, WA

$2K 51.5%

David

–

Groceries & Markets

Seattle, WA

$542 14.3%

David

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Seattle, WA

$458 12.1%

David

–

Eating Out

Seattle, WA

$409 10.8%

David

–

Clothing & Footwear

Seattle, WA

$189 5%

David

–

Getting Around

Seattle, WA

$133 3.5%

David

–

Sport & Entertainment

Seattle, WA

$114 3%

David

–

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,464 in Seattle, WA 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 940% higher in Seattle, WA, 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 $101 in Seattle, WA versus $37.00 in David. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $542 vs $88.0 – making David the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Seattle, WA

🇵🇦 David

🕒 Local time

04:44 4:44 AM

06:44 6:44 AM

2 h ahead of Seattle, WA

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

737,015

82,907

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

Panamanian Balboa PAB B/.

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

1 PAB = 1 USD

1 PAB = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

PAB, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

🇵🇦 Panamanian Balboa (B/.)

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Panamanian Balboa exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 1 PAB (1 PAB = 1 USD). 1 EUR = 1.12 PAB (1 PAB = 0.89 EUR).

PAB to USD in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Seattle, WA David 5,750 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight

From you

Seattle, WA
David

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

Seattle, WA vs David: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 331%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,701 per month in Seattle, WA 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 517% more in Seattle, WA, 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 $101 in Seattle, WA 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 Seattle, WA at $3,800. In David it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seattle, WA 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, Seattle, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.