Which place is cheaper, David or Bangkok?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Bangkok or David?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Bangkok and David can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Bangkok or David?
Bangkok
Bangkok: a name synonymous with all things exotic. The vibrant and exciting capital of Thailand is not just a hub for Southeast Asia, but also a destination into itself. Known for an active nightlife and party scene, as well as great food, historic temples, and busy markets, Bangkok offers a diversity to entertain even the most experienced travelers.
David
In the Pacific West of Panama, David is the capital city of Chiriqui province. The city's population of almost 150,000 is among the wealthiest in the country. There is a well established middle class and unemployment remains low in the area. The area has grown rapidly in recent years with growing commercial and banking sectors. The city is well connected to the rest of the country by the Pan American Highway.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Thailand, The Best Wildlife Tours to Thailand, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Panama, and The Best Budget Tours to Panama.
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Bangkok Prices
Thailand PricesDavid Prices
Panama Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBangkok $100David $39
The average daily cost (per person) in Bangkok is $100, while the average daily cost in David is $39. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Bangkok and David in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBangkok $48David $12
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBangkok $96David $24
Compare Hotels in Bangkok and David
Looking for a hotel in Bangkok or David? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Bangkok Hotel Prices and David Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bangkok $6.24David $12
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Bangkok
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Bangkok are as follows:
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Tuk Tuk to bus station$2.39
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Skytrain Ticket$4.77
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Chao Phraya River Express Ticket$0.95
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Ferry Ride$0.78
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Taxi From Airport$7.46
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Short Taxi Ride$2.68
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Boat Taxi$1.49
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Trains to airport$4.77
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bangkok
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bangkok:
- Gems Gallery Phuket with Round Trip Hotel Transfers: $2.30
- Erawan Museum Admission Ticket with Transfer: $13
- BKK/DMK Airport Private Transfer to/from Bangkok/Pattaya: $13
- Museum of Contemporary Art Moca Bangkok Entry Ticket and transfer: $14
- Suvarnabhumi Airport BKK Private Transfer to Bangkok or Pattaya: $14
- Suvarnabhumi BKK Airport Private Transfer to City Center: $15
- Arrival Transfer from BKK Airport to Bangkok Hotel: $15
- Private Transfer from/to Suvarnabhumi Airport(BKK): $15
- Bangkok Ancient City Admission Ticket With Optional Transfers: $15
- Private Bangkok Airport Transfer with Free Tollway: $17
- Private transfer from Hotel in Bangkok to BKK Airport: $17
- Shared Airport Transfer: Suvarnabhumi (BKK) to Bangkok Hotel: $18
Is it cheaper to fly into Bangkok or David?
Prices for flights to both David and Bangkok change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayBangkok $34David $18
Typical Food Prices in Bangkok
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Bangkok:
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Dinner at Hard Rock Cafe (for Two)$27
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Casual Lunch of Prawns (for Two)$5.97
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2 Rotis (Bread)$1.34
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Mango & Sticky Rice$0.89
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Lunch at KFC (for Two)$5.97
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Pad Thai$2.09
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Airport Lunch for 2$16
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Lunch for 2$22
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bangkok
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bangkok.
- Baiyoke Sky Observation Deck Ticket with Buffet Lunch or Dinner: $23
- Chao Phraya Dinner Cruise with Cabaret Show and Sunset View: $24
- Chao Phraya Princess Bangkok Sunset Dinner Cruise: $25
- Bangkok Sawasdee Sunset Dinner Cruise from ICONSIAM+Beer FreeFlow: $26
- Chao Phraya Princess Sunset and Dinner Cruise: $26
- Alangka Bangkok Sunset Dinner Cruise: $26
- Twilight Dinner Cruise Along Chao Phraya River in Bangkok: $27
- Calypso Cabaret Show with Thai Set Dinner: $28
- Meridian Sunset Cruise Dinner Buffet from Bangkok: $28
- Thai Cooking Class in Bangkok's Old Town with Market Tour: $29
- Bangkok Sunset or Evening Dinner Cruise (The Planet Cruise): $30
- Bangkok Amazing Chaophraya River Dinner Cruise with Live Music: $30
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bangkok $17David $4.39
Typical Entertainment Prices in Bangkok
Here are a few typical costs in Bangkok for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Movie Ticket$4.77
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Grand Palace Entrance Ticket$10
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Wat Pho (Reclining Buddha) Ticket$1.49
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Dusit Zoo Entrance Fee (for Two)$5.97
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Club Cover Charge$11
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Thai Boxing Tickets (for Two)$72
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Fish Pedicure$4.47
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Wat Pho entrance ticket$2.98
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Siriraj Museum (2)$12
Tours and Activities in Bangkok
Here are a few actual costs in Bangkok for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Bangkok Chinatown Eats: A Self-guided Audio Tour: $5.13
- Bangkok Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.00
- Bangkok Self-Guided Walking Tour Essential Landmarks and Quizzes: $6.57
- A Self-Guided Tour of Bangkok's Most Picturesque Sights: $6.99
- Bangkok Noi Canal: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- Chinatown & Golden Buddha Self-Guided Audio Tour (entry not incl): $6.99
- Bangkok's Wireless Road: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
- Bangkok Art and Culture Hidden Gems Self Guided Audio Tour: $8.57
- Erawan Museum Ticket (NON THAI): $9.80
- Bangkok Erawan Museum Ticket (NON-THAI): $9.80
- Bangkok Meland Siam Paragon Entry Ticket: $10
- Bangkok Space and Time Cube Admission Ticket: $10
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBangkok $5.44David -
Typical Alcohol Prices in Bangkok
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Bangkok are as follows:
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Beer$1.19
Sample the Local Flavors in Bangkok
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Bangkok:
- The Original Speakeasy & Iconic Venues Pub Crawl: $30
- Bangkok Bar Crawl by Tuk Tuk: $67
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bangkok and David, we can see that Bangkok is more expensive. And not only is David much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bangkok is in Asia and David is in Central America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to David would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in David and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Bangkok would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bangkok than you might in David.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bangkok Expensive? and Is David Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bangkok or David?
Bangkok has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of David. When comparing the sizes of Bangkok and David, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.