Which place is cheaper, David or Belize City?
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 Belize City or David?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Belize City or David? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Belize City or David?
Belize City
Belize City is the largest city in Belize. It was once the capital of the country, but due to massive hurricane damage in 1961, the country decided to relocate it capital. With a population of 57,000 people, Belize City is located right at the mouth of the Haulover Creek.
This gorgeous tropical city experiences a monsoon climate – meaning there are warm and humid conditions throughout the course of the year. There is a wet season from May to January, so plan for a little bit of rain in that time.
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 G Adventures Tours to Belize, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Belize, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Panama City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Panama City.
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Belize City Prices
Belize PricesDavid Prices
Panama Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBelize City $107David $39
The average daily cost (per person) in Belize City is $107, 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 Belize City and David in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBelize City $49David $12
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBelize City $98David $24
Compare Hotels in Belize City and David
Looking for a hotel in Belize City 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: Belize City Hotel Prices and David Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Belize City $5.79David $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Belize City
Also for Belize City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Belize City:, Transfer from Belize City Water Taxi to Flores Guatemala: $20
- Flores, Peten: One way shared transfer to Belize: $25
- Belize city water taxi terminal to Airport transfer: $30
- We do transfers from airport to any where in Belize.: $49
- Transfer Belize city to bacalar: $50
- Philip S.W. Belize Airport (BZE) to Belize city hotels -Arrival Private Transfer: $54
- Belize City to Philip Goldson Airport BZE Departure Transfer: $61
- Philip Goldson Airport (BZE) to Belize city - Private Transfer: $61
- Belize: Belize City to/from San Ignacio Shuttle Transfer: $68
- Private Transfer from Belize City Port to Belize Airport (BZE): $70
- Private Transfer from Belize city hotels to Belize City Port: $70
- Philip S.W. Belize Airport (BZE) to Belize City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $108
Is it cheaper to fly into Belize City or David?
Prices for flights to both David and Belize City 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 dayBelize City $47David $17
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Belize City
For Belize City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Altun Ha Mayan Site & Food Tour - fish farm & restaurant : $80
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Belize City $29David $4.38
Tours and Activities in Belize City
For Belize City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Belize City Tour Shore Excursion: $40
- Belize City Tour: $40
- Cave Kayak tour for Car Rental Guest : $49
- Belizean Bits & Bites Food Tastings and City Tour in Belize: $60
- Zip-line Canopy Tour from Belize City: $65
- Hassle free Cave Tubing Adventure from Belize City with Lunch: $65
- Belize: Altun Ha Tour "Water of the Rock": $69
- Charlie's Cave Tubing Tour for cruisers (lunch included): $75
- "Taste Bud EXPLOSION" Food Tasting City Tour : $79
- Belize: Zip Line Canopy Tours: $80
- Altun Ha Mayan Site tour from Belize City: $85
- Belize: Cave Tubing Adventure: $85
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBelize City $12David -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Belize City and David, we can see that Belize City is more expensive. And not only is David much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Belize City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Belize City 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 Belize City Expensive? and Is David Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Belize City or David?
David has a larger population, and is about 35% larger than the population of Belize City. When comparing the sizes of Belize City 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.