A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Cajamarca vs. David for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Cajamarca or David?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Cajamarca and David can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Cajamarca or David?

Cajamarca

Located in the northern highlands of Peru, Cajamarca is a town of about 100,000 people. The city's mild weather and fertile soil is ideal for agriculture, which is a major industry in the area. The city is also well known for its cheeses and dairy products. Cajamarca is the site of the Battle of Cajamarca which led to the execution of the Inca emperor Atahualpa and the end of the infamous Inca empire. Today, the area is appealing to visitors in part because of its lovely churches, nice hot springs, and interesting Inca Baths.

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 Sightseeing Tours in Peru, The Best Cultural Tours in Peru, The Best Adventure Tours to Panama, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Panama.


Which place is cheaper, David or Cajamarca?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Cajamarca is $69, while the average daily cost in David is $32. 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 Cajamarca and David in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cajamarca $24
    David $12
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cajamarca $48
    David $24
Compare Hotels in Cajamarca and David

Looking for a hotel in Cajamarca 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.

Hotels in Cajamarca


Hotels in David


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: David Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cajamarca $17
    David $12

Is it cheaper to fly into Cajamarca or David?

Prices for flights to both David and Cajamarca 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Cajamarca $28
    David $10

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cajamarca $26
    David $4.39

Tours and Activities in Cajamarca

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cajamarca are as follows:

  • From City Tour Cajamarca: $21
  • || Tour of the Cajamarca Valley - San Nicolás lagoon ||: $40
  • Sulluscocha Extreme Adventure |Atv, Canopy, Climbing|: $65
  • Sulluscocha Extreme Adventure: ATV, canopy, climbing: $65
  • Sulluscocha Extreme Adventure |Atv, Canopy, Climbing|: $65
  • City Tour: $67
  • 3-Day Guided Cultural Tour of Cajamarca with Transportation: $202

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cajamarca $16
    David -


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cajamarca and David, we can see that Cajamarca is more expensive. And not only is David much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cajamarca is in South America 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 Cajamarca would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cajamarca 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 Cajamarca Expensive? and Is David Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Cajamarca or David?

Cajamarca has a larger population, and is about 63% larger than the population of David. When comparing the sizes of Cajamarca 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.