Which place is cheaper, David or Chiang Mai?
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 Chiang Mai or David?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Chiang Mai and David. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Chiang Mai or David?
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is both the cultural center of northern Thailand and a launching point for trips into the rural areas, small towns, and lush jungles of the country's northern regions. Known for great food, historic temples, arts and crafts, and a lively night market, Chiang Mai is a very popular destination for travelers. In some areas, tourists and ex-pats dominate, but it's quite easy to get away from the tourist scene and into the real culture of Thailand, as Chiang Mai (and the surrounding countryside) is quite large.
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 Thailand, The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Panama, and The Best Budget Tours to Panama.
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Chiang Mai Prices
Thailand PricesDavid Prices
Panama Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayChiang Mai $59David $39
The average daily cost (per person) in Chiang Mai is $59, 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 Chiang Mai and David in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personChiang Mai $29David $12
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomChiang Mai $58David $24
Compare Hotels in Chiang Mai and David
Looking for a hotel in Chiang Mai 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: Chiang Mai Hotel Prices and David Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Chiang Mai $4.04David $12
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Chiang Mai
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Chiang Mai are as follows:
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Tuk Tuk Ride$1.22
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Moped Rental$5.47
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chiang Mai
Also for Chiang Mai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Private Transfer: $8.00
- Shared AC Minivan Transfer Chiang Mai to Mon Jam (Return Option): $9.08
- Mon Jam Direct Transfer from Chiang Mai by Shared Minivan: $9.85
- Chiang Mai to Pai Scenic Mountain Shared Minivan Transfer: $11
- Chiang Mai to Pai Shared Minivan Transfer with Hotel Pickup: $11
- Shared Minivan Transfer to Chiang Mai and Mae Kampong Village: $13
- Chiang Mai Private Car :Airport To Hotel transfer (one way): $14
- Chiang Mai International Airport Departure Shared Transfer: $15
- Private Chiang Mai Airport Transfer to or from Mae Rim Hotels: $16
- Hassle-Free Private Arrival Transfer from Chiang Mai Airport: $20
- Bua Tong Sticky Waterfall & Dantewada Cafe with Hotel Transfer: $21
- Private Arrival Transfer from Chiang Mai International Airport: $21
Is it cheaper to fly into Chiang Mai or David?
Prices for flights to both David and Chiang Mai 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 dayChiang Mai $20David $17
Typical Food Prices in Chiang Mai
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Chiang Mai:
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Sit Down Dinner (for One)$5.93
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Roti Snack (Bread)$0.73
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Casual Breakfast$1.22
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$6.08
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Mangoes$0.91
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Coffee$1.52
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chiang Mai
For Chiang Mai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cooking Morning Class Chiang Mai Visit Organic Garden and Market: $12
- Cooking Evening Class Chiang Mai Visit Organic Garden and Market: $12
- Private Virtual Thai Cooking Class: $28
- The Rice Barn Thai Cooking Farm Chiangmai: $28
- Half-Day Thai Cooking Class at Organic Farm in Chiang Mai: $28
- Half-Day Cooking Class: $28
- Half Day Morning Cooking Class with Market Tour in Chiang Mai: $29
- Half-Day Thai Cuisine Cooking Experience in Chiang Mai: $30
- Traditional Khantoke Dinner & Cultural Show Tour in Chiang Mai: $30
- Home Cooking Class in Chiang Mai at Tomyumthai Cooking School: $30
- Khantoke Dinner and Cultural Show at Chiang Mai Admission Ticket: $30
- Half-Day Thai Cooking Class and Market Tour From Chiang Mai: $30
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Chiang Mai $14David $4.38
Typical Entertainment Prices in Chiang Mai
For Chiang Mai, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Thai Cooking Class$40
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Doi Suthep Entrance Ticket$1.82
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Kratong Lessons$3.04
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Pedicure$4.56
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Chiang Mai Museum (for Two)$5.47
Tours and Activities in Chiang Mai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Chiang Mai.
- Chiang Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $3.51
- Chiang Mai Eco Tourism Elephant Poop Paper Creative Experience: $6.16
- Tube Trek Water Park Tickets in San Kamphaeng, Chiang Mai: $8.84
- Doi Suthep Temple Tour by Local Red Car 3 Hour Adventure: $12
- Doi Suthep Temple Tour by Local Red Car – 3 Hours Experience: $12
- Art in Paradise: Chiang Mai 3D Art Museum Experience: $15
- Skip the Line: Chiang Mai Art in Paradise Admission Ticket: $16
- FAM Fahlanna Art Museum Admission Ticket, Chiang Mai: $17
- Chiang Mai Mae Ping River Cruise and Thai Farmer House Visit: $20
- Doi Suthep Temple, Wat Pha Lat, Hmong Village Tour (Comfort Van): $20
- Chiang Mai Old City Temples and Heritage Walking Tour: $21
- Explore Wat Phra Singh on a Walking Tour in Chiang Mai: $21
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayChiang Mai $7.53David -
Typical Alcohol Prices in Chiang Mai
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Chiang Mai are as follows:
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Wine$3.04
Sample the Local Flavors in Chiang Mai
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Chiang Mai:
- Chiang Mai Pub Crawl: 4 Venues, Beer Buffet & VIP Entry: $21
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chiang Mai and David, we can see that Chiang Mai is more expensive. And not only is David much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Chiang Mai 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 Chiang Mai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Chiang Mai 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 Chiang Mai Expensive? and Is David Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Chiang Mai or David?
Chiang Mai has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of David. When comparing the sizes of Chiang Mai 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.