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

Should you visit David or Guadalajara?

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 David and Guadalajara can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: David or Guadalajara?

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.

Guadalajara

Guadalajara is the capital of the state of Jalisco in western Mexico, as well as one of the country's largest cities. It is best known for tequila and mariachi music, which both originate in Jalisco, as well as a thriving historic center with colonial architecture and landmarks.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Panama City, The Best 2-Week Tours from Panama City, The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico.


Which place is cheaper, Guadalajara or David?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in David is $39, while the average daily cost in Guadalajara is $138. 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 David and Guadalajara in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    David $12
    Guadalajara $38
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    David $24
    Guadalajara $76
Compare Hotels in David and Guadalajara

Looking for a hotel in David or Guadalajara? 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 David


Hotels in Guadalajara


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 and Guadalajara Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    David $12
    Guadalajara $35

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guadalajara

Also for Guadalajara, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfer by car to or from Guadalajara Airport: $35
  • Transfer from International Airport to Tequila Jalisco: $89
  • Tequila to Guadalajara Airport (GDL) - Departure Private Transfer: $101
  • Guadalajara Airport (GDL) to Guadalajara hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $107
  • Private Airport Transfer to Guadalajara Hotels Safe & Stress-Free: $159
  • Guadalajara to Tequila - Private Transfer with English-speaking driver: $179
  • Tequila to Guadalajara - Private Transfer with English-speaking driver: $179
  • Guadalajara Airport(GDL) to Tequila - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $202
  • Guadalajara Airport Private Transfer to Ajijic & Chapala: $289

Is it cheaper to fly into David or Guadalajara?

Prices for flights to both Guadalajara and David 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
    David $17
    Guadalajara $75

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guadalajara

For Guadalajara, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Private Street Food Tour and City Tour Guadalajara - Best Rated : $44
  • Guadalajara Private Food Tour: $70
  • Authentic Mexican Cooking & Tequila tasting experience-Casa Humo: $108
  • Mexican Cooking Classes and Market Visit in Guadalajara: $195
  • VIP Tequila Night Tour with Dinner and Tasting: $199

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    David $4.37
    Guadalajara $25

Tours and Activities in Guadalajara

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Guadalajara.

  • Bar Tour of the Coolest Quarter of Guadalajara: $17
  • Great Experience With A Tour Guide With Spark: $21
  • Guadalajara City Center Walking Tour: $25
  • Guadalajara Tour: $27
  • 3 Hours Private Tour Guide in Guadalajara, you choose!: $36
  • Walking Tour Historic Center Guadalajara: $39
  • Lucha Libre Tour at the Arena Coliseo de Guadalajara as a local: $39
  • Chapala Ajijic Area Tour from Guadalajara: $40
  • Tequila Route Experience from Guadalajara: $40
  • Classic Tequila Tour and CANTARITOS EL GÜERO: $41
  • Guadalajara Private Walking Tour: $42
  • History and Murals: Walking Tour Guadalajara: $44

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

Sample the Local Flavors in Guadalajara

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Guadalajara:

  • Saturday Night Bar Crawl in Guadalajara Mexico: $25
  • Tequila distillery experience, Jose Cuervo & Tequila Magic Town: $65
  • full day Tequila tour visiting artisanal distillery and downtown.: $95
  • Guided Tour of Guachimontones and Tequila Distillery: $105
  • Full-Day Tour to La Fortaleza Distillery and Cantaritos: $155
  • Private Adventure Day Tour to Tequila and Cazcanes Distillery: $156
  • Private Adventure to El Tequileño Distillery and visit to Tequila: $161
  • Private One Day Adventure Tour in Tequila and La Fortaleza Distillery: $167
  • Private Tour Cascahuin Distillery and visit to Tequila: $190
  • Private Tour to El Tequileño Distillery and visit to Tequila: $190
  • Private Tour one day in Guachimontones and La Fortaleza Distillery: $211
  • Guachimontones and Tequila Distillery in One Day: $264


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


Which is Bigger, David or Guadalajara?

Guadalajara has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of David. When comparing the sizes of David and Guadalajara, 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.