Which place is cheaper, Lima or David?
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 David or Lima?
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 Lima can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: David or Lima?
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.
Lima
Lima, the capital city of Peru, is likely to be your point of entry for the country. Lima was founded in 1535 and was the seat of the Spanish rule for 300 years. It's a surprisingly modern city despite its rich history, but many beautiful churches and colonial architecture remain today. There are also large slum areas that highlight the poverty that exists in the city. The city and its surrounding metropolitan area have a population of about 8.5 million people, many of whom came from the Andes Mountains in search of work. Unfortunately the work opportunities are limited and the poverty is obvious as you arrive in Lima.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Panama, The Best Budget Tours to Panama, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Peru, and The Best Adventure Tours to Peru.
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David Prices
Panama PricesLima Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDavid $39Lima $97
The average daily cost (per person) in David is $39, while the average daily cost in Lima is $97. 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 Lima in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDavid $12Lima $53
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDavid $24Lima $106
Compare Hotels in David and Lima
Looking for a hotel in David or Lima? 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: David Hotel Prices and Lima Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.David $12Lima $6.21
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Lima are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$5.88
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Taxi Ride$5.88
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Short Taxi Ride$4.41
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lima
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lima:
- QuickLlama: Transfer from Lima Airport to Miraflores Kennedy Park: $5.95
- SHARED AIRPORT TRANSFER - From or To Lima Airport: $11
- Lima Airport Transfer Service Available 24 7: $15
- Transfer: Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) to Lima City Center: $15
- Private Transfer to Lima Airport (LIM): $16
- Private Transfer from Lima City Hotels to Callao Cruise Port: $17
- Private Transfer from Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) to Callao Port: $18
- Private Transfer from Callao Port to Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM): $18
- Transfer from Hotel/Airbnb Miraflores/San Isidro/Barranco to Airport: $21
- Lima Hotels to Lima Airport (LIM)- Departure Private Transfer: $21
- Lima to Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) - Departure Private Transfer: $21
- Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) to Lima - Arrival Private Transfer: $21
Is it cheaper to fly into David or Lima?
Prices for flights to both Lima 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
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Food Meals for one dayDavid $17Lima $33
Typical Food Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lima are as follows:
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Lunch for Two$4.71
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Ice cream$3.82
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Coffee$3.24
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Donut$1.03
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lima
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lima.
- Food tours on the forbidden side of Lima (Min. 3 Guests – Max. 6): $15
- Local Food Tour at an Iconic Market!!: $24
- Dinner at Café del Museo Larco restaurant: $30
- Lima Food Tour with Ceviche, Pisco, and Grilled Chicken: $45
- Dinner at Mangos Larcomar Restaurant: $48
- Food Tour and Market Experience: 12 Peruvian Snacks: $50
- Private Cooking Class in Causa & Lomo Saltado: $50
- 4h Cooking Class in Iconic Dishes & Bottomless Drinks: $55
- Private Guided Walking Street Food Tour in Lima: $55
- Andean Breads Cooking Class in Lima: $55
- Lima Market Tour & Ceviche Cooking Class with Pisco Sour: $59
- #1 Rated Lima Cooking Class: Make Ceviche, Causa & Pisco Sours!: $59
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.David $4.37Lima $9.39
Typical Entertainment Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Lima are as follows:
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Entrance to Museo Larco (for 2)$18
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Movie Tickets$2.50
Tours and Activities in Lima
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lima are as follows:
- Miraflores Guided Walking Tour and Surquillo Market Experience: $5.00
- Lima Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.00
- Adventure at the Airport of Peru: $10
- Jogging Activity through Tourist Places facing the Sea in Lima: $15
- Walking Tour in the Historical Centre and China Town: $18
- Miraflores and Barranco Private Bike Tour: $19
- Private Beach Guided Bike Tour in Lima: $19
- Barranco Street Art Tour - Unmasked: $20
- Fun Latin Dance Experience in Lima for Beginners: $20
- Tour in Lima with Visit to the Catacombs of San Francisco: $20
- Private Tour with guide in Museo de Arte de Lima - MALI: $20
- A Journey Through Time: Lima's Historic Center & Catacombs Tour: $20
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDavid -Lima $6.10
Typical Alcohol Prices in Lima
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Lima are as follows:
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Bottle of Wine$7.91
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Beer$4.41
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Cocktail$3.53
Sample the Local Flavors in Lima
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Lima:
- Free Pub Crawl: $5.00
- Lima Pub Crawl - Party tour: Friday Barranco/Saturday miraflores: $22
- Discover Barranco's Nightlife with Bar Crawl Lima: $24
- Lima Nightlife Tour & Society – Cultural Pub Crawl: $50
- Local Wine Tour: $77
- From Paracas & Huacachina & Wine Tasting: $135
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between David and Lima, we can see that Lima 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 Lima is in South 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 Lima would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lima 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 Lima Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, David or Lima?
Lima has a larger population, and is about 90 times larger than the population of David. When comparing the sizes of David and Lima, 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.