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

Should you visit David or Ushuaia?

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 Ushuaia can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: David or Ushuaia?

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.

Ushuaia

Ushuaia is a city on the Tierra del Fuego island of Argentina on the Beagle Strait. The city is considered to be one of the southernmost cities in the world and is often used as a base for cruises to Antarctica. Ushuaia's close proximity to Antarctica and their amazing hiking trails have made it a popular tourist destination over the past few decades.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Panama, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Panama, The Best Wildlife Tours to Argentina, and The Best Eco Tours in Argentina.


Which place is cheaper, Ushuaia or David?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in David is $32, while the average daily cost in Ushuaia is $11. 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 Ushuaia in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    David $12
    Ushuaia $5.64
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    David $24
    Ushuaia $11
Compare Hotels in David and Ushuaia

Looking for a hotel in David or Ushuaia? 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 Ushuaia


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 Ushuaia Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    David $12
    Ushuaia -

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ushuaia

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Ushuaia are as follows:


  • Taxi Ride
    $0.03

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ushuaia

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

  • Ushuaia Airport Shared Transfer: $7.25
  • Ushuaia Airport Shared Transfer: $7.48
  • Shared One-way Airport Transfer: $10
  • Ushuaia Airport Arrival Transfer: $10
  • Ushuaia Airport Departure Transfer: $10
  • Transfer from the airport to the hotel in shared service: $19
  • Ushuaia Airport(USH) to Ushuaia hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $23
  • Ushuaia city to Ushuaia Airport(USH) - Departure Private Transfer: $23
  • Private Transfer from Ushuaia Airport (USH) to Ushuaia Port : $25
  • Private Transfer from Ushuaia Port to Ushuaia Airport (USH): $25
  • Transfer Cerro Castor (Round Trip): $25
  • Private Transfer Hotel-Bus Station or Bus Station-Hotel (Ushuaia): $27

Is it cheaper to fly into David or Ushuaia?

Prices for flights to both Ushuaia 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 $10
    Ushuaia $2.18

Typical Food Prices in Ushuaia

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Ushuaia:


  • Lunch for Two
    $0.06

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ushuaia

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

  • The Martial Glacier at Night with Dinner Included: $94
  • Ushuaia at night: A Snow and Fire dinner, sledding and adventure: $280

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    David $4.39
    Ushuaia $13

Tours and Activities in Ushuaia

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

  • Panoramic City Train Tour: $10
  • Exploring Double Decker Bus Tour: $22
  • Double-Decker Sightseeing Tour: $24
  • Ushuaia City Tour: $26
  • Ushuaia City Half-Day Tour: $31
  • An Hour Tour in the City of Ushuaia: $32
  • City Tour of Ushuaia: $42
  • End of the World Train Ticket: $45
  • Beagle Channel & Sea Wolves Island Catamaran Cruise: $45
  • Half-Day Tierra del Fuego National Park (NOT CRUISE): $59
  • Escondido & Fagnano Lake Tour: $60
  • Tour to Tierra del Fuego National Park from Ushuaia: $62

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    David -
    Ushuaia -

Typical Alcohol Prices in Ushuaia

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Ushuaia are as follows:


  • Wine
    $0.05
  • Beer
    $0.01


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between David and Ushuaia, we can see that David is more expensive. And not only is Ushuaia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since David is in Central America and Ushuaia 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 Ushuaia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ushuaia 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 David would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in David than you might in Ushuaia.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is David Expensive? and Is Ushuaia Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, David or Ushuaia?

David has a larger population, and is about 43% larger than the population of Ushuaia. When comparing the sizes of David and Ushuaia, 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.