Which place is cheaper, David or Dubrovnik?
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 Dubrovnik or David?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Dubrovnik or David? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Dubrovnik or David?
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik, the "Pearl of the Adriatic", is a beautiful walled city in southern Croatia that sits on the edge of the Adriatic Sea. It's a small city, with only about 40,000 residents, but it's become one of the most significant tourist destinations in the Mediterranean. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The city was historically built on maritime trade, which is not surprising given its location near major Italian and Greek ports such as Venice, Bari, Corfu, and Trieste. It was a center of language and literature and was the home of many important poets, playwrights, painters, and scientists during the 15th and 16th centuries. Today its economy is dependent on tourism and it is one of the most popular destinations in the region. People visit the city for its impressive history, beautiful setting, great weather, and interesting architecture.
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 2-Week Tours from Split, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Croatia, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Panama City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Panama City.
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Dubrovnik Prices
Croatia PricesDavid Prices
Panama Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDubrovnik €121David €33
The average daily cost (per person) in Dubrovnik is €121, while the average daily cost in David is €33. 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 Dubrovnik and David in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDubrovnik €50David €11
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDubrovnik €100David €22
Compare Hotels in Dubrovnik and David
Looking for a hotel in Dubrovnik 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: Dubrovnik Hotel Prices and David Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dubrovnik €12David €10
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Dubrovnik
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dubrovnik:
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Bus Around Town€1.43
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dubrovnik
Also for Dubrovnik, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shared Airport Transfer to/from City Center: $18
- Lokrum Island Transfer with Panoramic Cruise from Dubrovnik: $18
- Lopud Island Boat Transfer: $23
- Sveti Jakov Beach Boat Transfer: $23
- Koločep Island Boat Transfer: $23
- Private transfer from Dubrovnik airport to Dubrovnik city: $24
- Dubrovnik to Koločep Island Ferry: Scenic Transfer: $24
- Dubrovnik to Lopud Island Ferry: Scenic Transfer: $24
- Return transfer to Dubrovnik airport: $27
- Convenient Bus Transfer from/to Split: $29
- Private return transfer to Dubrovnik airport: $30
- From Dubrovnik Airport: 1-Way Private Transfer to Dubrovnik: $30
Is it cheaper to fly into Dubrovnik or David?
Prices for flights to both David and Dubrovnik 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 dayDubrovnik €57David €15
Typical Food Prices in Dubrovnik
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Dubrovnik:
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Seafood Dinner (for 2)€29
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dubrovnik
For Dubrovnik, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Sunset Dinner Cruise around the Old Town: $82
- Gastro Cruise | Dinner and Boat ride around Dubrovnik Old Town: $93
- Dinner in the Sky Dubrovnik - Dine 50m above ground: $101
- Dinner in the Sky Dubrovnik: $114
- Secret Food Tours in Dubrovnik: $118
- Secrets of traditional Dalmatian cuisine with a cooking class: $140
- Croatian Traditional Cuisine: Peka Cooking Lesson: $143
- Old Town Food Tour: $157
- Dubrovnik Old Town Food Tour: Small-Group Experience: $168
- Eat Like A Local On A Food Tour: $180
- Authentic Garden to Table Cooking Class in Dubrovnik Countryside : $208
- Konavle Wine& History&food Tour: $226
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dubrovnik €19David €3.73
Typical Entertainment Prices in Dubrovnik
For Dubrovnik, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Boat to Lokrum Island (for 2)€13
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Dubrovnik City Wall Tour (for 2)€53
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Dubrovnik Cable Car (for 2)€45
Tours and Activities in Dubrovnik
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dubrovnik.
- Selfguide® Secrets Tour Dubrovnik with Game of Thrones Spots: $3.57
- Self Guided Private Tour of Dubrovnik's Best Kept Secrets: $3.58
- Time Traveler’s Trail: Self-Guided Puzzle Adventure in Dubrovnik: $5.99
- Dubrovnik Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $6.67
- Dubrovnik Old Town Walking Tour with Audioguide: $8.34
- Old Town Highlights Tour with Audio Guide: $9.36
- Love Stories Museum Skip-the-Line Entrance Ticket: $11
- Red History Museum Regular Ticket: $11
- Skip the Line: Love Stories Museum Admission Ticket: $11
- Museum of Selfies & Illusions Dubrovnik Ticket: $11
- A Self-Guided Walking Tour of Dubrovnik's Old Town: $12
- Discover Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDubrovnik €14David -
Sample the Local Flavors in Dubrovnik
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dubrovnik:
- Dubrovnik Sunset Tour with Wine Tasting : $42
- Panoramic Dubrovnik Tour Golden Hour Sunset and Wine Tasting: $46
- Sunset and Wine / Dubrovnik Sunset Tour and Premium Wine Tasting : $54
- Brewery Tour with Food included: $66
- Columbo Pub Crawl Dubrovnik: $70
- Columbo Pub Crawl Dubrovnik: $72
- Sunset Wine Tasting At Panorama Point: $74
- Pub Crawl Nightlife Xperience: $80
- Ston and Korcula Island Day Trip from Dubrovnik with Wine Tasting: $83
- Day Tour of Korcula Island from Dubrovnik with Wine Tasting: $83
- Luxury Sunset Tour with Wine Tasting: $84
- Wine Tour - Get to know local grapes: $84
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dubrovnik and David, we can see that Dubrovnik is more expensive. And not only is David much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dubrovnik is in Europe 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 Dubrovnik would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dubrovnik 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 Dubrovnik Expensive? and Is David Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dubrovnik or David?
David has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Dubrovnik. When comparing the sizes of Dubrovnik 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.