Which place is cheaper, David or Florianopolis?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Florianopolis 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.
With a population of almost 500,000, Florianopolis is the capital city of the state of Santa Catarina in southern Brazil. The city is split between mainland Brazil and Santa Catarina Island.
Florianopolis has grown in popularity with tourists recently because of its wonderful scenery, beautiful beaches, and fascinating culture. Many Brazilians have also moved here, leaving behind the big cities of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
Florianopolis has a warm humid subtropical climate. There are summer, winter, spring and fall seasons. Frosts are rare but do occur occasionally. Highs during the warmest months are usually in the high 70s Fahrenheit. Rain is evenly distributed throughout the year and there is no distinct dry season.
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 Brazil, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Rio de Janeiro, The Best Adventure Tours to Panama, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Panama.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Florianopolis is $62, while the average daily cost in David is $32. 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 Florianopolis and David in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Florianopolis 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.
Also for Florianopolis, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both David and Florianopolis 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.
For Florianopolis, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Florianopolis's activities, tours, and tickets:
For Florianopolis, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Florianopolis from other travelers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Florianopolis and David, we can see that Florianopolis is more expensive. And not only is David much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Florianopolis is in South America 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 Florianopolis would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Florianopolis 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 Florianopolis Expensive? and Is David Expensive?.
Florianopolis has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of David. When comparing the sizes of Florianopolis 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.