A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Fort-de-France vs. David for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Fort-de-France or David?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Fort-de-France and David can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Fort-de-France or David?

Fort-de-France

As the largest city and capital of Martinique, Fort-de-France serves as the main entryway for visitors traveling to the island. It is a busy city with a significant population, which creates an atmosphere bustling with traffic amidst its historic and cultural sights.

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 Romantic Tours for Couples in Panama, and The Best Budget Tours to Panama.


Which place is cheaper, David or Fort-de-France?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Fort-de-France is €152, while the average daily cost in David is €29. 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 Fort-de-France and David in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Fort-de-France 79
    David 11
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Fort-de-France 158
    David 22
Compare Hotels in Fort-de-France and David

Looking for a hotel in Fort-de-France 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.

Hotels in Fort-de-France


Hotels in David


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: Fort-de-France Hotel Prices and David Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Fort-de-France 16
    David 11

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Fort-de-France

Also for Fort-de-France, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Fort de France to Martinique Airport (FDF) - Departure Transfer: $66
  • Private Transfer from Martinique Airport to Fort de France Port: $71
  • Private Transfer from Fort de France to Fort de France Port: $71
  • Private transfer Fort de France Airport to and from Les Trois Ilets: $103

Is it cheaper to fly into Fort-de-France or David?

Prices for flights to both David and Fort-de-France 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
    Fort-de-France 58
    David 9.31

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Fort-de-France

For Fort-de-France, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Food tour in the rainforest and St Pierre - Pile et Face: $104
  • Private Food Tour of Martinique in Fort-de-France: $199

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Fort-de-France 31
    David 4.04

Tours and Activities in Fort-de-France

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Fort-de-France.

  • Habitation Clement - entrance ticket: $15
  • Admission Ticket Balata's Garden: $19
  • Small train tour of a banana farm in Martinique: $22
  • Fort-de-France Private 2-Hour Walking Tour: $26
  • Mangrove Guided Tour: $43
  • Martinique: Coral and Turtle Coves Cruise with Snacks: $64
  • Martinique: Half-Day Dolphin and Volcano Cruise: $64
  • Fort-de-France Food Tasting and Cultural Walking Tour: $64
  • Karaib Tour: $66
  • Authentic Tour of Southern Martinique: $75
  • Martinique Shore Excursion - Authentic Tour of Southern Martinique: $75
  • Martinique Shore Excursion - Unmissable Martinique North tour: $75

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Fort-de-France 10
    David -

Sample the Local Flavors in Fort-de-France

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Fort-de-France:

  • Small-Group Tour: Unmissable Martinique with Rum Distillery, Ruins, and More: $75
  • North Tour: rainforest, rum distillery, black sand beach etc: $120


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


Which is Bigger, Fort-de-France or David?

Fort-de-France has a larger population, and is about 9% larger than the population of David. When comparing the sizes of Fort-de-France 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.