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

Should you visit Fortaleza 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 Fortaleza 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: Fortaleza or David?

Fortaleza

A major city on Brazil's northeastern coast and the capital city of Ceara state, Fortaleza is best characterized by its city landscape lined with beaches and palm trees. It also features some great seafood as well as long-standing folk traditions in culture and dance.

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 Adventure Tours to Brazil, The Best Eco Tours in Brazil, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Panama City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Panama City.


Which place is cheaper, David or Fortaleza?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Fortaleza is $83, while the average daily cost in David is $39. 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 Fortaleza and David in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Fortaleza $29
    David $12
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Fortaleza $58
    David $24
Compare Hotels in Fortaleza and David

Looking for a hotel in Fortaleza 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 Fortaleza


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: Fortaleza Hotel Prices and David Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Fortaleza $20
    David $12

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Fortaleza

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

  • Transfer from Fortaleza Airport to Hotels in Orla Marítima: $8.62
  • Transfer to Beach Park: $11
  • Roundtrip transfer from Pinto Martins Airport to Hotels in Fortaleza: $17
  • Beach Park Transfer from Fortaleza: $19
  • Transfer from Fortaleza to Jericoacoara: $28
  • Fortaleza Airport (FOR) to Fortaleza - Arrival Private Transfer: $34
  • Fortaleza Roundtrip Airport Transfers: $38
  • Private Transfer from Fortaleza (FOR) Airport to Porto das Dunas: $39
  • Fortaleza Airport Private Transfer: $40
  • Private Transfer from Cumbuco to Fortaleza (FOR) Airport: $48
  • Fortaleza to Fortaleza Airport (FOR) - Departure Private Transfer: $48
  • Private Transfer from Fortaleza (FOR) Airport to Cumbuco: $48

Is it cheaper to fly into Fortaleza or David?

Prices for flights to both David and Fortaleza 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
    Fortaleza $39
    David $17

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Fortaleza $15
    David $4.37

Tours and Activities in Fortaleza

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

  • Full Day Tour to Cumbuco From Fortaleza: $12
  • 3 Beaches in 1 Day Tour Leaving Fortaleza: $12
  • Lagoinha Beach Tour: $14
  • Águas Belas Tour: $14
  • Lagoinha Beach Tour: $16
  • Tour 3 beaches in 1 day: $17
  • Fortaleza Panoramic City Tour with visit to Cumbuco Beach: $19
  • Tour 3 Beaches in 1 day (Morro Branco, Praia das Fontes and Canoa Quebrada): $23
  • Canoe Quebrada Full Day Tour - Departure from Fortaleza by Vitorino Turismo: $23
  • Jericoacoara Tour in a Full Day - Leaving Fortaleza by Girafatur: $25
  • City Tour Fortaleza - Full Day Cumbuco Beach Tour by Nettour: $25
  • Historical and Cultural City Tour of Fortaleza: $29

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Fortaleza $9.58
    David -


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


Which is Bigger, Fortaleza or David?

Fortaleza has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of David. When comparing the sizes of Fortaleza 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.