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

Should you visit Kingston or David?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Kingston or David, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Kingston or David?

Kingston

Kingston is Jamaica's capital city with a population of about 579,000. For being located on an island, Kingston is a very large city with several different zip codes. Not only is Kingston the cultural capital of the country, but also the commercial one as well.

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 Kingston?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Kingston is $110, 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 Kingston and David in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Kingston $65
    David $12
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Kingston $130
    David $24
Compare Hotels in Kingston and David

Looking for a hotel in Kingston 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 Kingston


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: Kingston Hotel Prices and David Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Kingston $30
    David $12

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kingston

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kingston:

  • All Island Private Transfer To/From Kingston Airport (KIN): $21
  • MBJ Airport Transfer to/ from Hotels : $25
  • Airport Transfer Norman Manley international airport: $30
  • Private Transfer to/from Kingston Airport: $42
  • Kingston Airport Taxi Transfers Private ***: $47
  • Airport Transfer in Kingston: $50
  • Private Transfer from Kingston Airport (KIN) to Falmouth Port: $72
  • Kingston International Airport Jamaica - Private Arrival or Depature transfer : $73
  • Private Transfer from Kingston Airport to Montego Bay: $90
  • Private Airport Transfer from Kingston Airport: $90
  • Transfers from Kingston to any location: $100
  • Group Private Kingston Airport Transfers (4 - 9 Persons): $117

Is it cheaper to fly into Kingston or David?

Prices for flights to both David and Kingston 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
    Kingston $27
    David $10

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

Tours and Activities in Kingston

Here are a few actual costs in Kingston for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Walking Tour with Mural Exploration: $25
  • Montego Bay: All inclusive tours: $30
  • Cannabis Shopping Tour with Lunch: $50
  • Ocho Rios Shore Excursion: Bus Tour of Ocho Rios, Fern Gully and Turtle Beach: $62
  • Devon House Heritage Tour with Ice Cream from Kingston: $63
  • Devon House Tour with Ice Cream from Kingston: $64
  • Tour a Jamaican Farm: $70
  • Kingston Half Day Community and Art Tour: $70
  • Kingston City Tour (starting in Kingston): $72
  • Shared Tour: Irie Blue Hole & Secret Falls Adventure Tour from Ocho Rios: $73
  • Friday Evening Kingston Harbour Cruise, Sunday Beach Cruise or Charter Our Boats: $75
  • Bob Marley Museum Tour from Kingston: $81

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Kingston $11
    David -

Sample the Local Flavors in Kingston

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Kingston:

  • Ocho Rios Pub Crawl and Sightseeing Tour from Ocho Rios: $185


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


Which is Bigger, Kingston or David?

Kingston has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of David. When comparing the sizes of Kingston 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.