Which place is cheaper, David or Lisbon?
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 Lisbon or David?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Lisbon 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: Lisbon or David?
Lisbon
Portugal's capital city of Lisbon continues to grow in popularity as a travel destination. The cultural scene has come to life in recent years and the city itself is stunningly beautiful. It sits on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean and is made up of hills that create a dramatic and scenic layout. The city has many white-bleached limestone buildings, narrow alleyways, and a laidback charm that appeals to visitors.
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 One Week (7-Day) Tours in Portugal, The Best 2-Week Tours in Portugal, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Panama, and The Best Budget Tours to Panama.
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Lisbon Prices
Portugal PricesDavid Prices
Panama Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLisbon €167David €34
The average daily cost (per person) in Lisbon is €167, while the average daily cost in David is €34. 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 Lisbon and David in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLisbon €63David €11
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLisbon €126David €22
Compare Hotels in Lisbon and David
Looking for a hotel in Lisbon 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: Lisbon Hotel Prices and David Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lisbon €25David €11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lisbon
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Lisbon:
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Taxi Ride€6.50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lisbon
Also for Lisbon, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Lisbon Airport Private Departure Transfer (Lisbon Hotels or Address to Airport): $11
- Lisbon Airport Private Transfer to Lisbon: $15
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotels to Lisbon Airport or Cruise: $16
- Lisbon Airport or Cruise Port: Private Arrival Transfer to hotels: $16
- Lisbon Airport Transfer: Private Meet & Greet, Flight Tracked: $17
- Transfer from Lisbon City Center to Lisbon Airport (LIS): $21
- Transfer from Lisbon Airport (LIS) to Lisbon City Center: $21
- VIP transfer from the airport to Lisbon hotels: $23
- Jardim do Tabaco Quay Cruise Port to Lisbon - Arrival Private Transfer: $24
- Lisbon Airport (LIS) to Lisbon hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $25
- Lisbon to Lisbon Airport (LIS) - Departure Private Transfer: $25
- Lisbon Airport (LIS) to Lisbon hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $25
Is it cheaper to fly into Lisbon or David?
Prices for flights to both David and Lisbon 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 dayLisbon €73David €15
Typical Food Prices in Lisbon
For Lisbon, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Coffee€2.50
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lisbon
For Lisbon, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Premium Portuguese Wine & Pizza Cruise with Open Bar: $28
- Premium Sangria & Pizza Cruise with Open Bar: $28
- Lisbon Luxury Cozy Cruise with Drinks & Pizza: $30
- Lisbon Luxury Cruise Experience with Sangria & Pizza: $30
- Lisbon Sunset Luxury Boat Vibes with Drinks & Pizza: $30
- Lisbon Sunset Cozy Boat Cruise with Open Bar & Pizza: $37
- Dinner with Rising Stars of Fado at Canto do Poeta: $63
- Pastel de Nata Cooking Class in Lisbon: $63
- Mesa de Frades Dinner in Lisbon Fado Show Portuguese Live Music: $69
- Award-Winning Guided Walking Food Tour with Local Drinks: $71
- Discover Fado with Concert and Dinner included: $74
- Vegan Pastel de Nata Cooking Class in Lisbon: $78
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lisbon €24David €3.84
Tours and Activities in Lisbon
For Lisbon, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Alfama Tour in Lisbon Old Town: $3.42
- Age of Discoveries Walking Tour in Belém: $3.42
- The Moorish Beyond the Tourist Trail Quarter Free Walking Tour: $3.42
- Bairro Alto + Downtown Walking Tour: $3.42
- Discover Complete Walking Tour with Belém & Sintra: $3.42
- Lisbon Belém Walking Tour with Dog Lilly and Guide Annie: $3.42
- Lisbon Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $3.42
- Lisbon Walking Tour - Discover Belém and the Discoveries Age: $3.42
- Lisbon Walking Tour: $3.42
- Lisbon Walking Tour: Baixa, Chiado & the 1755 Earthquake: $3.43
- Lisbon Alfama Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $3.43
- Lisbon Belém Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $4.56
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLisbon €18David -
Sample the Local Flavors in Lisbon
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Lisbon:
- Lisbon Port Wine Tasting at Taylors Shop and Tasting Room: $19
- Lisbon Pub Crawl Nightlife Experience Bars Games and Club Entry: $21
- Lisbon Pub Crawl: $23
- Lisbon Rooftop Bar Crawl Private Group Experience: $23
- Private Pub Crawl in Lisbon: $23
- Halloween Haunts: Lisbon Pub Crawl Experience: $29
- Port Wine Tasting Experience in Lisbon: $29
- Small-Group Évora & Monsaraz Tour with Wine Tasting from Lisbon: $61
- Portuguese Wine Tasting and Food Pairing: $74
- Wine Tasting with Cheeses Charcutaria and Bread Table: $74
- From Family Winery Tour, Historic Cellars & Wine Tasting: $74
- Lisbon Small-Group Portuguese Food and Wine Tour: $76
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lisbon and David, we can see that Lisbon is more expensive. And not only is David much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Lisbon 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 Lisbon would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lisbon 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 Lisbon Expensive? and Is David Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Lisbon or David?
Lisbon has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of David. When comparing the sizes of Lisbon 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.