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

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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Panama City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Panama City.


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.

The average daily cost (per person) in Lisbon is €167, while the average daily cost in David is €33. 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
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Lisbon 63
    David 11
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Lisbon 126
    David 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.

Hotels in Lisbon


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: Lisbon Hotel Prices and David Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Lisbon 25
    David 10
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lisbon

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Lisbon:


  • Taxi Ride
    6.50

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lisbon

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

  • Lisbon Airport Shared Departure Transfer: $13
  • Lisbon Airport Private Transfer to Lisbon: $13
  • Transfer Between Airport and City Hotels: $15
  • Lisbon Private Airport Departure Transfer: $16
  • Private Transfer to/from Lisbon Airport, Train Station or Port: $16
  • Lisbon Cruise Port: Private Transfer to hotels or airport: $16
  • Airport Private Transfer to/from Lisbon city hotels: $16
  • Private Departure Transfer: Hotels to Lisbon Airport or Cruise : $16
  • Lisbon Airport (LIS) Private Transfer to Lisbon City/Hotels: $20
  • Transfer from Lisbon Airport (LIS) to Lisbon City Center: $22
  • Private Transfers, Lisbon, Sintra, Cascais, Ericeira, Setubal: $24
  • Jardim do Tabaco Quay Cruise Port to Lisbon - 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Lisbon 73
    David 15
Typical Food Prices in Lisbon

For Lisbon, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • 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:

  • Pizza Cruise on a Luxury Boat with Open Bar: $29
  • Lisbon Sunset DJ Party – Luxury Boat, Pizza & Open Bar: $29
  • Lisbon Exclusive Sunset Cruise – Pizza, Open Bar & Dolphins: $29
  • Hard Rock Cafe Lisbon with Set Lunch or Dinner : $32
  • Sunset DJ Party – Sangria, Pizza & Open Bar : $35
  • Traditional Walking Food Tour: $50
  • Sangria DJ Party – Luxury Boat, Pizza & Open Bar: $54
  • Fado Show and Portuguese Dinner: $57
  • Alfama Tour and Live Fado with Traditional Dinner: $58
  • Lisbon Sangria – Exclusive Luxury Cruise with Pizza & Music: $59
  • Portuguese street food cooking class with Drinks: $59
  • Lisbon Fado Experience: Walking Tour, Dinner and Live Music Show: $59

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Lisbon 24
    David 3.73

Tours and Activities in Lisbon

For Lisbon, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Unravel Lisbon an Outdoor Charms Self Guided Tour: $1.18
  • Alfama and Mouraria Tour - The oldest neighbourhoods in Lisbon: $1.24
  • Lisbon Walking Tour - The Perfect Introduction to the City: $1.24
  • Lisbon Walking Tour: Historic Strolls of the Old Town: $1.76
  • Lisbon Walking Tour - Discover Belém and the Discoveries Age: $1.79
  • Lisbon Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $3.37
  • Lisbon City Center Tour - The Unmissable Lisbon: $3.59
  • Self Guided Tour in Lisbon with 100 Captivating Audio Stories: $3.59
  • Lisbon Tour in Walled City and Alfama and Old Town: $3.59
  • The Moorish Beyond the Tourist Trail Quarter Free Walking Tour: $3.59
  • Lisbon Walking Tour: Historic Strolls of the Old Town: $3.61
  • Lisbon (Chiado-Baixa) Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $4.52

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Lisbon 18
    David -

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
  • 1-Hour Portuguese Wine Tasting Session: $22
  • Pub Crawl with Open Bar, Shots & VIP Club Entry: $23
  • Pub Crawl with Open Bar (Premium Upgrade Available): $23
  • Lisbon Pub Crawl: Unlimited Drinks, Shots & V.I.P Club Entry: $23
  • Lisbon Pub Crawl: $24
  • Lisbon Pub Crawl: $24
  • Portuguese Wine Tasting: $25
  • Guided Port Wine Tasting Apéritif/Digestif: $28
  • Port Wine Tasting Apéritif/Digestif at Portuguese Wine Bar: $29
  • Lisbon Wine Tasting: $29
  • A Taste of Wine Tasting Experience: $42


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.