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


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 €35. 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 €11
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:

  • LIS Airport Private Transfer to/from City Center: $12
  • Lisbon Private Airport Departure Transfer: $15
  • Private Departure Transfer: Hotels to Lisbon Airport or Cruise: $15
  • Lisbon Airport Transfer: Private Meet & Greet, Flight Tracked: $17
  • Lisbon Hotel to Airport Private Transfer: $19
  • Transfer from Lisbon Airport (LIS) to Lisbon City Center: $21
  • Private Transfers, Lisbon, Sintra, Cascais, Ericeira, Setubal: $23
  • Lisbon Airport (LIS) to Lisbon hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $25
  • Lisbon Airport (LIS) to Lisbon hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $25
  • Lisbon hotels to Lisbon Airport (LIS) Departure Private Transfer: $25
  • Lisbon to Lisbon Airport (LIS) - Departure Private Transfer: $25
  • Private Transfer: Lisbon Airport Sesimbra and Setubal: $28

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 €16
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:

  • Lisbon Luxury Cruise Experience with Sangria & Pizza: $30
  • Lisbon Sunset Luxury Boat Vibes with Drinks & Pizza: $30
  • Lisbon Luxury Cozy Cruise with Drinks & Pizza: $30
  • Lisbon Night Luxury Boat Vibes with Drinks & Pizza: $30
  • 1 Hour Wine Tasting Apéritif Before Dinner: $33
  • Lisbon Pizza & Sangria Escape on a Cozy Boat Cruise: $34
  • Lisbon Night Cozy Boat Cruise with Open Bar & Pizza: $34
  • Lisbon Night Party Cruise with DJ, Pizza & Drinks: $46
  • Castle Skip-the-Line & Old Town (add-on Fado Dinner): $62
  • Lisbon Fado Experience: Walking Tour, Dinner and Live Music Show: $63
  • Mesa de Frades Dinner in Lisbon Fado Show Portuguese Live Music: $68
  • Lisbon Food Tour with 10+ Tastings of Local Delicacies & Wines: $74

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Lisbon €24
    David €3.89

Tours and Activities in Lisbon

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

  • Discover Complete Walking Tour with Belém & Sintra: $1.12
  • Alfama and Mouraria Tour - The oldest neighbourhoods in Lisbon: $1.17
  • Belém Morning Walking Tour: Discoveries, Gold & Pastéis: $1.19
  • Lisbon Alfama Morning Walking Tour: Old Town & Viewpoints: $1.19
  • Self-Guided Tours in Lisbon with 100 Captivating Audio Stories: $3.41
  • Lisbon Walking Tour - Discover Belém and the Discoveries Age: $3.41
  • Lisbon Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $3.41
  • Lisbon City Center Tour - The Unmissable Lisbon: $3.41
  • Lisbon Walking Tour: $3.41
  • Walk Lisbon Like a Local: Bairro Alto & Downtown Experience: $3.41
  • Lisbon Alfama Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $3.42
  • Historical Walking Tour of Lisbon: $3.42

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 Pub Crawl: $23
  • Halloween Haunts: Lisbon Pub Crawl Experience: $23
  • Lisbon Wild Pub Crawl: $23
  • Private Pub Crawl in Lisbon: $23
  • Port Wine Tasting Apéritif/Digestif at Portuguese Wine Bar: $27
  • Port Wine Tasting Experience in Lisbon: $29
  • Lisbon Pub Crawl: $34
  • A Taste of Wine Tasting Experience: $40
  • Carcavelos Vineyard Tour and Wine Tasting: $51
  • Wine tasting at Quinta das Murgas: $63
  • Lisbon Wine Tasting & Pub Crawl Experience: $68
  • Wine Tasting and Culture: $72


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.