Which place is cheaper, David or Lucerne?
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 Lucerne or David?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Lucerne and David. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Lucerne or David?
Lucerne
Lucerne is a relatively small city in the center of Switzerland. It is located across the lake from Altdorf and it has a thriving tourism industry. It's close proximity to many of the major sights in the country make it a great base for exploration. Many people use it as a jumping off point for exploring Mount Rigi and the Rutli Meadow.
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 Switzerland, The Best 2-Week Tours in Switzerland, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Panama City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Panama City.
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Lucerne Prices
Switzerland PricesDavid Prices
Panama Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLucerne $302David $39
The average daily cost (per person) in Lucerne is $302, 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 Lucerne and David in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLucerne $159David $12
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLucerne $318David $24
Compare Hotels in Lucerne and David
Looking for a hotel in Lucerne 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: Lucerne Hotel Prices and David Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lucerne $15David $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lucerne
Also for Lucerne, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Bad Ragaz Resorts to Zurich Airport ZRH - Departure Transfer: $126
- Private Transfer between Lucerne & Engelberg / Mount Titlis: $201
- Private direct transfer from Lucerne to Basel, local driver: $246
- From Canyoning in Interlaken w/ Return Transfer: $308
- Private Transfer from Lucerne to Zurich Airport: $327
- From Basel, Basel Port, Airport: Private Transfer to Lucerne: $428
- Private Transfer from Lucerne to Basel, Basel Port, Airport: $428
- St Moritz: Private transfer from Zurich airport to St Moritz: $597
Is it cheaper to fly into Lucerne or David?
Prices for flights to both David and Lucerne 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 dayLucerne $125David $17
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lucerne $39David $4.37
Typical Entertainment Prices in Lucerne
For Lucerne, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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1 Day Bicycle Rental$39
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The Swiss Transport Museum Entrance Fee$41
Tours and Activities in Lucerne
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Lucerne.
- Revealing Self-Guided Reading City Tour: $6.29
- Smartphone walking tour - cool Lucerne old town: $6.29
- Revealing Self-Guided Audio City Tour: $6.29
- Porrentruy Secret Tour: $13
- Swiss Chocolate Adventure Experience: $23
- Culture & Congress Centre Behind the Scenes Tour: $25
- Guided Walking Tour with an Official Guide: $31
- Official Guided City Tour of Lucerne: $32
- Round-Trip Catamaran Cruise on Lake Lucerne: $35
- Lake Lucerne 1-Hour Catamaran Cruise : $35
- Private Walking Tour with a Local Guide: $37
- 1-Hour Historical Tour with Night Watchman: $38
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLucerne $25David -
Sample the Local Flavors in Lucerne
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Lucerne:
- Walking and Boat Tour with Cheese & Wine Tasting: $112
- Lake Lucerne Region Wine Tasting: $314
- Private Walking Tour with Wine Tasting: $326
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lucerne and David, we can see that Lucerne is more expensive. And not only is David much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Lucerne 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 Lucerne would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lucerne 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 Lucerne Expensive? and Is David Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Lucerne or David?
David has a larger population, and is about 45% larger than the population of Lucerne. When comparing the sizes of Lucerne 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.