Which place is cheaper, David or Madrid?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Madrid or David?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Madrid and David can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Madrid or David?
Madrid
Madrid, the capital of Spain, overs visitors countless opportunities to experience Spain's culture, art, cuisine, and nightlife. It is the largest city in Spain, and as such has much to explore. The city is situated on the Iberian Peninsula on the Spanish central Castillian plateau. If you're flying into Spain, you'll likely fly into the Madrid airport as it's one of the largest airports in Europe. Madrid is well connected to the rest of Spain with planes, trains and buses, making it a popular place to visit for many travelers doing a European tour.
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 from Barcelona, The Best 10-Day Tours from Madrid, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Panama City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Panama City.
-
Madrid Prices
Spain PricesDavid Prices
Panama Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMadrid €162David €33
The average daily cost (per person) in Madrid is €162, 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 Madrid and David in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMadrid €78David €11
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMadrid €156David €22
Compare Hotels in Madrid and David
Looking for a hotel in Madrid 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: Madrid Hotel Prices and David Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Madrid €18David €10
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Madrid
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Madrid are as follows:
-
Taxi Ride€26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Madrid
Also for Madrid, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Alcobendas Private Transfer To Madrid Barajas Airport: $29
- Hotel Madrid City Private Transfer To Madrid Barajas Airport: $29
- Private transfer departure from City Centre to Madrid Airport: $29
- Transfer: Barajas Airport (MAD) to Madrid City Center: $32
- Madrid Barajas Airport Private Transfer To Madrid City: $35
- Private transfer to Madrid Airport (MAD): $37
- Madrid Airport (MAD) to Madrid - Arrival Private Transfer: $43
- Private transfer from Madrid city to CHAMARTIN train station: $47
- Private Transfer From Madrid Barajas Airport to Madrid: $48
- Madrid Airport Private Arrival Transfer: $49
- Madrid Airport Departure Private Transfer: $51
- Private One-way Airport Transfer Madrid Airport To Madrid: $60
Is it cheaper to fly into Madrid or David?
Prices for flights to both David and Madrid 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 dayMadrid €59David €15
Typical Food Prices in Madrid
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Madrid:
-
Coffee€2.00
-
Ice Cream€3.00
-
Kebabs (for 2)€16
-
Croissant€1.50
-
Lunch at Airport (for 2)€16
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Madrid
For Madrid, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Madrid Old Town Tour & Flamenco Show with Optional Dinner: $71
- Chocolate & Churros Cooking Class in Madrid : $72
- Murder Mystery Dinner Experience: $76
- Spanish Tapas Experience and Sangría Showcooking in Madrid: $78
- Paella and Tapas Cooking Workshop in Madrid: $84
- Madrid Spanish Omelet Cooking Class and Bottomless Wine brunch: $90
- Spanish Cooking Class Paella Tapas and Sangria in Madrid: $102
- Tapas & Paella Cooking Class in Madrid with a Professional Chef: $106
- Tapas, Drinks & Stories: Madrid by Night Food Tour: $124
- Paella Cooking Class in Madrid with Bottomless Wine Pairing: $142
- Taste of Spain: Tapas Cooking Class with Bottomless Wine Pairing: $142
- Afternoon Tapas Cooking Class in a Secret Venue in Madrid: $160
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Madrid €33David €3.73
Tours and Activities in Madrid
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Madrid.
- Self Guided Walking City Tour in Madrid: $1.17
- Tour "Barrio de las Letras" Spanish Golden Age: $2.86
- Tour "Madrid of the Austrias" | Old Town ❤️: $2.86
- Malasaña and Chueca A Tour That Shouts Freedom: $3.57
- Madrid Walking Tour from Puerta del Sol to Retiro Park: $3.57
- Self Guided Tours Madrid With 100 Captivating Audio Stories: $3.57
- Madrid - Medieval to Modern Walking Tour (English): $3.58
- Madrid Mountains Free Walking Tour: $3.58
- Walking Tour of Madrid Moderno, Madrid de los Bourbons : $3.58
- Tuk Tuk Tour of the Best of Madrid (booking only) : $5.97
- Self-Guided Audio Tour - Cervantes Literary Experience in Madrid: $6.99
- Ghosts of Exploration Game and Tour: $7.16
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayMadrid €19David -
Typical Alcohol Prices in Madrid
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Madrid are as follows:
-
Beer€5.00
-
Drinks and Tapas (for 2)€13
Sample the Local Flavors in Madrid
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Madrid:
- Top Pub Crawl Madrid & Party: $11
- Madrid Pub Crawl with VIP Club Entrance: $12
- Visit to the Winery with Wine Tasting and Appetizers in Navarra: $12
- Pub Crawl Madrid by Mad Party Crew: $20
- Pub Crawl Madrid-The Original since 2005-Shots-Fun-Clubs-Dance: $30
- Wine Tasting near Plaza Mayor in Madrid : $30
- Wine Tour with tasting in the Natural Park of La Mata: $38
- Wine Tasting in Madrid Experience: $55
- Toledo Tour with Tapas, Wine Tasting and Optional 3 Monuments: $57
- Hypno Tasting Wine Tasting under Hypnosis in Madrid: $59
- Madrid Royal Palace Small Group Guided Tour with Wine Tasting: $71
- New Year Eve Madrid Pub Crawl: $82
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Madrid and David, we can see that Madrid is more expensive. And not only is David much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Madrid 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 Madrid would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Madrid 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 Madrid Expensive? and Is David Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Madrid or David?
Madrid has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of David. When comparing the sizes of Madrid 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.