Which place is cheaper, David or Manaus?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Manaus or David?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Manaus 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: Manaus or David?
Manaus
Manaus is a Brazilian city, capital of the state of Amazonas, and is located on the Rio Negro a few miles before it meets the Rio Solimões to form the Amazon River. The city is a major departure point for those visiting the Amazon Rainforest, though there are a few sights worth seeing within the city itself as well.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to Brazil, The Best Wildlife Tours to Brazil, The Best Adventure Tours to Panama, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Panama.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayManaus $59David $32
The average daily cost (per person) in Manaus is $59, while the average daily cost in David is $32. 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 Manaus and David in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personManaus $42David $12
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomManaus $84David $24
Compare Hotels in Manaus and David
Looking for a hotel in Manaus 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: Manaus Hotel Prices and David Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Manaus $7.94David $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Manaus
Also for Manaus, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer 24h Airport to Hotel in Manaus: $15
- Private 24-hour transfer from the Hotel to the Airport in Manaus: $16
- 24-hour hotel transfer - airport in Manaus: $17
- Transfer Privativo 24h aeroporto -> hotel em Manaus: $18
- Serviço de transfer privativo do Porto -> aeroporto de Mana: $20
- Manaus to Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) -Departure Private Transfer: $21
- Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) to Manaus - Arrival Private Transfer: $21
- Manaus to Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) - Departure Private Transfer: $23
- Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) to Manaus - Arrival Private Transfer: $23
- Manaus hotels to Manaus Airport(MAO) - Departure Private Transfer: $24
- Manaus Airport (MAO) to Manaus hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $24
- Manaus private Airport transfer: $30
Is it cheaper to fly into Manaus or David?
Prices for flights to both David and Manaus 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 dayManaus $12David $10
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Manaus
For Manaus, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Folklore Amazonian Dinner Show: $42
- Food Tour: $50
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Manaus -David $4.39
Tours and Activities in Manaus
For Manaus, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Like a Local Customized Guided Welcome Tour: $30
- Manaus City Tour e Musa: $50
- City Tour in Manaus at Teatro Amazonas and Praça da Matriz: $50
- MUSA and INPA Museums with Observation Tower Tour: $50
- Half-Day City Tour: $54
- Full-Day Tour on the Amazon River: $55
- Amazon Negro River Half-Day Expedition Tour: $55
- Manaus Sightseeing Tour: $64
- Solimoes River Piranha Fishing and Alligator Watching Tour: $66
- Tour to Presidente Figueiredo Waterfalls: $70
- Full-Day Package Tour in Presidente Figueiredo : $70
- Meeting of the Waters & Pink Dolphin Tour with Lunch: $71
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayManaus $2.84David -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Manaus and David, we can see that Manaus is more expensive. And not only is David much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Manaus is in South America 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 Manaus would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Manaus 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 Manaus Expensive? and Is David Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Manaus or David?
Manaus has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of David. When comparing the sizes of Manaus 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.