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

Should you visit Mandeville or David?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Mandeville 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: Mandeville or David?

Mandeville

Mandeville is a small, quiet town in the mountains of Jamaica with a population of about 50,000. The town is situated on a plateau west of Kingston. It is the largest town in the parish of Manchester and the fifth largest urban center in the country.

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


Which place is cheaper, David or Mandeville?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Mandeville is $81, 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 Mandeville and David in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Mandeville $38
    David $12
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Mandeville $76
    David $24
Compare Hotels in Mandeville and David

Looking for a hotel in Mandeville 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 Mandeville


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: David Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Mandeville $31
    David $12

Is it cheaper to fly into Mandeville or David?

Prices for flights to both David and Mandeville 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
    Mandeville $24
    David $10

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Mandeville $8.31
    David $4.39

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Mandeville $6.51
    David -


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mandeville and David, we can see that Mandeville is more expensive. And not only is David much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Mandeville is in Caribbean Islands 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 Mandeville would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Mandeville 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 Mandeville Expensive? and Is David Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Mandeville or David?

David has a larger population, and is about 76% larger than the population of Mandeville. When comparing the sizes of Mandeville 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.