Which place is cheaper, David or Medellin?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Medellin or David?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Medellin 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: Medellin or David?
Medellin
In addition to big improvements in public safety, Medellin has witnessed a huge surge in urban development projects, including Colombia's first metro system and cable cars to service poorer neighborhoods located high on the mountain sides. There is an abundance of parks, libraries, museums and public spaces with many cultural events taking place. Many travelers also enjoy visiting the surrounding villages, where life is simple and landscapes and nature reserves are wonderful. Medellin has now become one of the "it" cities in the world, with tons of tourists visiting and foreigners settling and retiring here. Beautiful mountains, warm weather, friendly locals, and a vibrant culture are just a few of the reasons why you should visit Medellin.
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 Adventure Tours to Colombia, The Best Eco Tours in Colombia, 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 dayMedellin $23David $32
The average daily cost (per person) in Medellin is $23, 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 Medellin and David in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMedellin $4.75David $12
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMedellin $9.50David $24
Compare Hotels in Medellin and David
Looking for a hotel in Medellin 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: Medellin Hotel Prices and David Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Medellin $4.14David $12
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Medellin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Medellin:
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Taxi$1.65
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Medellin
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Medellin:
- Santa Marta Airport to Santa Marta (or vice versa) Private Transfer : $16
- Medellin Airport (MDE) to Downtown hotels - Arrival Transfer: $21
- Transfer Private Car from Medellin city - Medellin Airport (MDE): $23
- Medellín Airport shuttle - Airport Transfer: $25
- Medellin hotels to Medellin Airport (EOH) - Departure Transfer: $27
- Medellin to Olaya Herrera Airport(EOH)-Departure Private Transfer: $27
- Olaya Herrera Airport (EOH) to Medellin -Arrival Private Transfer: $27
- Private Transfer Aerop Jose Maria Cordova - Up to 3 people: $33
- Transfer in Private Car from Guatape- Medellin airport (MDE): $34
- Medellín Private Transfer from Olaya Herrera (EOH) Airport to Medellín City: $44
- Transfer José María Córdova Airport - Medellin - Private Ride Airport .. !!: $45
- RoundtripTransfer Privatecar Medellin Airport (MDE) Medellin City: $47
Is it cheaper to fly into Medellin or David?
Prices for flights to both David and Medellin 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 dayMedellin $9.61David $10
Typical Food Prices in Medellin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Medellin:
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Lunch$2.10
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Medellin
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Medellin.
- Homemade Paisa Dinner at a Local's Home in Medellín: $69
- Homemade Paisa Dinner at a Local's Home in Medellín: $71
- Sabor Colombiano Cooking Studio: $100
- Combo Tour: Street Art, Christmas Lights and Food Tour in Medellin: $131
- Comuna 13, Fruit & Street Food Tour: $166
- Private tour: Medellin City – Pablo Escobar and Food Tour: $166
- Combo Tour: Metro System, Christmas Lights and Food Tour of Medellin: $166
- A Night Out in Medellin with Dinner and Drinks Included: $175
- ATV Adventure Including Medellin City and Food Tour: $185
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Medellin $13David $4.39
Tours and Activities in Medellin
Here are a few actual costs in Medellin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Skip the Line: Museum of Antioquia Admission Ticket: $7.20
- Comuna 13 GraffiTour with Spray Painting and Typical Food C13: $11
- Graffitour Medellín: History, Transformation and Overcoming": $13
- Shared Tour of the Historical and Cultural Center of Medellín: $13
- Post-conflict and Violence Tour (after Pablo) in Medellin: $13
- GRAFITOUR COMUNA 13 more than a tour an EXPERIENCE: $15
- Walking Historical tour of Medellín, walking reality.: $15
- 90 Minute Walking Tour of Guatapé: $16
- From violence to innovation (Virtual Guided Tour): $19
- Comuna 13 History and Graffiti Tour with Cable Car: $20
- Storytellers Tours: $21
- Comuna 13 Graffiti Tour with Street Food: $22
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMedellin $7.21David -
Sample the Local Flavors in Medellin
Also in Medellin, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- 4 Hours Pub Crawl Nightlife in Medellin: $41
- All-Inclusive Comuna 13 Nightlife Bar Crawl with Locals: $130
- Medellin Pub Crawl Including Food and City Tour: $139
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Medellin and David, we can see that David is more expensive. And not only is Medellin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Medellin 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 Medellin would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Medellin 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 David would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in David than you might in Medellin.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Medellin Expensive? and Is David Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Medellin or David?
Medellin has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of David. When comparing the sizes of Medellin 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.