Which place is cheaper, David or Montego Bay?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Montego Bay 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 Montego Bay 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: Montego Bay or David?
Montego Bay
As with most places around the tropical oasis of Jamaica, Montego Bay (or "MoBay") is an ideal place to visit for a Caribbean getaway. It is Jamaica's second largest city and the capital of St. James parish on the northern coast. Montego Bay is considered to be the tourist capital of the country and is where the largest airport is located, bringing in many international travelers.
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 Panama City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Panama City.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMontego Bay $200David $32
The average daily cost (per person) in Montego Bay is $200, 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 Montego Bay and David in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMontego Bay $102David $12
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMontego Bay $204David $24
Compare Hotels in Montego Bay and David
Looking for a hotel in Montego Bay 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: Montego Bay Hotel Prices and David Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Montego Bay $15David $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montego Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montego Bay:
- Shared Transfer: From/to Montego Bay International Airport: $8.33
- Private Transfer From Montego Bay Airport to Hotels in MontegoBay: $10
- Private Airport Transfer to Hotels: $10
- Montego Bay Airport Transfer: RIU Resorts Montego Bay: $10
- Tropical Court Hotel Private Airport Transfer : $13
- Sandals Royal Caribbean Hotel Private Airport Transfer : $13
- Private Airport Transfer from MBJ to RIU Montego Bay & Reggae: $13
- MBJ Airport: Private Transfer to Montego Bay: $14
- RIU Reggae Palace and RIU Montego Bay Private Airport Transfer: $14
- Private Transfer Sangster International Airport to Montego Bay: $15
- Private Airport Round Trip Transfer To Montego Bay Hotels : $15
- Private Airport Transfer from MBJ to RIU Palace Jamaica: $15
Is it cheaper to fly into Montego Bay or David?
Prices for flights to both David and Montego Bay 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 dayMontego Bay $82David $10
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montego Bay
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Montego Bay.
- Lunch or Dinner with Pickup from Montego Bay : $45
- Night cruise and swim the Falmouth Mystic Lagoon, Dinner and Rum Punch Inclusive: $85
- Negril Private Rick Cafe Cliff Diving and Sunset Dinner Tour : $100
- Sunset Boat Ride in the Falmouth Luminous Lagoon swim and Dinner : $149
- Houseboat Restaurant and Grill for Dinner Private Transportation : $157
- Sunset Boat Cruise in Falmouth Luminous Lagoon, Swim and Dinner : $170
- Montego Bay Dinner and Nightlife Experience : $180
- Ocho Rios Dinner and Nightlife Experience : $180
- Private Seafood Tour and Floyds Pelican Bar or Black River Safari: $185
- PRIVATE Food Tour of Local Jamaican Cuisine Montego Bay & Negril: $190
- Private Martha Brae Raft and Luminous Lagoon Tour with Dinner: $270
- Martha Brae Bamboo Rafting & Luminous Lagoon Sunset, Swim& Dinner: $280
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Montego Bay $32David $4.38
Typical Entertainment Prices in Montego Bay
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Montego Bay are as follows:
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Admission to Doctor's Cave Beach$2.69
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Snorkeling Trip$19
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One Tank Dive$38
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1.5 Hr Horseback Ride$43
Tours and Activities in Montego Bay
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Montego Bay are as follows:
- Shopping Tour for Whitter Village Mall Private / Charted Air Conditioned Taxi: $20
- Greenwood Great House Entry Ticket: $20
- Cinnamon Hill Great House Tour - Home of Johnny Cash: $23
- Jet ski tour from montegobay: $28
- Private Tour Souvenir Shopping in Montego Bay : $30
- Montego Bay Private Shopping Tour with Hotel Pickup: $30
- Montego Bay City Tour: $30
- Skip the Line: Rose Hall Great House & Garden Tour Ticket: $30
- Rose Hall Great House Haunted Night Tour: $35
- Club Mobay VIP Departure Lounge Experience: $38
- Hip-strip Shopping and Great River Rafting Private Tour: $40
- Montego Bay Bamboo Rafting and Hip Strip Private Tour: $40
Tours and Activities in David
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for David are as follows:
- Coffee Plantation Tour: $80
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMontego Bay $13David -
Sample the Local Flavors in Montego Bay
Also in Montego Bay, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Appleton Estate Admission Ticket & Distillery Tour with Tastings: $39
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Montego Bay and David, we can see that Montego Bay is more expensive. And not only is David much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Montego Bay 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 Montego Bay would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Montego Bay 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 Montego Bay Expensive? and Is David Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Montego Bay or David?
Montego Bay has a larger population, and is about 0% larger than the population of David. When comparing the sizes of Montego Bay 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.