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

Should you visit Ocho Rios or David?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Ocho Rios or David, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Ocho Rios or David?

Ocho Rios

Ocho Rios, or "Ochi" is a town located on the northeastern shore of Jamaica and is a popular hub for cruise ships. It is a great destination for tourists as it has many resorts and beautiful beaches.

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 Ocho Rios?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Ocho Rios is $77, 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 Ocho Rios and David in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Ocho Rios $52
    David $12
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Ocho Rios $104
    David $24
Compare Hotels in Ocho Rios and David

Looking for a hotel in Ocho Rios 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 Ocho Rios


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: Ocho Rios Hotel Prices and David Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Ocho Rios $7.60
    David $12

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ocho Rios

Also for Ocho Rios, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Ocho Rios or Runaway Bay 2-Hour Shopping Transfer: $15
  • Private Transfer to Mystic Mountain from Ocho Rios: $20
  • Shuttle Transfer From Montego Bay Airport - Runaway Bay: $24
  • Montego Bay Private Airport Transfers - Round Trip: $25
  • AirBnB Roundtrip Shuttle / One Way MBJ Airport Transfers: $25
  • Private Transfer to Konoko Falls Botanical Gardens: $27
  • Airport Transfer Roundtrip Jamaica MBJ: $29
  • Private Airport transfer from Montego Bay To Ocho Rios .: $30
  • Private Airport Transfer from MBJ to Ocho Rios: $30
  • Montego Bay Airport Transfer to Ocho Rios and Runnaway Bay Hotels(Private) : $32
  • Private Montego Bay Airport Transfer To Ocho Rios : $33
  • Private Airport Transfer from Ian Fleming Airport to Ocho Rios : $35

Is it cheaper to fly into Ocho Rios or David?

Prices for flights to both David and Ocho Rios 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
    Ocho Rios $17
    David $10

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ocho Rios

For Ocho Rios, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • From Flavors of Jamaica Guided Food Tour: $89
  • Taste of Jamaica Farm & Food Tour: $98
  • Flavors of Jamaica Food Tour from Ocho Rios: $128
  • Taste of Jamaica Food Tour from Ocho Rios: $130
  • Taste of Jamaica Food Tour: $140
  • The Jamaica School of Cooking and Ocho Rios Highlights Tour: $141
  • Ocho Rios Sunset Catamaran Cruise with Dinner: $218

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Ocho Rios $15
    David $4.39
Typical Entertainment Prices in Ocho Rios

For Ocho Rios, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Tour of Brimmer Hall Estate
    $11
  • Admission to Coyaba Gardens
    $5.47
  • Tour of Prospect Plantation
    $18

Tours and Activities in Ocho Rios

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ocho Rios.

  • Private Guided Tour To Yaaman Adventures Safari jungle park: $40
  • Blue Hole Private Tour from Ocho Rios with Pickup: $40
  • Ocho Rios Sightseeing and Taxi from Runaway Bay & Ocho Rios: $40
  • Blue Hole And Konoko Falls Combo Tour From Ocho Rios & Runaway Bay!: $43
  • Dunn's River Falls and Blue Hole Private Tour from Ocho Rios: $50
  • Ocho Rios For A Day / Private Customizable Tours / Jamaica Dream Vacation: $50
  • Private Tour From Ocho Rios To Blue Hole & Konoko Falls: $50
  • Private Tour From Ocho Rios To Blue Hole Secret Falls and Shopping: $50
  • Blue hole waterfalls tour from Ocho Rios : $51
  • Jamaica Foodie Jerk Chicken Experience: $55
  • Shared Pub Dash Tour in Ocho Rios: $55
  • Irie Blue Hole Tour from Ocho Rios: $55

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Ocho Rios $7.71
    David -


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


Which is Bigger, Ocho Rios or David?

David has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Ocho Rios. When comparing the sizes of Ocho Rios 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.