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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Panama City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Panama City.


Which place is cheaper, David or Ocho Rios?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Ocho Rios is $85, while the average daily cost in David is $39. 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 $51
    David $12
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Ocho Rios $102
    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 $7.32
    David $12

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ocho Rios

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

  • Private Ian Fleming Airport Transfer to Ocho Rios and Runaway Bay: $15
  • Montego Bay Airport (MBJ) Transfer One-Way or Round-Trip to Hotel: $16
  • Private Transfer to Mystic Mountain from Ocho Rios: $20
  • Private Round Trip Transfer to YAAMAN Adventure Park Ocho Rios: $27
  • Private Transfer to Konoko Falls Botanical Gardens: $27
  • Private Round Trip Transfer to Dunns River Climb and Zipline over the Falls! : $34
  • Private Round Trip Transfer for Jamaican Jerk at Scotchie's Ocho Rios: $36
  • Private Transfer to Beach Horse Back Ride and Swim: $40
  • Private Transfer to ATV dirt road Adventures.: $40
  • Runaway Bay Airport Transfer: $48
  • Round-Trip or Direct Private Airport Transfers to Runaway Bay: $50
  • Private Nightclub Tour with Transfer from Ocho Rios, Runaway Bay: $52

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 $28
    David $17

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Ocho Rios $15
    David $4.37
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
    $5.27
  • Tour of Prospect Plantation
    $17

Tours and Activities in Ocho Rios

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

  • Ocho Rios Shopping Tour : $21
  • Blue Hole Admission Fee Ticket: $25
  • Original Blue Hole St. Ann Ocho Rios Jamaica Admission Fee Ticket: $25
  • Bob Marley Nine Mile Tour: $35
  • Ocho Rios City Bus Tour (Beach, Sightseeing & Shopping): $40
  • Skip-The-Line: Dunn's River Falls Adventure Tour from Ocho Rios: $40
  • Transportation to Horse Back Ride & Swim Adventure from Ocho Rios: $45
  • Luminous lagoon Private & Group tour from Runaway Bay: $45
  • Dunn's River Falls and Ocho Rios Sightseeing with Shopping: $50
  • Shopping and Sightseeing Tour in Ocho Rios: $50
  • Jamaican Escapade Experience Dunn's River's Natural Majesty: $50
  • Dunn's River Falls and Blue Hole Private Tour from Ocho Rios: $50

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Ocho Rios $7.43
    David -

Sample the Local Flavors in Ocho Rios

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Ocho Rios:

  • Bar Hopping, Pub Crawl, Shopping and Sightseeing Tour Ocho Rios: $100


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.