Which place is cheaper, David or Panama City?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Panama City or David?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Panama City and David can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Panama City or David?
Panama City
Panama City is the cosmopolitan capital city of the country of Panama. With a population of almost 900,000 and almost 1.5 million in the metropolitan area, it's a very diverse city with expat residents from all over the world. You don't have to search far to find someone who speaks English, and many Panamanians are quite helpful and friendly.
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, The Best 2-Week Tours from Panama City, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Panama, and The Best Adventure Tours to Panama.
-
Panama City Prices
Panama PricesDavid Prices
Panama Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPanama City $101David $39
The average daily cost (per person) in Panama City is $101, 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 Panama City and David in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPanama City $35David $12
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPanama City $70David $24
Compare Hotels in Panama City and David
Looking for a hotel in Panama City 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: Panama City Hotel Prices and David Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Panama City $11David $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Panama City
Also for Panama City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Departure Transfer to Panama City Airport (PTY): $13
- Transfer to Panama Canal (Miraflores Locks): $14
- Ciudad De Panamá Private Transfer from City to Airport (PTY): $16
- Private Transfer Airport PTY to/from Panama City: $17
- Transfers from PTY Airport to Playa Bonita or Gamboa and Back: $20
- One Way Private transfer Panama City PTY Airport to City: $20
- Panama Private Airport/Port/Hotel Transfer Service: $20
- Private Transfer Panama Tocumen Airport PTY to Panama City: $21
- Panama: Private Transfer from Tocumen Airport: $23
- Transfer from Panama City Hotel to Tocumen Airport: $23
- Panama city to Panama Tocumen Airport (PTY)- Private Transfer: $23
- Panama Airport (PTY) to Panama city - Arrival Private Transfer: $23
Is it cheaper to fly into Panama City or David?
Prices for flights to both David and Panama City 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 dayPanama City $36David $17
Typical Food Prices in Panama City
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Panama City:
-
Sandwich$8.25
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Panama City
For Panama City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Causeway: Bike & Panamanian Food Tour now with Audio Guide.: $49
- Panama Evening Food Tour: $60
- Panama City FOOD Tour: $65
- 3.5 -hour Afropanamanian Cooking Experience in Panama: $70
- 4-Hour Guided Panamanian Cooking Class and Markets Experience: $85
- Panama: 10-Recipe Boozy Panamanian Cooking Class + Dinner: $85
- Folkloric Dance & Typical Dinner at Sabroso Panamá: $115
- The Real Panamanian Private Food Tour through Panama City: $200
- Street Food Tour in Panama with a Local Guide: $255
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Panama City $66David $4.38
Tours and Activities in Panama City
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Panama City.
- Archaeological Site. Admission ticket to Panama La Vieja: $15
- Panama : Must-See Sites Walking Tour With A Guide: $26
- Walking tour in Casco Viejo with locals: $27
- Panama: Highlights Bike Tour in Casco Viejo & Cinta Costera: $29
- walking tour in Casco Antiguo !: $30
- City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $30
- City Sightseeing Panama City Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $30
- “Bike Tour Casco Viejo and Panama City Discover the Essence: $32
- POIN Swing Experience: $32
- Poin Glass Observation Deck Ticket with VR Tour: $32
- Panama City Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $35
- Welcome to Private Tour with a Local: $35
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayPanama City $18David -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Panama City and David, we can see that Panama City is more expensive. And not only is David much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Panama City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Panama City 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 Panama City Expensive? and Is David Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Panama City or David?
Panama City has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of David. When comparing the sizes of Panama City 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.