Which place is cheaper, David or Phuket?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Phuket or David?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Phuket 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: Phuket or David?
Phuket
Phuket Island is the holiday gem of southern Thailand. Known for its beaches and resorts, the island brings in a massive amount of travelers from all over the world, year round. Although the beaches are beautiful, Phuket has also become more westernized and tourist-oriented in recent decades, leaving many travelers to venture elsewhere to find that amazing beach with a more authentic Thai vibe. However, Phuket Island is quite large, and hidden gems can still be found.
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 in Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours in Thailand, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Panama City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Panama City.
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Phuket Prices
Thailand PricesDavid Prices
Panama Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPhuket $139David $39
The average daily cost (per person) in Phuket is $139, 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 Phuket and David in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPhuket $64David $12
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPhuket $128David $24
Compare Hotels in Phuket and David
Looking for a hotel in Phuket 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: Phuket Hotel Prices and David Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Phuket $12David $12
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Phuket
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Phuket:
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Longtail Taxi (for Two)$9.42
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Taxi from Airport to Phuket Town$7.85
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Phuket
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Phuket:
- Phuket Airport (HKT) Departure Transfer from Phuket Hotels (Shared or Private): $11
- Phuket Airport (HKT) Arrival Transfer to Phuket Hotels (Shared or Private): $11
- Private Phuket Airport Transfer to Hotel and Vice Versa: $13
- PHUKET Arrival Transfer-Phuket Airport to Phuket Hotels (Shared): $15
- Private Arrival Transfer - Phuket Airport to Hotel (SHA Plus): $19
- Phuket Int Airport (HKT) to Phuket - Arrival Private Transfer: $20
- Private PHUKET Arrival Transfer - Phuket Airport to Phuket Hotels: $22
- Phuket To Phi Phi Island By Phi Phi Cruiser - Include Pickup Transfer: $23
- Private Transfer from Phuket hotels to Phuket Cruise Port: $24
- Phuket Airport HKT to Phuket Private Hotel Transfer: $25
- Phuket Phiphi-Phhpi Phuket Ferry include Transfer to hotel: $25
- Private Departure Transfer from Phuket Hotel to Phuket Airport: $26
Is it cheaper to fly into Phuket or David?
Prices for flights to both David and Phuket 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 dayPhuket $43David $17
Typical Food Prices in Phuket
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Phuket:
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Casual Dinner (for Two)$9.08
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$5.34
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Sit Down Dinner (for Two)$13
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Thai Noodles$2.83
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Bananas$0.79
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Pizza (for Two)$9.42
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Phuket
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Phuket.
- One Day Experience Cooking at Phuket Patong Thailand: $28
- Express Thai Cooking Class in Phuket: $52
- Vegetarian Organic Thai Cooking Class and Market Tour in Phuket: $53
- Phuket Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $55
- Authentic Thai Cooking Class by Suuko Wellness Spa: $57
- Phuket Thai Cooking Class with Market Tour and Hotel Pickup: $57
- Organic Thai Cooking Class and Market Tour in Phuket: $57
- Carnival Entertainment and Dinner Experience in Phuket: $58
- Southern Flavors Phuket Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $59
- Phuket City Tour with Phothong Ride and Cooking Class: $59
- Phuket Easy Thai Cooking Class and Market Tour: $61
- Choose Your Own Dishes: Half-Day Thai Cooking Class in Phuket: $63
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Phuket $49David $4.37
Typical Entertainment Prices in Phuket
Here are a few typical costs in Phuket for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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One Day Boat Tour$28
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Scuba Diving (Two Dives)$79
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Thai Oil Massage$20
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Surfboard Rental$9.42
Tours and Activities in Phuket
Here are a few actual costs in Phuket for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Oto Indoor Play Park Entrance Ticket in Phuket: $7.90
- Aquarium Phuket Admission Ticket: $14
- Phuket City Tour with Pickup Option: $15
- Feed Me Banana Elephant Experience Short Activity : $16
- Phuket Rock Beach Swing Tickets: $16
- Phuket Bird Park Admission Ticket: $19
- Phuket Highlights: Half Day City Tour with Landmark & Viewpoint: $21
- Phang Nga Bay Skywalk at Samet Nangshe Admission Ticket: $21
- Half Day Phuket City tour + Hotel Pick Up and Drop Off: $21
- Exclusive Jurassic Mini-Golf Ticket at Dino Park Phuket: $23
- Patong Beach Water Sports Adventure from Phuket: $24
- Athena Cabaret Show Admission Ticket in Phuket: $25
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPhuket $7.32David -
Typical Alcohol Prices in Phuket
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Phuket from other travelers:
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Cocktails (for Two)$6.28
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Beer$2.67
Sample the Local Flavors in Phuket
Also in Phuket, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Chalong Bay Rum Distillery Experience: $41
- Phuket Sightseeing Tour with Rum Distillery : $111
- Big Buddha & The Distillery Phuket: $136
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Phuket and David, we can see that Phuket is more expensive. And not only is David much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Phuket is in Asia 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 Phuket would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Phuket 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 Phuket Expensive? and Is David Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Phuket or David?
Phuket has a larger population, and is about 7% larger than the population of David. When comparing the sizes of Phuket 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.