Which place is cheaper, David or Playa del Carmen?
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 Playa del Carmen or David?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Playa del Carmen or David? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Playa del Carmen or David?
Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen is in Quintana Roo on the Yucatan Peninsula. It's a popular resort town and is about seventy kilometers south of Cancun. It has a European atmosphere with many small hotels and a nice relaxed feel. It was originally a small fishing town but tourism began with the introduction of a passenger ferry to Cozumel. The area developed rapidly and there are many luxury hotels, condos, and resorts. There are also American chains and a variety of shopping opportunities nearby.
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 2-Week Tours in Mexico, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Panama, and The Best Budget Tours to Panama.
-
Playa del Carmen Prices
Mexico PricesDavid Prices
Panama Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPlaya del Carmen $95David $39
The average daily cost (per person) in Playa del Carmen is $95, 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 Playa del Carmen and David in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPlaya del Carmen $38David $12
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPlaya del Carmen $76David $24
Compare Hotels in Playa del Carmen and David
Looking for a hotel in Playa del Carmen 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: Playa del Carmen Hotel Prices and David Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Playa del Carmen $23David $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Playa del Carmen
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Playa del Carmen:
- Private Airport Transfer to/from Playa del Carmen & Riviera Maya: $17
- Cancun Airport Departure transfer from Playa Paraiso, Playa del Carmen, Playacar: $28
- One way shared transfer to Chiquila: $34
- Cancun Airport: Private Transfer to/from Akumal Hotels: $49
- Playa del Carmen to Cancun private transfer, option to stop: $60
- Chetumal Airport (CTM) to Chetumal - Arrival Private Transfer: $64
- Chetumal Airport (CTM) to Chetumal - Arrival Private Transfer: $65
- Chetumal to Chetumal Airport (CTM) - Departure Private Transfer: $65
- From One way shared transfer to Holbox: $69
- Round trip Private Transfer Cancun- Costa Mujeres/Playa Mujeres: $71
- Private Transfer Playa del Carmen to Cancun Airport CUN by Minivan - Minibus: $75
- Private Transfer Cancun Airport to Nickelodeon Riviera.: $77
Is it cheaper to fly into Playa del Carmen or David?
Prices for flights to both David and Playa del Carmen 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 dayPlaya del Carmen $39David $17
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Playa del Carmen
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Playa del Carmen.
- Dinner and Show at the Mayan Planetarium of Chichen: $39
- Flavors of Playa del Carmen, Mexican Food Tour: $63
- Playa del Carmen Food Tour with 8+ Authentic Yucatan Dishes: $81
- VIP Private Mystery Dinner Murder in the Jungle: $85
- Riviera Maya Luxury Sunset Sailing plus Light Dinner and Open Bar: $89
- Playa del Camen Vegan Mexican Food Tour: $90
- Mayan Ceremony in Tulum. Temazcal, Dinner and pick up included.: $92
- PDC Traditional Mexican Cooking Experience: $109
- PDC Traditional Mexican Cooking Experience: $112
- Mayan Cooking Class: Chicken Pibil in Secret Cenote: $114
- Mexican Cooking Class: $120
- Isa’s Authentic Mexican Cooking Class: $120
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Playa del Carmen $16David $4.37
Tours and Activities in Playa del Carmen
Here are a few actual costs in Playa del Carmen for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Bus Ticket connecting Cancun Central and Playa del Carmen: $6.43
- 4 ADVENTURES 1 DAY Tulum Coba Cenote and Playa del Carmen: $16
- Chichen Itza and Cenote Full Day Tour from Playa del Carmen: $17
- Riviera Maya: Frida Kahlo Museum Guided Tour 2025: $19
- 4X1 Enjoy a tour to Tulum, Coba, Cenote and Playa del Carmen: $20
- 4x1 Tulum Coba Cenote swim Full tour: $21
- YAL-KU Park in Riviera Maya Admission Ticket: $22
- Full day Chichén Itzá Tour from Cancún and Riviera Maya: $22
- Adrenaline ATV Cenote and Zip Lines Experience at Tulum: $25
- Tulum and 2 Cenotes Half Day Tour from Riviera: $29
- Adrenaline Tour from Cancún, ATV, Zipline, Cenote and Lunch: $30
- Chichen Itza Tour Options with Cenote Swim from Playa del Carmen: $31
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayPlaya del Carmen $20David -
Sample the Local Flavors in Playa del Carmen
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Playa del Carmen:
- Playa After Dark: 5th Ave Social Pub Crawl, Playa del Carmen: $35
- Playa del Carmen Local Brewery and Tacos Experience: $58
- Tour to the Brewery with Tasting and Fifth Avenue: $106
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Playa del Carmen and David, we can see that Playa del Carmen is more expensive. And not only is David much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Playa del Carmen is in North America 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 Playa del Carmen would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Playa del Carmen 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 Playa del Carmen Expensive? and Is David Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Playa del Carmen or David?
David has a larger population, and is about 52% larger than the population of Playa del Carmen. When comparing the sizes of Playa del Carmen 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.