Which place is cheaper, David or Reykjavik?
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 Reykjavik or David?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Reykjavik 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: Reykjavik or David?
Reykjavik
Reykjavik is the capital and largest city in the country of Iceland. The city is where the vast majority of the country's population resides and the urban area has about 200,000 residents. The city is sprawling, with a large area covered in suburbs. The the city center is quite compact, with many interesting and colorful houses. There are a lot of things that attract tourists to this city, including an interesting culture and history as well as plenty of shopping and dining opportunities.
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 Budget Tours to Iceland, The Best Tours for Seniors to Iceland, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Panama, and The Best Budget Tours to Panama.
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Reykjavik Prices
Iceland PricesDavid Prices
Panama Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayReykjavik $307David $39
The average daily cost (per person) in Reykjavik is $307, 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 Reykjavik and David in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personReykjavik $160David $12
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomReykjavik $320David $24
Compare Hotels in Reykjavik and David
Looking for a hotel in Reykjavik 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: Reykjavik Hotel Prices and David Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Reykjavik $52David $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Reykjavik
Also for Reykjavik, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From Reykjavik/Keflavik Airport: 1-Way Blue Lagoon Transfer: $31
- Private Transfer Between Keflavik Airport and Reykjavik locations: $35
- Keflavik Airport (KEF): Bus Transfer to/from Reykjavik: $38
- Airport Transfer: Keflavik Airport to Reykjavik Center in Iceland: $39
- Iceland Airport Transfer from Reykjavík Hotels to KEF Airport: $52
- Airport Transfer: Keflavik Airport (KEF) to Reykjavik Hotels: $52
- Roundtrip Bus Transfer to the Blue Lagoon: $59
- From Reykjavík: Private Transfer From OR To Blue Lagoon: $59
- Skálafell to Reykjavik Airport (RKV) - Departure Private Transfer: $59
- Reykjavik Airport (RKV) to Bláfjöll - Arrival Private Transfer: $59
- Blue Lagoon Return Bus Transfer from Reykjavik: $60
- Private Transfer Keflavik/Reykjavik–Blue Lagoon, Silica & Retreat: $61
Is it cheaper to fly into Reykjavik or David?
Prices for flights to both David and Reykjavik 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 dayReykjavik $60David $17
Typical Food Prices in Reykjavik
For Reykjavik, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner (Fish Market)$204
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Reykjavik
For Reykjavik, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Harbor Cruise with 3-Course Dinner: $137
- Food Tour by locals: $140
- Authentic Reykjavik Food Tour with Flea Market Delights: $146
- Icelandic Food Tour: $147
- Food Tour with 6+ Tastings of Icelandic Classics: $154
- Reykjavík All In One Food Tour - Eat, Drink & Explore with Locals: $170
- The Reykjavik Christmas Food Tour: $171
- Christmas Food Tour with Tastings and Drinks: $171
- Private Vegetarian Reykjavik Food Tour: $241
- Authentic Icelandic Cooking Class in a Local Reykjavik Home: $285
- South Coast Private tour with Black Pizza & Glacier Hike: $1,595
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Reykjavik $83David $4.38
Typical Entertainment Prices in Reykjavik
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Reykjavik's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Art Museum$12
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Wine and Spa$33
Tours and Activities in Reykjavik
For Reykjavik, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Reykjavík's Sonic Revolution Self Guided Podcast Tour: $5.48
- Discover the key to Reykjavik Exploration Game and Tour: $5.82
- History and Legends: A Golden Circle Audio Tour to Thingvellir: $9.99
- Reykjavík Walking Tour with Audioguide on your Smartphone: $11
- Reykjavík: National Museum of Iceland Entry Ticket: $21
- Reykjavik Art Museum Entry Ticket: $21
- Volcano Express Entry Ticket at Harpa: $24
- Mosfellsbæ: Authentic Icelandic Wool Yarn Factory Tour: $26
- Icelandic Phallological Museum Entry Ticket: $29
- Private audio guide of the island for self-exploration tour: $29
- Settlement and Egils Saga Exhibition Ticket: $29
- Saga Museum Entry Ticket: $33
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayReykjavik $32David -
Typical Alcohol Prices in Reykjavik
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Reykjavik are as follows:
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Beer$10
Sample the Local Flavors in Reykjavik
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Reykjavik:
- Flóki Whisky Distillery Tour & Tasting in Reykjavík: $47
- Eimverk Distillery Guided Tour with Tasting: $48
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Reykjavik and David, we can see that Reykjavik is more expensive. And not only is David much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Reykjavik is in Europe 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 Reykjavik would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Reykjavik 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 Reykjavik Expensive? and Is David Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Reykjavik or David?
Reykjavik has a larger population, and is about 37% larger than the population of David. When comparing the sizes of Reykjavik 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.