A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Reykjavik vs. David for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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.


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.

The average daily cost (per person) in Reykjavik is $304, 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
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Reykjavik $158
    David $12
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Reykjavik $316
    David $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.

Hotels in Reykjavik


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: Reykjavik Hotel Prices and David Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Reykjavik $52
    David $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
  • Keflavik Airport (KEF): Bus Transfer to/from Reykjavik: $38
  • Reykjavik/Keflavik: Sky Lagoon Private Transfer: $47
  • Airport Transfer: Keflavik Airport (KEF) to Reykjavik Hotels: $52
  • Iceland Airport Transfer from Reykjavík Hotels to KEF Airport: $52
  • From Reykjavík: Private Transfer From OR To Blue Lagoon: $59
  • Roundtrip Bus Transfer to the Blue Lagoon: $59
  • Reykjavik - Westman Islands (Bus transfer to Landeyjahöfn): $60
  • Blue Lagoon Return Bus Transfer from Reykjavik: $60
  • Reykjavik Airport (RKV) to Skálafell - Arrival Private Transfer: $62
  • Reykjavik Airport (RKV) to Bláfjöll - Arrival Private Transfer: $62
  • Reykjavik - Westman Islands (Bus transfer to Landeyjahöfn): $70

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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Reykjavik $59
    David $17
Typical Food Prices in Reykjavik

For Reykjavik, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Dinner (Fish Market)
    $202

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
  • Harbor Cruise with Three Course Dinner from Reykjavik: $139
  • Food Tour by locals: $140
  • Authentic Reykjavik Food Tour with Flea Market Delights: $146
  • Icelandic Food Tour: $147
  • The Reykjavik Harbor Food Tour: $147
  • 3-Hour Shared Christmas Food Tour with Guide in Reykjavik: $149
  • Food Tour with 6+ Tastings of Icelandic Classics: $154
  • The Reykjavik Christmas Food Tour: $171
  • Christmas Food Tour with Tastings and Drinks: $171
  • Private Reykjavik Christmas Food Tour: $241
  • Private Vegetarian Reykjavik Food Tour: $241

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Reykjavik $82
    David $4.37
Typical Entertainment Prices in Reykjavik

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Reykjavik's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Art Museum
    $12
  • 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 Interactive City Tour: $8.29
  • A Self-Guided Thingvellir National Park Walking Tour: $8.99
  • Viking Reykjavik GPS App Walking Tour Mobile Game: $11
  • Reykjavik History and Sightseeing Walking Tour: $16
  • Caves of Laugarvatn Standard Tour: $17
  • 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: $30
  • Saga Museum - Entrance ticket: $32

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Reykjavik $32
    David -
Typical Alcohol Prices in Reykjavik

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Reykjavik are as follows:


  • Beer
    $9.98

Sample the Local Flavors in Reykjavik

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Reykjavik:

  • Eimverk Distillery Guided Tour with Tasting: $48
  • Craft Beer and Brewery Tour in Iceland: $49
  • Icelandic Bar Crawl Experience: $162


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.