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

Should you visit Rome or David?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Rome and David can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Rome or David?

Rome

Rome is the kind of city that refuses to stay in the past, even though history is everywhere you look. Ancient ruins rise beside buzzing cafes, scooters zip past Renaissance palaces, and quiet cobblestone lanes suddenly open onto grand piazzas filled with fountains, churches, and street performers. It is a city of layers: the Colosseum and Roman Forum, the Vatican and St. Peter's Basilica, neighborhood trattorias, stylish boutiques, and late-night gelato walks all woven together into one unforgettable experience. Whether you come for the art, the food, the history, or the simple pleasure of wandering without a plan, Rome has a way of making every day feel like a discovery.

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 Luxury Tours to Italy, The Best Budget Tours to Italy, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Panama, and The Best Budget Tours to Panama.


Which place is cheaper, David or Rome?

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 Rome is €207, while the average daily cost in David is €35. 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 Rome and David in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Rome €90
    David €11
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Rome €180
    David €22
Compare Hotels in Rome and David

Looking for a hotel in Rome 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 Rome


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: Rome Hotel Prices and David Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Rome €21
    David €11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Rome

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Rome:


  • Metro Ride (for Two)
    €2.00
  • Train to the Airport
    €15
  • Taxi to Airport
    €45
  • Bicycle Rental (Full Day)
    €10

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rome

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rome:

  • Bus Transfer from Fiumicino Airport to Vatican City: $6.84
  • Transfer Aeroporto Fiumicino - Roma Centro: $7.98
  • Transfer Roma centro – Aeroporto Ciampino: $9.12
  • Transfer Fiumicino Airport from/to Vaticano shuttle bus: $9.12
  • Bus Transfer from Rome to Milan or Vice Versa: $9.42
  • FCO Airport Private Transfer to/from Downtown/Civitavecchia: $30
  • Transfer from Civitavecchia by train with Rome HopOnHopOff Option: $31
  • Ciampino Transfer: $42
  • Rome’s Bone Chapel with Audioguide App and Panoramic Bus Transfer: $43
  • Bus transfer from Civitavecchia to Rome and vice versa,: $44
  • Private transfers in the city of Rome (one way): $46
  • Ciampino transfer to Rome: $47

Is it cheaper to fly into Rome or David?

Prices for flights to both David and Rome 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
    Rome €84
    David €16
Typical Food Prices in Rome

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Rome:


  • Casual Lunch (for Two)
    €14
  • 4 Ice Cream Sandwiches
    €2.99
  • Cafe e doce
    €4.00
  • Pizza (Fast Food)
    €2.65
  • Sitdown Lunch (for Two)
    €32
  • Cheese and bread
    €10
  • Espresso
    €2.00
  • Dinner
    €58

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rome

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Rome.

  • Pizzas and Piazzas: A Self-Guided Walk of Rome’s Culinary Culture: $20
  • Hard Rock Cafe Rome with Set Lunch or Dinner: $33
  • Rome Cooking: TRASTEVERE Pasta & Tiramisu Making with Fine Wine: $38
  • Rome Pasta & Tiramisu Making Class & Fine Wine by Cooking Italy: $40
  • Rome Pizza & Gelato Class with Wine by Cooking Italy: $40
  • Rome Early Morning Breakfast and Sightseeing Food Tour: $44
  • Rome Pizza Making Class for Families in Trastevere: $44
  • Pasta and Tiramisu Cooking Class with Prosecco in Rome: $44
  • Milan Street Food Tour and City Guided Sightseeing: $45
  • Cooking Class 2 Hour Spanish Steps - Fettucine and Tiramisù: $45
  • Authentic Pizza Cooking Class in Rome: $46
  • Rome Street Food Tour: Eat Like a Local: $49

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Rome €36
    David €3.89
Typical Entertainment Prices in Rome

Here are a few typical costs in Rome for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Rome Museum Vaticano (for 2)
    €69
  • Coliseum Tickets (for Two)
    €33
  • Roma Pass
    €30
  • Hop on Hop Off Bus (All Day)
    €20
  • Segway Tour
    €75

Tours and Activities in Rome

Here are a few actual costs in Rome for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Rome Empress Mystery: Self-Guided Adventure Game: $4.26
  • Hidden Treasures — A Self-Guided Walking Tour: $4.55
  • Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Rome: $4.55
  • Colosseum and Roman Forum Sightseeing Area Walking Tour: $4.56
  • Highlights of Jewish Ghetto and Trastevere Walking Tour: $4.56
  • Ghosts Legends and Mysteries of Rome Walking Tour: $4.56
  • Tour of Rome to Visit the Most Iconic Monuments: $5.00
  • Pantheon Admission Ticket with Interactive Audio Guide: $5.69
  • Rome Free Walking Tour: Iconic Highlights – Pay What You Want: $5.70
  • Audio Guided Archaeological Colosseum Tour in Rome: $5.99
  • St. Peter's Basilica Rome Audio Tour Experience: $5.99
  • Rome Essential : Self-Guided Tour created by local Official Guide: $5.99

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Rome €18
    David -
Typical Alcohol Prices in Rome

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Rome:


  • Bottle of Wine
    €6.50
  • Pint of Beer
    €6.34
  • Beer
    €10

Sample the Local Flavors in Rome

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Rome:

  • 1 hour exclusive Food & Wine tasting with guide by the Vatican: $9.12
  • Rome Pub Crawl in the Old Town: $22
  • Cabaret and Burlesque Show at Rome: $34
  • Discover Frascati Wine Tasting with a Sommelier and Snacks: $34
  • Rome [4in1] Pasta Making_Tiramisù_Wine Tasting_Secret Cellar: $36
  • Winery Tour, Wine Tasting near Rome with Optional Lunch: $44
  • Wine Tasting and Food Pairing with gelato in Trastevere: $44
  • Rome Premium Wine Tasting: 3, 4, 5 or 6 Wines with Expert Guide: $51
  • Experience Rome Exclusive Wine Tasting in City Center: $55
  • Vatican Wine Tasting Italian Wines e Food with a Sommelier: $56
  • Rome Wine Tasting in Monte dei Cocci | Authentic Lazio Wines: $56
  • Wine Tasting and Food Pairing in Underground Cellar in Rome: $62


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Rome and David, we can see that Rome is more expensive. And not only is David much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Rome 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 Rome would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Rome 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 Rome Expensive? and Is David Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Rome or David?

Rome has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of David. When comparing the sizes of Rome 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.