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

Should you visit San Fernando or David?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Fernando 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: San Fernando or David?

San Fernando

As the industrial capital of Trinidad & Tobago, San Fernando is an oil city which attracts more business visitors than tourists. While it is primarily focused on industry, the city has a certain charm with its old buildings and sloping streets that frame pretty views of the sea. It is the big city of Trinidad's southern half with plenty to offer in nightlife, especially during Carnival.

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


Which place is cheaper, David or San Fernando?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in San Fernando is $154, while the average daily cost in David is $32. 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 San Fernando and David in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    San Fernando $74
    David $12
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    San Fernando $148
    David $24
Compare Hotels in San Fernando and David

Looking for a hotel in San Fernando 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 San Fernando


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: David Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    San Fernando $50
    David $12

Is it cheaper to fly into San Fernando or David?

Prices for flights to both David and San Fernando 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
    San Fernando $48
    David $10

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    San Fernando $28
    David $4.39

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    San Fernando $22
    David -


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


Which is Bigger, San Fernando or David?

David has a larger population, and is about 47% larger than the population of San Fernando. When comparing the sizes of San Fernando 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.