Which place is cheaper, David or Sao Paulo?
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 Sao Paulo or David?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Sao Paulo 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: Sao Paulo or David?
Sao Paulo
With a population of around 11 million, and 20 million in the metropolitan area, Sao Paulo is the largest city in Brazil. It's also one of the wealthiest cities in the southern hemisphere, although you don't have to look far to see the income disparities and inequalities that exist. The city is diverse and culturally rich, with excellent food, music, and entertainment.
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 G Adventures Tours to Brazil, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Rio de Janeiro, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Panama, and The Best Budget Tours to Panama.
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Sao Paulo Prices
Brazil PricesDavid Prices
Panama Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySao Paulo $64David $39
The average daily cost (per person) in Sao Paulo is $64, 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 Sao Paulo and David in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSao Paulo $30David $12
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSao Paulo $60David $24
Compare Hotels in Sao Paulo and David
Looking for a hotel in Sao Paulo 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: Sao Paulo Hotel Prices and David Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sao Paulo $6.09David $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sao Paulo
Also for Sao Paulo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer to Sao Paulo Airport (GRU)(CGH): $25
- Private One Way Transfer from Sao Paulo Airport to Sao Paulo: $29
- Private One Way Transfer from Sao Paulo to São Paulo Airport: $29
- Transfer from Sao Paulo City Center to Guarulhos Airport: $39
- Transfer CGH Airport Congonhas Sao Paulo city / Hotel: $44
- Receptive and Transfer Airports, Cities and Coast: $44
- Private Departure Transfer: São Paulo Hotels to Congonhas Airport: $46
- Private Transfer GRU Airport São Paulo – Executive Sedan or SUV: $50
- Private Transfer: São Paulo Hotel to Guarulhos Int. Airport: $50
- Roundtrip Private Transfer from Sao Paulo Airport (GRU)(CGH): $51
- Private Arrival Transfer: Guarulhos International Airport: $56
- Private Transfer from CGH to any point of the city of São Paulo: $60
Is it cheaper to fly into Sao Paulo or David?
Prices for flights to both David and Sao Paulo 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 daySao Paulo $26David $17
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sao Paulo
For Sao Paulo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Street Food Tour in São Paulo with a Local Guide: $73
- Paulista Plates São Paulo Food Tour with 12+ Tastings: $89
- 4h Cooking Class in São Paulo with 9 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $89
- São Suppers Food Tour with 12+ Tastings: $95
- Dinner at Terraço Italia Restaurant in São Paulo: $225
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sao Paulo $4.11David $4.37
Tours and Activities in Sao Paulo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sao Paulo.
- São Paulo Paulista Avenue City Sights Self-Guided Tour: $4.52
- São Paulo (Ibirapuera) Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $4.53
- Downtown São Paulo's Epic History: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Walking Tour Historic Center in São Paulo: $13
- Walking Tour of the Historic Center of Sao Paulo: $20
- Downtown-Center History Walking Tour: $29
- São Paulo Must-see Attractions Walking Tour with a Guide: $30
- Brazil Tropical Fruit Experience in São Paulo: $30
- São Paulo Private Walking Tour with a Local: $35
- Night Walking Tour through the Bars of São Paulo: $37
- Personal aromatic experience in São Paulo: $40
- São Paulo Highlights Walking Tour with a Guide: $41
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySao Paulo $3.58David -
Sample the Local Flavors in Sao Paulo
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Sao Paulo:
- Pub Crawl in Pinheiros: Explore the Nightlife of São Paulo: $35
- 4 Hours Pub Crawl in Vila Madalena: $150
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sao Paulo and David, we can see that Sao Paulo is more expensive. And not only is David much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Sao Paulo is in South 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 Sao Paulo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sao Paulo 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 Sao Paulo Expensive? and Is David Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sao Paulo or David?
Sao Paulo has a larger population, and is about 120 times larger than the population of David. When comparing the sizes of Sao Paulo 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.