Which place is cheaper, David or Shanghai?
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 Shanghai or David?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Shanghai and David. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Shanghai or David?
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest and most modern city in China. With a population of over 23 million, it is the economic and financial hub of the country. It also continues to be one of the fastest growing cities in China with regular changes to the city's layout and skyline. It is not uncommon for buildings to be torn down, rebuilt and then torn down and rebuilt again. The city also has skyscrapers that rank among the tallest in the world. It has an ever changing downtown and street scape. In Shanghai, the general mantra remains "out with the old, in with the new".
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 2-Week Tours from Beijing, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Panama City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Panama City.
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Shanghai Prices
China PricesDavid Prices
Panama Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayShanghai $132David $39
The average daily cost (per person) in Shanghai is $132, 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 Shanghai and David in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personShanghai $82David $12
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomShanghai $164David $24
Compare Hotels in Shanghai and David
Looking for a hotel in Shanghai 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: David Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Shanghai $3.93David $12
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Shanghai
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Shanghai:
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Taxi Ride$3.64
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Two Subway Tickets$0.84
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Shanghai
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Shanghai:
- Private Transfer Shanghai Airport PVG / SHA to Shanghai / Suzhou: $14
- Yiwu Railway Station Private Arrival Transfer to City Area: $18
- Private Transfer to/from Shanghai Disneyland Park: $19
- Yiwu Airport Private Arrival Transfer to City Area : $20
- Yiwu Airport Private Transfer, airport pick up drop off services: $20
- Private Transfer to ERA Acrobats Show at Shanghai Circus World: $22
- [Airport Transfer] Shanghai Pudong Airport / Hongqiao Airport ⇔ Shanghai City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service! <Charter charter>: $23
- Shanghai City to Shanghai Hongqiao Airport (SHA) - Departure Private Transfer: $23
- Private Transfer to Huangpu River Cruise Terminal: $24
- Hongqiao Airport(SHA)-Hotel Downtown One way Private Transfer: $25
- Shanghai Maglev Train Station Private Transfer from City Area : $25
- Private Transfer from Shanghai Maglev Train Station to City Area : $25
Is it cheaper to fly into Shanghai or David?
Prices for flights to both David and Shanghai 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 dayShanghai $38David $17
Typical Food Prices in Shanghai
Some typical examples of dining costs in Shanghai are as follows:
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Dumpling Breakfast$1.40
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Desserts in Jinmao Building Observatory$20
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Ajisen Lunch for Two$7.29
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Cantelope$1.68
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Dumplings and Soup$2.10
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Duck Dinner$4.21
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Pastries$2.94
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Barbeque Dinner$8.97
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Shanghai
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Shanghai.
- Authentic Local Food Tour In Downtown Shanghai-Tip Based: $3.57
- MingleX Dinner with Shanghai locals: $19
- Online Cooking Class Sesame Chicken by Sunflower Li: $20
- Online Cooking Class General Tso's Chicken by Sunflower Li: $20
- Online Cooking Class Fried Rice by Sunflower Li : $20
- Authentic Shanghai Food Tour with Chi Gua Va: $35
- Public Chinese Cooking Class in Shanghai : $50
- Huangpu River Evening Cruise Ticket with Dinner: $68
- Authentic Local Food Tour in Central Shanghai: $79
- Shanghai Cooking Dumpling and Taste Local Food w/Vegan Option: $87
- Late Night Food Tour in the Shanghai's French Concession: $89
- Huangpu River Crystal Princess Cruise Ticket with dinner: $92
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Shanghai $8.55David $4.37
Typical Entertainment Prices in Shanghai
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Shanghai are as follows:
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30 Minute River Cruise for Two$28
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Zoo for Two$14
Tours and Activities in Shanghai
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Shanghai are as follows:
- Shanghai French Concession Walking Tour-Tip Based: $3.57
- Shanghai Highlights Walking Tour-Tip Based: $3.57
- Shanghai City Guided Walking Tour | China's 1st and Best Rated: $5.00
- French Concession Guided Walking Tour | China's 1st & Best Rated: $5.00
- Evening Walking Tour at the Bund: $5.00
- Customized Private Tour in Shanghai The Bund Yu Garden Zhujiajiao: $5.00
- Yuyuan Garden Entrance Ticket: $9.00
- The History of the French Concession: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
- Shanghai Natural History Museum Ticket Booking: $11
- Yu/Yuyuan Garden Entry Ticket-E ticket: $13
- JinMao Tower Ticket Pass Experience: $22
- Shanghai Jinmao Tower 88th floor Sightseeing Hall Ticket: $22
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayShanghai $7.46David -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Shanghai and David, we can see that Shanghai is more expensive. And not only is David much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Shanghai is in Asia 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 Shanghai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Shanghai 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 Shanghai Expensive? and Is David Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Shanghai or David?
Shanghai has a larger population, and is about 180 times larger than the population of David. When comparing the sizes of Shanghai 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.