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 Romantic Tours for Couples in Panama, and The Best Budget Tours to Panama.
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Shanghai Prices
China PricesDavid Prices
Panama Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayShanghai $139David $39
The average daily cost (per person) in Shanghai is $139, 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 $86David $12
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomShanghai $172David $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 $4.12David $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$3.82
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Two Subway Tickets$0.88
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Shanghai
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Shanghai:
- Private Transfers to/from Shanghai Pudong Airport(PVG): $16
- Pudong PVG/Hongqiao SHA Private Transfer ⇄ City Center: $16
- Yiwu Railway Station Private Departure Transfer from City Area: $18
- Private Transfer to/from Shanghai Disneyland Park: $18
- Private Transfer: Hotel to Shanghai Stadium (Football Match, League of Legends): $20
- Private Transfer to Shanghai Railway Station from City Hotels or Outskirts: $22
- Private Transfer to ERA Acrobats Show at Shanghai Circus World: $22
- Shanghai City to Shanghai Hongqiao Airport (SHA) - Departure Private Transfer: $22
- Shanghai Hongqiao Airport (SHA) to Shanghai City - Arrival Private Transfer: $22
- Shanghai Pudong and Shanghai Hongqiao Airport to Hotels Transfer: $24
- Private Transfer to Huangpu River Cruise Terminal: $24
- 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 $39David $17
Typical Food Prices in Shanghai
Some typical examples of dining costs in Shanghai are as follows:
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Dumpling Breakfast$1.47
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Desserts in Jinmao Building Observatory$21
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Ajisen Lunch for Two$7.64
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Cantelope$1.76
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Dumplings and Soup$2.20
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Duck Dinner$4.41
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Pastries$3.08
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Barbeque Dinner$9.40
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Shanghai
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Shanghai.
- Online Cooking Class General Tso's Chicken by Sunflower Li: $20
- Online Cooking Class Sesame Chicken by Sunflower Li: $20
- Shanghai Huangpu River Night Cruise with Buffet Dinner: $28
- Authentic Shanghai Food Tour with Chi Gua Va: $35
- Shanghai Jade Buddha Temple and Local Food Tour: $49
- Shanghai Breakfast Omakase A Home Cook Food Tour: $71
- Shanghai Food Tour and Alleyways to Skyline with 8 Local Eats: $71
- Small Group: Shanghai After Dark Food Tour with 9 tastings: $74
- Authentic Local Food Tour in Central Shanghai: $79
- Authentic Shanghai Food Tour by Walking or Cycling: $80
- Late Night Food Tour in the Shanghai's French Concession: $86
- Private Cooking Class: Make Your Own Dim Sum In Shanghai: $88
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Shanghai $8.96David $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$29
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Zoo for Two$15
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: $3.54
- Shanghai Evolution Free Walking Tour: $4.00
- French Concession Multicultural Walking Tour: $4.00
- Shanghai City Guided Walking Tour | China's 1st and Best Rated: $5.00
- Evening Walking Tour at the Bund: $5.00
- French Concession Guided Walking Tour | China's 1st & Best Rated: $5.00
- Journey Back to Dunhuang Experience Voucher: $5.69
- Shanghai Audio Guided Walking Tour 3h and 22 audio reviews: $6.98
- The History of the French Concession: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
- Shanghai Day Tour with English Guide – Explore Yu Garden & More: $10
- Private Shanghai Full Day Tour Yu Garden, Bund and Oriental Pearl: $10
- Shanghai Yu Garden Ticket Booking: $12
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayShanghai $7.82David -
Sample the Local Flavors in Shanghai
Also in Shanghai, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Shanghai Pub Crawl (Guided Bar Hopping) with Shots Included: $26
- Shanghai Bar Crawl Craft Beers and TCM Cocktails: $71
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.