Which place is cheaper, David or Tokyo?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Tokyo or David?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Tokyo or David? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Tokyo or David?
Tokyo
Tokyo, the capital of Japan, is by far the most populous city in the world with a staggering 37 million people. As a worldwide hub for technology and business, it hosts millions of visitors annually. But Tokyo is not just a place for business trips. With its incredible mixture of historical temples and shrines, remarkably beautiful parks, endless shopping malls, and genuinely wonderful people, Tokyo is a terrific place to visit and to explore.
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 in Japan, The Best Bicycle Tours in Japan, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Panama, and The Best Budget Tours to Panama.
-
Tokyo Prices
Japan PricesDavid Prices
Panama Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTokyo $174David $39
The average daily cost (per person) in Tokyo is $174, 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 Tokyo and David in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTokyo $73David $12
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTokyo $146David $24
Compare Hotels in Tokyo and David
Looking for a hotel in Tokyo 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: Tokyo Hotel Prices and David Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tokyo $17David $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tokyo
Also for Tokyo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Tokyo Private Transfer From or To Haneda Airport HND: $30
- Hotel Transfer to/from Disneyland or DisneySea: $42
- Tokyo Private Transfer From or To Haneda Airport (HND): $50
- DECKS Tokyo Beach & Odaiba 1 Way Door to Door Shared Transfer: $51
- Haneda Airport: 1-Way Shared Shuttle Transfer: $54
- Private transfer from Central Tokyo to Disney Resort: $57
- Shared Arrival Transfer : Haneda Airport to Central Tokyo City: $60
- Tokyo City: One-Way Private Transfer to/from Yokohama City: $63
- Private Transfers to/from Narita Airport(NRT): $75
- Haneda Airport Private Transfer | Tokyo, Yokohama & Cruise Port: $78
- Private Transfer from Tokyo Port to Tokyo Haneda Int Airport(HND): $80
- Tokyo Private Transfer from or to Narita Airport (NRT): $82
Is it cheaper to fly into Tokyo or David?
Prices for flights to both David and Tokyo 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 dayTokyo $61David $17
Typical Food Prices in Tokyo
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Tokyo:
-
Late Night Noodles$4.96
-
Conveyor Belt Sushi Snack$4.96
-
Meal at Airport$6.47
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tokyo
For Tokyo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hide's Table A Unique Dinner Gathering Every Wednesday Night: $19
- Tokyo Tsukiji Fish Market: Traditional Culture & Street Food Tour: $19
- Tokyo : Vintage, Music & Food Tour in Shimokitazawa with a Local: $22
- Tsukiji Market Culture and Food Tour with 40-Year Resident: $25
- Shinjuku Chef‐Led Night Food Tour — What Guides Don’t Show: $28
- Shinjuku: 7-Dishes vegetarian dinner at a Japanese izakaya: $28
- Shibuya 7-Dishes vegetarian dinner at a Japanese izakaya: $28
- Asakusa: Senso-ji Sightseeing & Street Food Tour with Photos: $29
- For First Time Visitor：Tsukiji Food Tour with Tokyo Travel Advice: $32
- Ueno Private Walking Tour and Night Food Tour: $38
- Authentic Homestyle Japanese Cooking Class near Tokyo with Risa: $39
- Private Yanaka District Walking & Food Tour: $44
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tokyo $65David $4.38
Tours and Activities in Tokyo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tokyo.
- Imperial Palace or Edo Castle Time Trip Learning Walking Tour: $3.15
- Self-Guided Tour of Tokyo's Hidden Alleys: $3.48
- Tokyo Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.00
- Shinjuku Kabukicho Night Walking Tour: $6.30
- Tsukiji Market Early Morning Tour: $6.32
- Tokyo Walking Tour 2h15 and 19 audio reviews: $6.73
- Cross Roppongi Karaoke Nightclub Ticket (For Foreign): $6.76
- Tokyo Fuji Art Museum Admission Ticket + Special Exhibition (when being held): $7.59
- TOKYO Audio Guide Tour in The East Gardens of the Imperial Palace: $7.59
- Hidden Yanaka & Nezu: Authentic Old Tokyo Escape – Walking Tour: $9.49
- Tokyo / Shibuya / Yokohama Tours! Choose, Explore and Enjoy!: $10
- Shibuya drinking tour: $10
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayTokyo $31David -
Typical Alcohol Prices in Tokyo
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Tokyo:
-
Sake$3.72
Sample the Local Flavors in Tokyo
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Tokyo:
- Tokyo Pub Crawl: Unique Japanese Drinks in Shimokitazawa: $34
- Tokyo Pub Crawl: Unique Japanese Drinks in Shimokitazawa: $35
- 3 Hours Pub Crawl Welcome Guided Tour in Shibuya: $35
- 3-Hour Tokyo Pub Crawl Nightlife Welcome Guided Tour in Shibuya: $46
- Tokyo Sake Terroir Journey – Guided by Sake Brewery Professional: $89
- Mt. Fuji & Hakushu Distillery Whisky Museum Bus Tour from Tokyo: $89
- Shinjuku Bar Crawl Tour -3 Drinks & Local foods-: $101
- Shibuya Bar Crawl Tour -3 Drinks & Local Foods-: $101
- Tokyo's Oldest Sake Brewery and jump into historic town: $108
- Private Sake Tasting at 300 Years Old Sake Brewery in Tokyo: $120
- Private Shinjuku Nightlife Walking Tour & Golden-Gai Bar Crawl: $145
- Cultural Sake Brewery Private Tour & Unlimited Tasting Near Tokyo: $158
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tokyo and David, we can see that Tokyo is more expensive. And not only is David much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tokyo 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 Tokyo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tokyo 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 Tokyo Expensive? and Is David Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tokyo or David?
Tokyo has a larger population, and is about 100 times larger than the population of David. When comparing the sizes of Tokyo 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.