Is David expensive to visit?
David is a small yet captivating destination that lures visitors with differing travel styles, spending levels, and budgetary preferences. Visitors can find a range of options for accommodation from high-end luxury hotels to mid-range places to budget-friendly hostels.
While David can be quite expensive if you let it be, there are ways to lower your spending, such as looking for discounts and coupons.
On average, budget travelers spend $22 (B/.22) per day, mid-range travelers spend $39 (B/.39) per day, and luxury travelers spend around $67 (B/.67) per day. These costs are calculated from the expenses of previous travelers to David.
Within Central America, David is a very affordable destination compared to other places. It is in the top 10% of cities in Central America for its affordability. Very few cities in the region are as affordable as David.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is David Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to David?
The average David trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these David travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers. Also, you can see more details at How much does a trip to David cost?
Realistic Expectations for Your Travel Budget
To manage your travel budget, it's important to set realistic expectations. Many people think they can visit David on a cheap budget, but most don't enjoy the limitations of a tight shoestring budget. Consider how you like to travel. Do you enjoy hostels, resorts, hotels, or vacation rentals? Do you want to dine out and explore the major attractions? These decisions will determine your budget and itinerary.
What Does It Mean to Be a Budget Traveler?
You may believe you're traveling on a budget, but unless you're ready to give up some conveniences, you'll likely spend much more than the $22 daily average that backpackers get away with.
Younger budget travelers often stick to this low budget by staying in dorms, eating inexpensive meals, taking public transportation, and focusing on free activities and sights.
Fortunately, you can find plenty of hostels in David, including PaCasa Hostel, Waterfall Hostel, and Zumo Urban Hostel David. These hostels offer inexpensive dorm lodging and a lively social scene, but amenities are often minimal.
What Makes You an Average Traveler?
If you're a couple or a family traveling for fun, you'll likely want to stay in a mid-range hotel, eat at popular restaurants, and visit the major museums and attractions which have entry fees. Visitors to David typically prioritize the major attractions, museums, sights, and landmarks during their stay. Most activities cost money, after all. Therefore, it's realistic to expect your actual daily budget to be closer to $39 per person, per day.
In David, you'll find a broad range of hotels and vacation rentals. If traveling with companions, you can share accommodations with a partner, friend, or your children, helping to cut costs. Families will want to look for hotels and restaurants that are kid-friendly. Hotel Ciudad de David is a fantastic option for families, and Hotel Alcala is also a great pick. Explore more family and couple-oriented hotels in our hotel guide for David here.
Seeking a Stylish Getaway from the Daily Routine?
If you're looking for a complete getaway that features every luxury and a high level of service, plan on a cost of about $67 daily. To enjoy nicer hotels, dine at award-winning venues, indulge in extravagant experiences, and travel around the destination with taxis or private drivers, you'll need to set aside a luxury budget.
Accommodation Budget in David
David has a wide range of hotel prices. Luxury hotels come with higher price tags and better amenities, and prices are much steeper during peak season. On average, a room costs $64 in the off-season and averages $119 during peak season. Overall, you can expect prices from $44 to $174. Hostels, especially dorms, are cheaper alternatives. You can save by traveling in the low season, booking in advance, or looking for special offers.
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid in David for two people for a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $25 (B/.25). For one person sharing a room, the average price paid for a hotel room is $12 (B/.12) per night. These costs are from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in David? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
The most affordable highest rated hotels in David include:
- Hotel Ciudad de David starting at $92
- Bed and Breakfast Little Italy starting at $44
- Hotel Puerta del Sol David starting at $59
- Gran Hotel Nacional starting at $93
Choosing to travel in the shoulder or low season and avoiding will help you save on lodging costs and escape the tourist rush.
Transportation Budget in David
Calculated from travelers like you
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On average, past travelers have spent $12 (B/.12) per person, per day, on local transportation in David. The cost of a taxi ride or rideshare service (Uber/Lyft) in David is significantly more than public transportation.
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Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$12
B/.12
It's possible to fly to David from either Panama City or San Jose, Costa Rica. The bus ride from Panama City is about 7 hours and the buses usually stop in the city of Santiago on the way. It's also possible to travel to David from the Paso Canoas border with Costa Rica, as well as Boquete, and Almirante. If you're looking for a more comfortable transportation option and you have some money to spend, you can check out the Costa Rica Executive Transportation, which will offer luxury transportation between David and Costa Rica. They also provide airport transportation.
Once you're in the city, you can travel around David by bus. It's easy to pick up a bus at the terminal, as every bus route passes through there. You can catch a bus by waiting on the side of the road almost anywhere. Simply wave down the bus with the destination written on its window. If you're driving in David, make sure you proceed with caution and remain a defensive driver as traffic can be a bit crazy.
How much does it cost to go to David? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in David will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Food Budget in David
One of the biggest draws for travelers is the food, so be sure to savor the local flavors.
Calculated from travelers like you
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While restaurant and meal prices in David can vary significantly, the average cost of food in David is $17 (B/.17) per day, per person, based on the spending habits of previous travelers.
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Food2
Meals for one day
$17
B/.17
When dining out, the average daily cost for food in David is around $17 (B/.17) per person, with previous travelers spending from $8 to $30. Generally, breakfast and lunch cost less than dinner, but this will depend on the type of restaurant and what you order.
Typical meal prices in David are as follows:
- Breakfast: $2 to $5
- Lunch: $3 to $7
- Dinner: $5 to $12
- Coffee: $1
- Fast Food or Street Food: $3
There are a variety of different dining options in David. If you're looking for cheap food, head to a Chobeca's Burgers, which is basically Panama's version of McDonalds. They don't offer burgers, however, but instead you'll find Panamanian food that's worth sampling at least once. There's a Chinese restaurant in town as well so if you're looking for something different head to Restaurante Chiriqui. You'll find plenty of other options around town as well so explore and try something new with each meal.
Numerous hotels provide breakfast as part of your stay, although others may charge you extra for it. The price and quality can vary from hotel to hotel. Being informed ahead of time can assist you in determining if you need to budget extra funds. The hotel buffet might be worth your money, or perhaps a cheaper option at a nearby bakery or cafe would suffice.
Take a water bottle with you to save on drinks. It's also an environmentally friendly option.
Be sure to check which meals are part of your tour before you go. You might be responsible for some of your own food costs, which could stretch your budget further.
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.