Which place is cheaper, David or Seoul?
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 Seoul or David?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Seoul and David can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Seoul or David?
Seoul
With a population of more than 11 million, Seoul is easily the largest city in South Korea. It is also the financial, political, and cultural capital of the country and has much to offer open minded travelers. It is often overlooked by travelers who instead head to Tokyo or Shanghai, but Seoul has a wide range of cultural experiences, food options, and historical sights. Seoul is a city of contrasts with ancient traditions, flashy technology, religious temples and a modern youth culture. It is also more affordable than many of the other Asian metropolis' to which it is often compared. If you're looking for an interesting and different experience that is a little off the tourist trail, Seoul can definitely offer that opportunity.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to South Korea, The Best Adventure Tours to South Korea, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Panama City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Panama City.
-
Seoul Prices
South Korea PricesDavid Prices
Panama Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySeoul $128David $39
The average daily cost (per person) in Seoul is $128, 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 Seoul and David in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSeoul $54David $12
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSeoul $108David $24
Compare Hotels in Seoul and David
Looking for a hotel in Seoul 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: Seoul Hotel Prices and David Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Seoul $15David $12
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Seoul
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Seoul:
-
Subway Card$3.58
-
Short Taxi Ride$5.01
-
Metro Ride$0.97
-
Seoul City Pass Plus$7.16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Seoul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Seoul:
- Night Views Tour with Guide and Transfers: $41
- From Round-Trip Transfer to Dae Jang Geum Park: $50
- Transfer Service from Gimpo Airport to Hotel City: $57
- Seoul Gimpo Airport (GMP) Transfer to Seoul/Suwon/Seongnam/Yongin: $60
- Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN) to Seoul - Arrival Private Transfer: $65
- Incheon Airport (ICN) Transfer to Seoul/Suwon/Seongnam/Yongin: $68
- Seoul to Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN) - Departure Private Transfer: $80
- Private Transfer from Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN) to Seoul hotels: $80
- Private Airport Transfer Gimpo Intl Airport (GMP) to Seoul City: $83
- Private Airport Transfer : Gimpo airport to/from Seoul (1~7pax): $89
- Private Transfer To/From Incheon Airport: $90
- Private Gimpo Airport Transfer to/from Seoul(1~7pax): $94
Is it cheaper to fly into Seoul or David?
Prices for flights to both David and Seoul 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 daySeoul $51David $17
Typical Food Prices in Seoul
Some typical examples of dining costs in Seoul are as follows:
-
Rice with Kimchi & Bacon$4.30
-
Waffle$0.72
-
Dippin' Dots$1.43
-
Chicken Fried Rice$3.94
-
Chicken Stick$1.43
-
Drinking Yoghurt & Mi Chew$1.36
-
Lunch Buffet$4.30
-
Donut$0.72
-
Mushroom Burger$3.72
-
Green Tea Ice Cream$2.36
-
Udon & Sushi$5.01
-
Fresh Burger$3.44
-
Soba Noodles Lunch$3.22
-
Bibimbap Lunch$3.58
-
Fried Rice$3.94
-
Vietnamese Dinner$6.80
-
Breakfast and Coffee for 2$6.80
-
Donut$1.79
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Seoul
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Seoul.
- Guided Street Food Tour at Namdaemun Market: $45
- Seoul Night Run for Local-Favorite Korean BBQ Dinner: $50
- [Wine & K-BBQ] A Perfect Pairing Dinner in Sinchon: $51
- Wine & K-BBQ: A Perfect Pairing Dinner: $53
- Mangwon Market Food tour By Locals; Cheap Eats to Fancy Feast: $53
- Mangwon Market Food tour By Locals;Cheap Eats to Fancy Feast: $57
- Kimchi Dishes Cooking Class with Wine Pairing: $61
- Gwangjang Market Netflix Food Tour: $64
- Namdaemun Market Food Tour: $65
- Seoul by Night: Palaces, Market & Street Food Tour (Vegan Option): $65
- Guided City Wall Sunset Hike with Korean Dinner: $67
- Cooking Class in Seoul with Korean Grandma: $68
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Seoul $26David $4.37
Typical Entertainment Prices in Seoul
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Seoul are as follows:
-
Palace Tickets$5.73
-
Movie Ticket$5.73
-
Kimchi Museum$2.15
Tours and Activities in Seoul
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Seoul are as follows:
- K-Culture Adventure in Seoul Self-Guided Walking Tour : $3.58
- Gyeongbokgung Palace Hanbok Rental Experience in Seoul: $7.00
- Seoul Changdeokgung Palace Hanbok Experience Hanboknam (내국인불가): $7.10
- Alternative A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
- Gwanghwamun Tour l 120 Minutes to Understand South Korea: $10
- [Seoul] Football Faentasium Admission Ticket (내국인 불가): $10
- Gwanghwamun Tour about Korean Society and Local Mindset: $11
- Street Hustle Adventure in Seoul: $11
- SPAREX Jjimjilbang Sauna Dongmyo branch Admission Ticket(내국인불가): $11
- Skip the Line: Figure Museum W Ticket (내국인 불가): $11
- Dynamic Maze Discount Ticket Insa-dong(내국인불가): $12
- Seoul Job Experience Theme Park Ticket for Kid (내국인 불가): $13
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one daySeoul $12David -
Sample the Local Flavors in Seoul
Also in Seoul, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl: $25
- The Seoul Pub Crawl [official]: $26
- LGBTQ+ Pub Crawl and Drag Show with Local Drag Queen: $28
- Rice Wine Tasting with Sommelier - Finest Makgeolli (& Soju): $42
- Rice Wine Tasting with Sommelier - Finest Makgeolli (& Soju): $46
- Soju Tasting at Distillery: $51
- Premium Pub Crawl with Open Bottles: $57
- Chunpoong Makgeolli Brewery Tour: $59
- Korean Craft Makgeolli Brewery Tour & Tasting Experience: $60
- Craft Makgeolli Brewery Tour & Tasting Experience: $67
- Itaewon Premium Pub Crawl with Open Bottles: $73
- Learn and Craft Makgeolli in a Traditional Brewery: $78
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Seoul and David, we can see that Seoul is more expensive. And not only is David much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Seoul 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 Seoul would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Seoul 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 Seoul Expensive? and Is David Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Seoul or David?
Seoul has a larger population, and is about 120 times larger than the population of David. When comparing the sizes of Seoul 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.