A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Alesund vs. Panama City for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Alesund or Panama City?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Alesund or Panama City? 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: Alesund or Panama City?

Alesund

Alesund is a port town on the west coast of Norway, at the entrance to the Geirangerfjord. It could be the backdrop for a Nordic fairytale – with a modern plot twist. It's known for the art nouveau architectural style in which most of the town was rebuilt after a fire in 1904, as documented at the Jugendstilsenteret museum. And it's no coincidence that Alesund and the surrounding areas are among the most visited sites for tourists in Norway. Many use The Art Nouveau town as a starting point to explore the renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Geirangerfjord, the bird sanctuary island of Runde, or the spectacular snow-capped summits of the Hjorundfjord and the Sunnmorsalpene. There are panoramic views of Alesund's architecture, the surrounding archipelago and fjords from the Mount Aksla lookout. The town of Alesund has a beautiful setting across several islands stretching out into the Atlantic Ocean and you find unspoilt and beautiful nature the whole year round.

Panama City

Panama City is the cosmopolitan capital city of the country of Panama. With a population of almost 900,000 and almost 1.5 million in the metropolitan area, it's a very diverse city with expat residents from all over the world. You don't have to search far to find someone who speaks English, and many Panamanians are quite helpful and friendly.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Norway, The Best Contiki Tours to Norway, The Best Budget Tours to Panama, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Panama City.


Which place is cheaper, Panama City or Alesund?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Alesund Prices
    Norway Prices
    Panama City Prices
    Panama Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Alesund $142
    Panama City $101

The average daily cost (per person) in Alesund is $142, while the average daily cost in Panama City is $101. 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 Alesund and Panama City in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Alesund $61
    Panama City $35
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Alesund $122
    Panama City $70
Compare Hotels in Alesund and Panama City

Looking for a hotel in Alesund or Panama City? 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.

Hotels in Alesund


Hotels in Panama City


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: Panama City Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Alesund $30
    Panama City $11

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Alesund

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Alesund:

  • Private Transfer from Alesund City Hotels to Andalsnes Port: $206
  • Private Transfer To OR From Airport in Ålesund: $182
  • Aalesund Private Transfer from Aalesund (AES) Airport to City centre: $133
  • Aalesund Private Transfer from Aalesund city centre to Aalesund airport: $133
  • Alesund Vigra Airport (AES) to Alesund hotels-Round Trip Transfer: $100
  • Private Transfer from Alesund Port to Alesund Vigra Airport (AES): $50
  • Alesund Vigra Airport (AES) to Alesund - Arrival Private Transfer: $50

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Panama City

Also for Panama City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Transfer Airport PTY to/from Panama City: $17
  • Private Transfer to Panama City Airport (PTY): $18
  • Private One-way Airport Transfer from Tocumen Airport to Panamá: $19
  • Private One-way Airport Transfer from Panamá to Tocumen Airport: $19
  • Private Transfer from Tocumen Airport to Panama City: $19
  • VIP Transfer Panama: Playa Bonita, Panama City & Pacific Riviera: $20
  • Private transfer Panama City - Fort Amador Cruise Terminal: $20
  • Private Transfer Tocumen Airport to Panama City or Beach: $20
  • Tocumen Airport to Hotel Transfer in Panama City: $22
  • Panama Airport (PTY) to Panama city - Arrival Private Transfer: $23
  • Private Airport Transfer: $23
  • Private Transfer Tocumen Airport - Old Town(Casco Viejo): $27

Is it cheaper to fly into Alesund or Panama City?

Prices for flights to both Panama City and Alesund 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 day
    Alesund $61
    Panama City $36

Typical Food Prices in Panama City

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Panama City:


  • Sandwich
    $8.26

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Panama City

For Panama City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Panamanian Ravioli Masterclass + Dinner in Panama City center: $55
  • 3.5 -hour Afropanamanian Cooking Experience in Panama: $70
  • Panamanian Dinner and Folkloric Show - All Inclusive Experience: $70
  • E-Tickets Emotions Dinner Live Show Admission: $75
  • Street Food Tour Panama City (25+ tastings) By Paradox Experience: $95
  • 4-Hour Guided Panamanian Cooking Class and Markets Experience: $95
  • 4h Cooking Class in 10 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $95
  • Embera Village Cooking Class Experience in Chagres National Park: $125

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Alesund $19
    Panama City $66

Tours and Activities in Alesund

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Alesund are as follows:

  • Ålesund - Geiranger - Ålesund Sightseeing Roundtrip: $223
  • Ålesund Two Hour Walking City Tour: $50
  • 3 Hour Guided Food Walk Tour in Alesund, Norway: $161
  • Aksla Viewpoint and Ålesund Go Round Tour: $66
  • Alesund Shore Excursion The Ultimate Sightseeing Tour: $136
  • Alesund Walking Tour Art Nouveau and Postcard Views: $77
  • All About the Fjords in One Tour by Boat and Bus from Ålesund: $178
  • All About the Fjords in One Tour by Bus and Boat from Ålesund: $177
  • Experience Molde with Coach Travel: $149
  • Family Kayak Adventure in Hellesylt: $117
  • Fjord paddle in Hellesylt - the perfect fjord adventure: $139
  • Fjordcruise Ålesund Geirangerfjord Roundtrip: $273

Tours and Activities in Panama City

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Panama City.

  • BEC Immersive Museum: Panama Through Your Senses Admission Ticket: $15
  • Archaeological Site. Admission ticket to Panama La Vieja: $15
  • Private Historic Tour of the Old Town: $15
  • Panama Old Town Tour: Learn about our History and Culture: $22
  • Sunset Bike Tour/ Cinta Costera Casco Viejo by Paradox Experience: $22
  • Spanish Experience in Panama City: $25
  • Casco Viejo Walking Tour: History, Culture & Local Tasting: $25
  • Museum of Illusions Panama Admission Ticket: $26
  • Panama City Must-see Attractions Walking Tour with a Guide: $26
  • City Sightseeing Panama City Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $30
  • Panama City Walking Tour: Explore Top Sights & Hidden Gems: $30
  • Get to know the city on board CitySightseeing Panama (24 Hours): $30

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Alesund $14
    Panama City $18


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Alesund and Panama City, we can see that Alesund is more expensive. And not only is Panama City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Alesund is in Europe and Panama City 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 Panama City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Panama City 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 Alesund would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Alesund than you might in Panama City.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Alesund Expensive? and Is Panama City Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Alesund or Panama City?

Panama City has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Alesund. When comparing the sizes of Alesund and Panama City, 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.