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

Should you visit Amsterdam or Panama City?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Amsterdam or Panama City, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Amsterdam or Panama City?

Amsterdam

Amsterdam is the capital and most popular tourist destination in the Netherlands. Amsterdam is most famous for its canals that cross and weave around the city, but it also has a rich history, interesting culture, and liberal vibe that appeal to all types of travelers. The historical architecture, scenic bridges, and energetic cycling culture help this metropolitan area maintain its small town vibe, despite being the largest city in the country as well as the financial center.

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 10-Day Tours from Amsterdam, The Best 2-Week Tours from Amsterdam, The Best Budget Tours to Panama, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Panama City.


Which place is cheaper, Panama City or Amsterdam?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Amsterdam is €206, while the average daily cost in Panama City is €97. 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 Amsterdam and Panama City in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Amsterdam 102
    Panama City 33
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Amsterdam 204
    Panama City 66
Compare Hotels in Amsterdam and Panama City

Looking for a hotel in Amsterdam 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 Amsterdam


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: Amsterdam Hotel Prices and Panama City Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Amsterdam 20
    Panama City 10
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Amsterdam

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Amsterdam:


  • Ride on Tram
    3.20
  • Renting a Bike
    15
  • One Hour Canal Cruise
    10
  • Single Day Transit Pass
    2.60
  • Transit Pass to Amsterdam Airport
    3.40

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Amsterdam

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Amsterdam:

  • Private Transfer to/from Bruges: $795
  • Private Transfer to Bruges: $372
  • Private Transfer from Amsterdam to Brussels: $361
  • Rotterdam: Private transfer to/from Schiphol Airport: $300
  • Amsterdam and Rotterdam: 1-Way Private Transfer: $300
  • 1-15 persons Taxi or Bus Transfer Amsterdam Airport to Alkmaar: $299
  • Direct private transfer from Amsterdam to Vlissingen Cruise Port: $297
  • Amsterdam Layover: Walking Tour, Canal Cruise & Transfer: $294
  • 1-15 persons Taxi or Bus Transfer Amsterdam Airport to Leiden: $294
  • From Private Transfer to Efteling Theme Park: $284
  • Private transfer from Amsterdam to Kinderdijk, 2h Stop in Gouda: $283
  • Luxury Private Transfer from Schiphol Airport (AMS) to Rotterdam: $283

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Panama City

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

  • " Book your Private Transfer to Panama Airport : $30
  • Airport To City Hotel transfer: $50
  • Ciudad de Panamá Private Airport Transfer (PTY) to City: $16
  • Luxury SUV Private Transfer Panama City to Panama PTY Airport: $84
  • One Way Private transfer Panama City PTY Airport to City: $20
  • Panama City Private Arrival Transfer: $17
  • Guided Panama Canal & City Tour with Transfers: $65
  • Miraflores Visitor Center Ticket & Transfer: $155
  • One-Way or Round-Trip PTY Airport Transfer: $54
  • Shopping at Albrook Mall & Round-Trip Transfer: $36
  • Panama city to Panama Tocumen Airport (PTY)- Private Transfer: $24
  • Panama: Private Transfer from Tocumen Airport: $24

Is it cheaper to fly into Amsterdam or Panama City?

Prices for flights to both Panama City and Amsterdam 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
    Amsterdam 75
    Panama City 34
Typical Food Prices in Amsterdam

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Amsterdam:


  • Afternoon Tea
    6.00

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Amsterdam

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Amsterdam.

  • Food Tour Amsterdam: $3.16
  • Amsterdam Self-Guided Food Tour in De Pijp Neighbourhood : $9.74
  • Self-Guided Food Tour in De Jordaan Neighbourhood: $13
  • Self-Guided Food Tour in De Pijp Neighbourhood: $13
  • Pizza Cruise with Drinks: $24
  • Space Cake Cooking Class: $26
  • A'DAM Lookout Ticket and Lunch or Dinner Voucher: $26
  • Amsterdam Pizza Cruise with Unlimited Drinks: $31
  • Hard Rock Cafe Amsterdam with Set Lunch or Dinner: $32
  • Evening Canal Cruise with Pizza and Drinks: $36
  • Pizza Cruise in Amsterdam Including Drinks and Ice Cream: $39
  • Amsterdam Nightlife Ticket with A GOLD MENU Hard Rock Dinner: $41

Typical Food Prices in Panama City

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


  • Sandwich
    7.87

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:

  • Panama Evening Food Tour: $60
  • 3.5 -hour Afropanamanian Cooking Experience in Panama: $70
  • 4-Hour Guided Panamanian Cooking Class and Markets Experience: $85
  • Panama: 10-Recipe Boozy Panamanian Cooking Class + Dinner: $85
  • Embera Village Cooking Class with Gatun Lake Boat Safari: $105
  • Folkloric Dance & Typical Dinner at Sabroso Panamá: $125
  • The 'Real' Panamanian Private Food Tour: $200
  • Street Food Tour in Panama with a Local Guide: $232

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Amsterdam 37
    Panama City 63
Typical Entertainment Prices in Amsterdam

Here are a few typical costs in Amsterdam for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Two tickets to the Houseboat Museum
    6.00
  • Entry for two to the Anne Frank House
    17

Tours and Activities in Amsterdam

Here are a few actual costs in Amsterdam for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Amstagram Tour & Moco Experience: $52
  • Amsterdam (Museum Quarter) Scavenger Hunt and Self-Guided Tour: $11
  • Anne Frank Story & Neighborhood Walk Tour in Amsterdam: $45
  • Keukenhof Tulips and Zaanse Schans Windmills Private Day Tour: $289
  • "The 10 Most Polluted Masterpieces: A Sustainable Digital Tour": $11
  • 1,5 hours Amsterdam Rickshaw Tour: $158
  • 1-Hour Amsterdam Evening Canal Cruise: $18
  • 15 Minute Amsterdam Rickshaw Fun Ride Tour: $32
  • 19th Century Amsterdam Guided Private Bike Tour : $242
  • 2 Hour Private Historical Highlights Walking Tour: $84
  • 2 Hour Private Tour of Rijksmuseum: $118
  • 2 Hour Small Group Canal Cruise w/ Dutch snacks & Onboard Bar: $45

Tours and Activities in Panama City

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

  • Archaeological Site. Admission ticket to Panama La Vieja: $15
  • Guided Walking Tour in Panama City: $22
  • Bike Tour and visit to Old Town: $22
  • Panama : Must-See Sites Walking Tour With A Guide: $24
  • Best Bike tour to Old Town with locals: $27
  • Walking tour in Casco Viejo with locals: $27
  • walking tour in Casco Antiguo !: $30
  • City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $30
  • City Sightseeing Panama City Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $30
  • Panama Casco Viejo: Walking Tour Must See Treasures!!!: $31
  • Poin Glass Observation Deck Ticket with VR Tour: $32
  • POIN Swing Experience: $32

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Amsterdam 24
    Panama City 17

Sample the Local Flavors in Amsterdam

Also in Amsterdam, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Ludwig's Red Light Pub Crawl with VIP Club Entry: $18
  • Ludwig's Original Pub Crawl with VIP Club Entry: $18
  • Original Pub Crawl Party with VIP Entrance: $18
  • Amsterdam Private Self Guided Pub Crawl: $21
  • Ludwig's Queer Pub Crawl with Club Entry: $21
  • Breugem Meeting Point: Brewery tour and beer tasting: $22
  • City Center Bar Crawl and Nightlife Experience: $25
  • Red Light District Pub Crawl with Unlimited Shots: $25
  • Amsterdam Red Light District Pub Crawl: $25
  • Self-guided Red Light District Pub Crawl Mystery: $36
  • City Centre and Red Light Pub Crawl: 2 Night Pass: $36
  • Red Light District and Local Pub Tour: $38


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Amsterdam and Panama City, we can see that Amsterdam is more expensive. And not only is Panama City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Amsterdam 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 Amsterdam would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Amsterdam 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 Amsterdam Expensive? and Is Panama City Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Amsterdam or Panama City?

Amsterdam has a larger population, and is about 82% larger than the population of Panama City. When comparing the sizes of Amsterdam 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.