Which place is cheaper, Panama City or Athens?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Athens or Panama City?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Athens and Panama City. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Athens or Panama City?
Athens
Athens is the capital city of Greece and is home to a population of over 3.7 million people. It's most famous as the birthplace of Classical Greece and the history in the city is incomparable to that found anywhere. It became the national capital of the modern Greek State in the 1830s, before which it was just a small village with a very impressive history. The city was redesigned by architects and city planners and incorporated large public squares, lots of green space, and wide avenues. The city has had its ups and downs both economically and politically, but it remains a beautiful and impressive place to explore.
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 in Greece, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Greece, The Best Budget Tours to Panama, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Panama City.
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Athens Prices
Greece PricesPanama City Prices
Panama Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAthens €154Panama City €89
The average daily cost (per person) in Athens is €154, while the average daily cost in Panama City is €89. 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 Athens and Panama City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAthens €63Panama City €31
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAthens €126Panama City €62
Compare Hotels in Athens and Panama City
Looking for a hotel in Athens 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.
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: Athens Hotel Prices and Panama City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Athens €27Panama City €9.33
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Athens
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Athens:
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Airport Bus for Two€6.40
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Metro€1.50
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Metro€2.00
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Metro from Airport to City Center€8.00
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Taxi from Airport€35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Athens
Also for Athens, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer to/from Volos: $575
- Private Transfer From Athens To Meteora - Kalabaka: $293
- Private Transfer through Athens Attractions at Night: $292
- Private Transfer from Athens Airport to Epidaurus: $292
- "Quick Athens Highlights Tour: Airport or Cruise ship Transfers": $270
- Private Transfer from Athens/Piraeus to Corinth-Loutraki or vice versa: $268
- VIP Ferry Ticket From Piraeus Port To Santorini & Private Transfer Included: $267
- Athens Airport Transfer From/To Nafplio: $257
- Kyllini Port Transfer: $257
- Athens Airport Transfer Express Highlights Tour: $242
- Transfer from Athens-Pireaus-Athens Airport to Corinth-Loutraki-Agioi Theodoroi: $233
- Private Transfer from Athens to Sparta with 2h Sightseeing Stop: $222
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Panama City
Also for Panama City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Panama 2 days / 1 night : hotel, transfers and city tour: $278
- Private Transfer from Panama City or PTY Airport to Beach Resort: $220
- Panama Airport (PTY) to Decameron - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $208
- Private Transfer from Panama City Airport to Beach Resorts: $175
- San Blas Day Trip (Transfers & Lunch included): $175
- Transfer from Tocumen Airport to Colon Cruise Port: $160
- Panama Tocumen Airport(PTY) to Colón Round-Trip Private Transfer: $152
- Private Transfer from Panama Tocumen Airport (PTY) to Colón resorts: $146
- Private Transfer from Panama Airport (PTY) to Colón Resorts: $146
- Panama Tocumen Airport PTY to Decameron -Arrival Private Transfer: $104
- Panama Tocumen Airport PTY to Coronado/Gorgona - Arrival Transfer: $104
- Private Transfer Tocumen Airport - Linton Bay Marina: $90
Is it cheaper to fly into Athens or Panama City?
Prices for flights to both Panama City and Athens 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
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Food Meals for one dayAthens €64Panama City €31
Typical Food Prices in Athens
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Athens:
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Ice cream€3.00
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Souvlaki€2.20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Athens
For Athens, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hard Rock Cafe Athens with Set Lunch or Dinner: $30
- Foodies’ Favorite Food tour: $49
- Athens Food Tour (5+ Stops) - Full Meal Included by Do Eat Better: $64
- Ancient Roman and Greek Dinner With Ancient Wine Styles: $65
- Athens Street Food Tour: Explore City's Iconic Eateries: $67
- Cooking Class & Dinner at a Roof Garden in Athens: $69
- Street Food Tour - Sample the Food the Locals Love: $69
- Acropolis Food Tour with a Local Friend: $76
- Athens's original vegan food tour: $76
- Athens Street Food Tour: Taste the best street food: $79
- Athens, Greek food tour including market visit: $81
- Athens at Night Enchanting Walking Tour and Dinner Delights: $82
Typical Food Prices in Panama City
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Panama City:
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Sandwich€7.21
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 Food Tour Local Markets Immersion (Tasting tour + Lunch): $50
- Italian-Panamanian Ravioli Cooking Class + meal in Panama City: $55
- Panama City FOOD Tour: $65
- Panamanian Dinner and Folkloric Show Ticket with Pickup: $65
- 3.5 -hour Afropanamanian Cooking Experience in Panama: $70
- Street Food Tour Panama (25+ tastings) By Paradox Experience: $90
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Athens €36Panama City €57
Tours and Activities in Athens
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Athens.
- "A Must-See" Anc. Epidaurus, Mycenae & Nafplion Premium Full Day Tour By Locals: $210
- "All day tour of Athens-8h:Exploring its most popular landmarks": $254
- "Athens City Tour - 4 Hours": $166
- "Athens Highlights Tour : Acropolis, Acropolis Museum and more.": $174
- "Athens Night Experience - 4Hours": $166
- "Athens in a Day: A Full-Day Tour of the City’s Top Highlights": $254
- "Athens in a Glimpse with Cruise Port Pickup & Drop-Off": $174
- "Private City Tour of Athens": $174
- 1 Day Hymettus Athens Private Hiking Tour with Hotel Pickup: $175
- 1 Day Parnitha Athens Private Hiking Tour with Hotel Pickup: $175
- 2 Hour Express Athens City Tour (Private): $169
- 2 days Spanish guided tour in Delphi and Meteora: $292
Tours and Activities in Panama City
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Panama City.
- "Bridge of the Americas Stand-Up Paddle Private 2 hours Tour ": $100
- 2 Days Island Hopping Adventure San Blas Islands - Private Cabin: $265
- 2 Hours Private Luxury Tour in a Convertible Car in Panama City: $255
- 3 Hours Private Walking Tour in Casco Antiguo Panama City: $45
- 4-Hour Guided Tour of Panama Canal & Old Town & More: $150
- 4-hour tour in Panama: $105
- 5 Hours Private Panama City Tour: $200
- 5-Star Embera Village Tour | Waterfall, Lunch & River: $75
- 5hour tour of Panama City and Panama Canal - Shared or Private: $65
- 5hrs Panama City and Canal Tour + Amenities: $65
- 7 hour Miraflores Locks + Sloth Sancturay in Gamboa Tour: $150
- ALL INCLUSIVE San Blas Islands Day Tour on Sailboat: $240
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAthens €23Panama City €16
Sample the Local Flavors in Athens
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Athens:
- The Original Athens Pub Crawl: $11
- Greek Honey Tasting Experience at our Old Distillery: $13
- Polykala Distillery: 128 years of history & liqueur tasting.: $16
- Athens Rooftop Pub Crawl Acropolis Views and Nightclub Fun: $18
- Athens Party Pub Crawl w/ 1-hour Open Bar & VIP Nightclub Access: $21
- Athens Olive Oil and Herbs Tasting at Athens Oldest Distillery: $23
- Athens Exclusive Hellenic Wine Tasting Experience at Brettos: $37
- Athens Rooftop Pub Crawl w/ Acropolis Views & Party: $41
- Organic and Vegan Indigenous Wine Tasting Private Experience: $47
- Best rated Acropolis Wine Tasting: $57
- Noble Greeks Acropolis Wine Tasting with Private Sommelier: $70
- Athens Boutique Wine Tasting: $78
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Athens and Panama City, we can see that Athens is more expensive. And not only is Panama City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Athens 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 Athens would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Athens 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 Athens Expensive? and Is Panama City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Athens or Panama City?
Athens has a larger population, and is about 79% larger than the population of Panama City. When comparing the sizes of Athens 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.
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.