Which place is cheaper, Panama City or Bali?
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 Bali or Panama City?
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 Bali and Panama City can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Bali or Panama City?
Bali
Known as the "Island of the Gods," it's not difficult to see why the Gods would want to set up shop in Bali. With a beautifully diverse landscape of hills, mountains, coastlines, beaches, vibrant rice fields and volcanic hillsides, you'll easily go into sensory overload.
Bali is home to 4 million people who all hold true to a deeply spiritual and unique culture. With champion surfing, world class resorts and challenging hiking trails, this Indonesian island accommodates travelers from every walk of life. It's often called, "paradise on earth, " and no one disagrees.
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 Indonesia, The Best G Adventures Tours to Indonesia, The Best 2-Week Tours from Panama City, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Panama.
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Bali Prices
Indonesia PricesPanama City Prices
Panama Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBali $86Panama City $101
The average daily cost (per person) in Bali is $86, 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 Bali and Panama City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBali $41Panama City $35
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBali $82Panama City $70
Compare Hotels in Bali and Panama City
Looking for a hotel in Bali 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: Bali Hotel Prices and Panama City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bali $8.83Panama City $11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Bali
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Bali:
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Motorbike Rental$3.03
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bali
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bali:
- Paragliding In Bali With Private Hotel Transfer: $140
- BALI PARAGLIDING Fly, Swing and Soaring above the sea with private transfer: $114
- Luxury Bali Private Airport Transfer Alphard: $113
- From Ijen Volcano Sunrise Hike with Transfer & All Fee: $104
- Drive Your Own Jet Ski Without Instructor With Private Transfer: $95
- Bali/Mount Agung: Sunrise Trekking Adventure With Transfers: $88
- Unforgettable Batur Volcano Hiking With Private Transfer: $85
- All-Inclusive Combo Adventure Ticket with Transfer: $81
- Nusa Penida All-Inclusive Full-Day Tour with Transfers: $79
- Bali Parasailing, Jet Ski, Banana, and Donut Boat with Transfer: $74
- Horse Riding on the Black Sand Beach and Free Hotel Transfers: $74
- Bali Water Sport : Sea Walker,Donut Boat and Banana Boat with Hotel Transfers: $72
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Panama City
Also for Panama City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Departure Transfer to Panama City Airport (PTY): $13
- Transfer to Panama Canal (Miraflores Locks): $14
- Panama Private Airport/Port/Hotel Transfer Service: $15
- Private Transfer from Panama City Airport (PTY): $16
- Private Transfer to Panama City Airport (PTY): $16
- Panama City Private Arrival Transfer: $17
- Private Transfer Airport PTY to/from Panama City: $17
- Private One-way Airport Transfer from Tocumen Airport to Panamá: $19
- Private One-way Airport Transfer from Panamá to Tocumen Airport : $19
- Transfers from PTY Airport to Playa Bonita or Gamboa and Back: $20
- Transfer Airport - City / Min 2 pax: $20
- One Way Private transfer Panama City PTY Airport to City: $20
Is it cheaper to fly into Bali or Panama City?
Prices for flights to both Panama City and Bali 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 dayBali $35Panama City $36
Typical Food Prices in Bali
Some typical examples of dining costs in Bali are as follows:
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Coffee$1.21
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Lunch for Two$13
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Bali Cafe for Two$26
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Lunch for Two$7.89
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Lunch for 2$8.74
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Dinner for 2$9.59
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bali
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bali.
- Romantic Seafood Dinner at Jimbaran Beach Bali include Sunset: $22
- The Balinesia Lu'au - 'A Kampung Bali Experience & Dinner Show': $28
- Best Romantic Seafood Dinner at Jimbaran Beach Sunset : $29
- Romantic Seafood Dinner under sunset jimbaran Beach: $30
- Private Tour Uluwatu Sunset Kecak Dance and Dinner at Jimbaran: $31
- Bali Sunset and Dinner: Uluwatu, Tanah Lot and Jimbaran: $32
- From Ubud: Authentic Cooking Class in a Local Village: $35
- Ubud: Balinese Cooking Class at an Organic Farm: $35
- Romantic Seafood Dinner at Jimbaran: $38
- Seminyak: Balinese Cooking Class & Market Tour: $45
- Padang-Padang Beach+ Uluwatu Sunset and Kecak Dance + Dinner: $49
- Private Balinese Cooking Class in a Family Home: $54
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$8.25
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:
- Causeway: Bike & Panamanian Food Tour now with Audio Guide.: $49
- Panamanian Dinner and Folkloric Show Ticket with Pickup: $60
- Panama Evening Food Tour: $60
- Panama City FOOD Tour: $65
- 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
- Folkloric Dance & Typical Dinner at Sabroso Panamá: $115
- The Real Panamanian Private Food Tour through Panama City: $200
- Street Food Tour in Panama with a Local Guide: $252
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bali $11Panama City $66
Typical Entertainment Prices in Bali
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Bali are as follows:
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Spa for Two$53
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Snorkelling Trip$12
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Cooking School$27
Tours and Activities in Bali
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bali are as follows:
- Lembongan Snorkeling Swim With Manta Rays and Island Tour: $80
- Nusa Penida Snorkeling Adventure (Private & All-Inclusive): $129
- Sightseeing to Ulundanu temple, banyumala waterfall & Tanah lot: $57
- Ubud Bali ATV Quad Bike Adventure: $45
- White Water Rafting Adventure at Telaga Waja River : $54
- 2 Days Private Tours : Watersport And Uluwatu Temple: $124
- 3-Days Lombok,Gili island Tour Hopping around departure from Bali island: $300
- 30 minutes tandem Paragliding tours in Bali with free photo/video: $185
- 5 Hours Bali Blue Lagoon Snorkeling Tour Including Tanjung Jepun: $59
- 6-Hour White Water Rafting and Kanto Lampo Waterfall Private Tour: $79
- ATV Tour Through Fun Zone and Scenic Trek: $35
- Adventure Amazing ATV Quad Bike with Waterfall include Lunch: $57
Tours and Activities in Panama City
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Panama City.
- Panama : Must-See Sites Walking Tour With A Guide: $26
- Walking tour in Casco Viejo with locals: $27
- Sunset Walking Tour at Casco Viejo El Chorrillo and the fish market: $30
- walking tour in Casco Antiguo !: $30
- City Sightseeing Panama City Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $30
- City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $30
- Get to know the city aboard CitySightseeing Panama: $30
- POIN Swing Experience: $32
- Poin Glass Observation Deck Ticket with VR Tour: $32
- Panama: Highlights Bike Tour in Casco Viejo & Cinta Costera: $33
- Walking tour through the Hidden treasures of Casco Viejo: $35
- Welcome to Private Tour with a Local: $35
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBali $3.13Panama City $18
Sample the Local Flavors in Panama City
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Panama City:
- Casco Antiguo Guided Bar Crawl: $50
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bali and Panama City, we can see that Panama City is more expensive. And not only is Bali much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bali is in Asia 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 Bali would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bali 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 Panama City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Panama City than you might in Bali.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bali Expensive? and Is Panama City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bali or Panama City?
Panama City has a larger population, and is about 1% larger than the population of Bali. When comparing the sizes of Bali 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.