Which place is cheaper, Panama City or Bangkok?
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 Bangkok or Panama City?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Bangkok and Panama City can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Bangkok or Panama City?
Bangkok
Bangkok: a name synonymous with all things exotic. The vibrant and exciting capital of Thailand is not just a hub for Southeast Asia, but also a destination into itself. Known for an active nightlife and party scene, as well as great food, historic temples, and busy markets, Bangkok offers a diversity to entertain even the most experienced travelers.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to Thailand, The Best Wildlife Tours to Thailand, The Best Budget Tours to Panama, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Panama City.
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Bangkok Prices
Thailand PricesPanama City Prices
Panama Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBangkok $102Panama City $101
The average daily cost (per person) in Bangkok is $102, 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 Bangkok and Panama City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBangkok $49Panama City $35
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBangkok $98Panama City $70
Compare Hotels in Bangkok and Panama City
Looking for a hotel in Bangkok 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: Bangkok Hotel Prices and Panama City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bangkok $6.36Panama City $11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Bangkok
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Bangkok are as follows:
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Tuk Tuk to bus station$2.43
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Skytrain Ticket$4.86
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Chao Phraya River Express Ticket$0.97
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Ferry Ride$0.79
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Taxi From Airport$7.60
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Short Taxi Ride$2.74
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Boat Taxi$1.52
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Trains to airport$4.86
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bangkok
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bangkok:
- Private Transfer from Ayutthaya to Hua Hin: $228
- Private Transfer from Suvarnabhumi (BKK) Airport to Trat: $224
- Private Transfer Bangkok and Pattaya: $215
- Private Transfer from Suvarnabhumi (BKK) Airport to Rayong: $200
- Suvarnabhumi Airport BKK to Kanchanaburi Round Trip Transfer: $196
- Private Transfer from Suvarnabhumi (BKK) Airport to Pranburi: $187
- Limousine one way transfer: BKKAirport to/from U-Tapao Airport: $185
- Limousine one way transfer: BKKAirport to/from ChaAm or Hua Hin: $185
- Private Transfer from Don Mueang (DMK) Airport to Kanchanaburi: $183
- Private Transfer from Don Mueang (DMK) Airport to Chanthaburi: $183
- Private Transfer Bangkok Airport - Koh Chang Island: $164
- Don Muang Airport Bangkok to Pattaya Round trip Transfer Service: $160
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Panama City
Also for Panama City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport TRANSFER 1 way Tocumen Howard BLB Albrook Rio Hato Colon: $28
- Airport To City Hotel transfer: $50
- Arrival Private Transfer Panama PTY Airport to Playa Bonita: $75
- Arrival Private Transfer Panama PTY Airport to Playa Bonita: $84
- PTY Tours & Airport transfers - Giants V.I.P Tours: $22
- Panama 2 days / 1 night : hotel, transfers and city tour: $278
- Panama Airport (PTY) to Decameron - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $208
- Panama Airport (PTY) to Playa Bonita/Gamboa - Private Transfer: $33
- Panama Airport (PTY) to Playa Bonita/Gamboa - Round-Trip Transfer: $65
- Panama City Private Departure Transfer: $42
- Panama One Way Transfer: Van from Tocumen Airport to Panama City: $83
- Panama Private Airport/Port/Hotel Transfer Service: $28
Is it cheaper to fly into Bangkok or Panama City?
Prices for flights to both Panama City and Bangkok 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 dayBangkok $35Panama City $36
Typical Food Prices in Bangkok
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Bangkok:
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Dinner at Hard Rock Cafe (for Two)$27
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Casual Lunch of Prawns (for Two)$6.08
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2 Rotis (Bread)$1.37
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Mango & Sticky Rice$0.91
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Lunch at KFC (for Two)$6.08
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Pad Thai$2.13
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Airport Lunch for 2$17
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Lunch for 2$23
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bangkok
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bangkok.
- Nopparat’s Traditional Thai Dinner & Dance: $25
- Meridian Sunset Cruise Dinner Buffet from Bangkok: $25
- Chao Phraya Princess Bangkok Sunset Dinner Cruise: $25
- Chao Phraya Princess Sunset and Dinner Cruise: $26
- Alangka Bangkok Sunset Dinner Cruise: $26
- Baiyoke Sky Dinner Experience with Observation Deck Access: $28
- Calypso Cabaret Show with Thai Set Dinner: $28
- Smile Riverside Cruise Luxury Buffet Dinner from Bangkok: $30
- Bangkok The Luxury White Sunset or Dinner Cruise (Asiatique Pier): $31
- Authentic Thai Cooking with the Largest market visit &TukTuk ride: $32
- Chao Phraya Cruise +Indian Buffet Dinner: $33
- Bangkok Unicorn Dinner Cruise From Iconsiam the Chao Phraya River: $33
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:
- 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.Bangkok $17Panama City $66
Typical Entertainment Prices in Bangkok
Here are a few typical costs in Bangkok for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Movie Ticket$4.86
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Grand Palace Entrance Ticket$11
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Wat Pho (Reclining Buddha) Ticket$1.52
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Dusit Zoo Entrance Fee (for Two)$6.08
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Club Cover Charge$11
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Thai Boxing Tickets (for Two)$73
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Fish Pedicure$4.56
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Wat Pho entrance ticket$3.04
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Siriraj Museum (2)$12
Tours and Activities in Bangkok
Here are a few actual costs in Bangkok for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2 Days Pattaya Sunset Boat Party Tour: $138
- 2 Hour Longtail Boat Bangkok Canal Tour: $79
- 2 Hour Muay Thai Training Experience with Fighters in Bangkok: $22
- 2-Day River Kwai Adventure with 1-Night Stay at Resotel: $239
- 2-hour SUNSET Canal Tour + FOODS Tasting with Tour Guide: $50
- 3 Hour Bus Tour in Ayutthaya Heritage and Temples: $34
- 3 Hours Heritage Ayutthaya Bus Tour to Famous Temples: $27
- 3 Hours Private Bangkok Highlights Tour by Public Transport: $87
- 3 Remarkable Temples Walking Tour in Bangkok: $61
- 4 Dishes Thai Cuisine Experience at Bang Kruai, Nonthaburi: $59
- 4 Hours Private Tour in Bangkok: $106
- 4-Hour TukTuk Street Food Guided Tour: $67
Tours and Activities in Panama City
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Panama City.
- Panama City Sunset Bike Tour (Cinta Costera & Casco Viejo): $22
- Private Historic Tour of the Old Town: $25
- Spanish Experience in Panama City: $25
- Panama City Must-see Attractions Walking Tour with a Guide: $27
- City Sightseeing Panama City Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $30
- Get to know the city on board CitySightseeing Panama (24 Hours): $30
- Panama City Walking Tour: Explore Top Sights & Hidden Gems: $30
- Monkey and Sloth Jungle Habitat Panama Tour: $30
- Panama City Private Walking Tour with a Local: $35
- Panama Viejo Ruins & Museum Tour – Guided Exploration: $35
- Craft Your Own Rum: The Casa Barú Experience Casco Viejo: $35
- Half-Day Casco Viejo The Real City Guided with a Local Touch Tour: $35
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBangkok $5.55Panama City $18
Typical Alcohol Prices in Bangkok
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Bangkok are as follows:
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Beer$1.22
Sample the Local Flavors in Bangkok
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Bangkok:
- The Original Speakeasy & Iconic Venues Pub Crawl: $30
- GoGo Bar Crawl With Party Vehicle and Party Guide: $61
- Bangkok Bar Crawl by Tuk Tuk: $67
When comparing the travel costs between Bangkok and Panama City, we can see that Bangkok is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Bangkok is in Asia and Panama City is in Central America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bangkok Expensive? and Is Panama City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bangkok or Panama City?
Bangkok has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Panama City. When comparing the sizes of Bangkok 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.