Which place is cheaper, Panama City or Basse-Terre?
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 Basse-Terre or Panama City?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Basse-Terre 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: Basse-Terre or Panama City?
Basse-Terre
In Guadeloupe there is Basse Terre the city and Basse-Terre the island - the city is the capital of Guadeloupe, and the island is Guadeloupe's western half of the main island. As a whole, the place is very green, featuring lush vegetation and a mountainous landscape with a sulfuric volcano.
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 2-Week Tours from Panama City, and The Best Adventure Tours to Panama.
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Basse-Terre Prices
Guadeloupe PricesPanama City Prices
Panama Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBasse-Terre €185Panama City €97
The average daily cost (per person) in Basse-Terre is €185, 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 Basse-Terre and Panama City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBasse-Terre €90Panama City €33
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBasse-Terre €180Panama City €66
Compare Hotels in Basse-Terre and Panama City
Looking for a hotel in Basse-Terre 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: Basse-Terre Hotel Prices and Panama City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Basse-Terre €8.00Panama City €10
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
- Private transfer from airport to hotels in Panama City: $15
- Ciudad De Panamá Private Transfer from City to Airport (PTY): $16
- Panama City Private Arrival Transfer: $17
- Private One-way Airport Transfer from Tocumen Airport to Panamá: $18
- Private One-way Airport Transfer from Panamá to Tocumen Airport : $18
- Private transfer Panama City - Fort Amador Cruise Terminal: $20
- Transfer Airport - City / Min 2 pax: $20
- Panama: Private Transfer from Tocumen Airport: $20
- Panama: Private transfer to Tocumen Airport: $20
- Private Transfer Tocumen Airport to Panama City or Beach: $20
- Transfer Tocumen Airport to Panama City Hotels.: $25
Is it cheaper to fly into Basse-Terre or Panama City?
Prices for flights to both Panama City and Basse-Terre 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 dayBasse-Terre €80Panama City €34
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€7.87
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
- 4-Hour Guided Panamanian Cooking Class and Markets Experience: $85
- Night Out Experience (360 Panoramic Views + Dinner Show): $85
- Panama: 10-Recipe Boozy Panamanian Cooking Class + Dinner: $85
- Folkloric Dance & Typical Dinner at Sabroso Panamá: $125
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Basse-Terre €47Panama City €63
Tours and Activities in Basse-Terre
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Basse-Terre are as follows:
- Full day tour: the best of the island w/photos drone sunset: $180
Tours and Activities in Panama City
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Panama City.
- 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
- Panama: Highlights Bike Tour in Casco Viejo & Cinta Costera: $30
- City Sightseeing Panama City Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $30
- walking tour in Casco Antiguo !: $30
- Panama Canal Zone Bike Adventure: $30
- City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $30
- Poin Glass Observation Deck Ticket with VR Tour: $32
- POIN Swing Experience: $32
- Panama City Must-see Attractions Walking Tour with a Guide: $32
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBasse-Terre €13Panama City €17
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Basse-Terre and Panama City, we can see that Basse-Terre is more expensive. And not only is Panama City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Basse-Terre is in Caribbean Islands 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 Basse-Terre would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Basse-Terre 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 Basse-Terre Expensive? and Is Panama City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Basse-Terre or Panama City?
Panama City has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Basse-Terre. When comparing the sizes of Basse-Terre 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.