Which place is cheaper, Panama City or Bergen?
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 Bergen or Panama City?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Bergen 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: Bergen or Panama City?
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway, and a major tourist destination due to its proximity and easy access to the fjords in West Norway. The nature that surrounds the city is stunning, and you can easily hop into the nearby countryside for some incredible hikes and outdoor adventures. The city itself is well known for its music and art scenes, making it a cultural haven in the country. There are many reasons to visit Bergen, not the least of which is the people that live there. Bergen is the most hilly city within Norway. It is surrounded by the Seven Mountains, which restrict development and keep the city contained. Situated in the far west of Norway, Bergen can be reached by a very scenic seven hour train ride from Oslo.
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 Norway, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Norway, The Best Budget Tours to Panama, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Panama City.
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Bergen Prices
Norway PricesPanama City Prices
Panama Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBergen $149Panama City $102
The average daily cost (per person) in Bergen is $149, while the average daily cost in Panama City is $102. 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 Bergen and Panama City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBergen $77Panama City $35
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBergen $154Panama City $70
Compare Hotels in Bergen and Panama City
Looking for a hotel in Bergen 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: Bergen Hotel Prices and Panama City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bergen $11Panama City $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bergen
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bergen:
- TRANSFER, LUXURY VAN 1-7 PAX: Bergen airport transfer: $268
- Arrival Private Transfer from Bergen Airport BGO to Bergen City by Minibus: $223
- TRANSFER, STANDARD, 1-7 PAX: Bergen airport transfer: $220
- TRANSFER, LUXURY CAR 1-3 PAX: Bergen airport transfer: $209
- TRANSFER, LUXURY VAN 1-7 PAX: Bergen city transfer: $204
- Arrival Private Transfer from Bergen Airport BGO to Bergen by luxury minivan: $172
- TRANSFER, STANDARD, 1-7 PAX: Bergen city transfer: $172
- TRANSFER, LUXURY CAR 1-3 PAX: Bergen city transfer: $163
- Departure Private Transfer from Bergen City to Bergen Airport BGO by Minivan: $160
- Arrival Private Transfer from Bergen Airport BGO to Bergen by Car: $152
- Departure Private Transfer from Bergen City to Bergen Cruise Port by luxury van: $130
- Private Airport Transfer From Bergen Airport or Hotels in Bergen: $124
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Panama City
Also for Panama City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer to Panama City Airport (PTY): $18
- Private Airport Transfer PTY to Panama City or Playa Blanca: $18
- Private One-way Airport Transfer from Panamá to Tocumen Airport: $19
- Private One-way Airport Transfer from Tocumen Airport to Panamá: $19
- Private Transfer from Tocumen Airport to Panama City: $19
- Private transfer Panama City - Fort Amador Cruise Terminal: $20
- Private Transfer Tocumen Airport to Panama City or Beach: $20
- Panama Airport (PTY) to Panama city - Arrival Private Transfer: $23
- Transfers from PTY Airport to Playa Bonita or Gamboa and Back: $27
- Private Transfer Tocumen Airport - Old Town(Casco Viejo): $27
- Panama Private Airport/Port/Hotel Transfer Service: $28
- Travel in Comfort Airport Transfer Pty: $30
Is it cheaper to fly into Bergen or Panama City?
Prices for flights to both Panama City and Bergen 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 dayBergen $60Panama City $36
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bergen
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bergen.
- Bergen Food Tour: $177
- A Taste of Bergen Food Tour with Floibanen Funicular: $225
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$8.27
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:
- 3.5 -hour Afropanamanian Cooking Experience in Panama: $70
- Panamanian Dinner and Folkloric Show - All Inclusive Experience: $70
- Panama City by Night: Rooftop Skyline, Dinner & Folklore Show: $85
- 4-Hour Guided Panamanian Cooking Class and Markets Experience: $95
- Embera Village Cooking Class Experience in Chagres National Park: $125
- The Real Panamanian Private Food Tour through Panama City: $245
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bergen $19Panama City $66
Tours and Activities in Bergen
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bergen are as follows:
- 2 Hour Private Guided Walking Tour of Bergen: $80
- 3-Hour Private Norwegian Hiking Experience with Local Guide: $161
- Audio Walking Tour in Bergen Famous Ghosts Location: $9.75
- Authentic Bergen Interactive Private Walking Tour: $263
- Bergen Audio Guided Walking Tour 3h30 and 24 Audio Comments: $6.75
- Bergen E Bike Tour Explore Cobblestone Streets and Local Culture: $79
- Bergen Fjord City Sightseeing Cruise: $46
- Bergen Fjord Cruise to Mostraumen Guided City Walk: $199
- Bergen Haakons Hall and Bryggens Museum Small Group Indoor Tour: $284
- Bergen Half day fjord cruise to Mostraumen: $95
- Bergen Mostraumen Fjord Cruise with Live Guide: $75
- Bergen Outdoor Escape Game: Self-Guided City Adventure: $23
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
- Private Historic Tour of the Old Town: $15
- Panama Chocolate Factory Experience and Tasting: $19
- Sunset Bike Tour/ Cinta Costera Casco Viejo by Paradox Experience: $22
- Casco Viejo a Panama's Hidden Treasures Walking Tour: $24
- Spanish Experience in Panama City: $25
- Panama City Must-see Attractions Walking Tour with a Guide: $26
- Rum & Chocolate Pairing: The Casa Baru Experience Casco Viejo: $28
- Monkey and Sloth Jungle Habitat Panama Tour: $30
- City Sightseeing Panama City Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $30
- Panama City : Custom Walking Tour with A Guide (Private Tour): $34
- Panama Viejo UNESCO Ruins Tour | The Original Panama City: $35
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBergen $7.81Panama City $18
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bergen and Panama City, we can see that Bergen is more expensive. And not only is Panama City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bergen 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 Bergen would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bergen 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 Bergen Expensive? and Is Panama City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bergen or Panama City?
Panama City has a larger population, and is about 91% larger than the population of Bergen. When comparing the sizes of Bergen 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.