Which place is cheaper, Panama City or Bonn?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Bonn or Panama City?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Bonn 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: Bonn or Panama City?
Bonn
Bonn was the capital of the Federal Republic of Germany (previously, West Germany) and it has a population of about 315,000 people. It sits on the Rhine River just twenty kilometers away from Cologne. Many people travel to Bonn for conferences and business, but Bonn also has a lot of cultural and historical sights to offer visitors. The city is also famous as the birth place of Ludwig van Beethoven. There's a strong student culture in the city as well, and it actually shares many characteristics with Italian cities because of its many cafes and restaurants which line the streets. Outdoor beer gardens are popular and Bonn is a particular good summer destination when the weather is pleasant and you can enjoy the outdoor setting. The city's location also makes it a great base for day trips to Cologne, Dusseldorf, and the Rhine and Eifel regions.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Berlin, The Best 10-Day Tours from Berlin, The Best 2-Week Tours from Panama City, and The Best Adventure Tours to Panama.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBonn €154Panama City €80
The average daily cost (per person) in Bonn is €154, while the average daily cost in Panama City is €80. 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 Bonn and Panama City in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBonn €85Panama City €33
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBonn €170Panama City €66
Compare Hotels in Bonn and Panama City
Looking for a hotel in Bonn 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: Bonn Hotel Prices and Panama City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bonn €23Panama City €9.94
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bonn
Also for Bonn, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Bonn hotels Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) - Departure Private Transfer: $55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Panama City
Also for Panama City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Embera Indian Village Tour w/ Airport Transfer: $290
- Panama Tocumen Airport (PTY): Private Transfer to Coronado: $271
- Panama Tocumen Airport (PTY): Transfer to Decameron hotels: $267
- Round trip transfer in private Car from Tocumen Airport to Playa Blanca-Farallon: $240
- Half-Day City & Canal Tour w/ Airport Transfer: $215
- Private Transfer from Panama Tocumen Airport (PTY) to Playa Blanca resorts : $206
- Transfer in private minivan from Panama Tocumen Airport to Playa Blanca-Farallon: $160
- Skip the Line: Miraflores Visitor Center Ticket with Transfer: $155
- Panama Tocumen Airport(PTY) to Colón Round-Trip Private Transfer: $142
- Round-Trip Transfer in Private Minivan from-to Tocumen Airport in Playa Bonita: $140
- Private Transfer from Panama Airport (PTY) to Colón Resorts: $137
- Private Transfer from Panama Tocumen Airport (PTY) to Colón resorts: $137
Is it cheaper to fly into Bonn or Panama City?
Prices for flights to both Panama City and Bonn 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
-
Food Meals for one dayBonn €49Panama City €19
Typical Food Prices in Panama City
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Panama City:
-
Sandwich€7.69
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:
- Panamanian Dinner and Folkloric Show Ticket with Pickup: $60
- Panama Evening Food Tour: $60
- Panama City FOOD Tour: $65
- Night Out Experience (360 Panoramic Views + Dinner Show): $80
- Panama: 10-Recipe Boozy Panamanian Cooking Class + Dinner: $85
- The 'Real' Panamanian Private Food Tour: $200
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bonn €34Panama City €61
Tours and Activities in Bonn
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Bonn.
- Autumn tours with a live guide: $20
- Bonn : Private Walking Tour With A Guide ( Private Tour ): $121
- Bonn : Private Walking Tour With A Guide ( Private Tour ): $52
- Bonn Crime-Experience: self-guided crime tour: $42
- Bonn Musikerviertel Crime Experience: self-guided crime tour: $42
- Bonn Private Walking Tour With A Professional Guide: $223
- Bonn Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.58
- Bonn Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $11
- Bonn Self Guided City Walking Tour with Audio Guide: $7.31
- Bonn Walking Tour (In the footsteps of Ludwig Van Beethoven): $323
- Bonn and Bad Godesberg hop-on hop-off tour in a double-decker bus: $22
- 1.5-Hour River Cruise on the Rhine: $20
Tours and Activities in Panama City
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Panama City.
- #1 Walking Tour in Casco Viejo, Panama Canal Museum & Lunch : $77
- "Bridge of the Americas Stand-Up Paddle Private 2 hours Tour " : $100
- 1- or 2-Night Experience in San Blas Islands: $260
- 2 Hours Private Luxury Tour in a Convertible Car in Panama City: $255
- 2 Hours Tour to Panama La Vieja for Groups: $170
- 2 Hr Express Tour for Business Travellers & Airport Layovers: $75
- 2-Day San Blas Adventure from Panama City: $270
- 3 Hour Airport Tour from Tocumen: $125
- 3 Hours Private Photo Tour in Casco Antiguo: $90
- 3-Hour Private Tour in Panama La Vieja: $45
- 4-Hour Gatun Lake Boat Tour and Jungle Wildlife: $99
- 5-Hour Tour to Miraflores Locks and Sloth Sanctuary: $140
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayBonn €23Panama City €17
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bonn and Panama City, we can see that Bonn is more expensive. And not only is Panama City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bonn 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 Bonn would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bonn 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 Bonn Expensive? and Is Panama City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bonn or Panama City?
Panama City has a larger population, and is about 30% larger than the population of Bonn. When comparing the sizes of Bonn 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.