A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bonn vs. Panama City for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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 Tours Under $1000 in Germany, The Best Luxury Tours to Germany, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Panama City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Panama City.


Which place is cheaper, Panama City or Bonn?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Bonn is €154, while the average daily cost in Panama City is €78. 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 person
    Bonn 85
    Panama City 32
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Bonn 170
    Panama City 64
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.

Hotels in Bonn


Hotels in Panama City


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 23
    Panama City 9.63

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: $56

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: $279
  • Panama Tocumen Airport (PTY): Transfer to Decameron hotels: $275
  • Transfer Airport or Hotel To Playa Venao Panama or vice versa: $260
  • Half-Day City & Canal Tour w/ Airport Transfer: $215
  • San Blas Day Trip (Transfers & Lunch included): $170
  • Panama Airport Transfer from Tocumen PTY to Playa Blanca: $170
  • Miraflores Visitor Center Ticket & Transfer: $155
  • Arrival Transfer Panama Tocumen Airport PTY to Panama by Sprinter: $152
  • Panama Tocumen Airport(PTY) to Colón Round-Trip Private Transfer: $147
  • Round-Trip Transfer in Private Minivan from-to Tocumen Airport in Playa Bonita: $140
  • Accommodation and transfers for cruise departures from Puerto de Colón: $135

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 day
    Bonn 49
    Panama City 19

Typical Food Prices in Panama City

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Panama City:


  • Sandwich
    7.44

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
  • Panama City FOOD Tour: $65
  • Night Out Experience (360 Panoramic Views + Dinner Show): $75
  • 4-Hour Guided Panamanian Cooking Class and Markets Experience: $85
  • 10-Recipe Boozy Panamanian Cooking Class : $85
  • Panama: 10-Recipe Boozy Panamanian Cooking Class + Dinner: $85
  • 4 hours dinner and cocktail activity in Panama: $100
  • The 'Real' Panamanian Private Food Tour: $200

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Bonn 34
    Panama City 59

Tours and Activities in Bonn

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Bonn.

  • Autumn tours with a live guide: $21
  • Bonn : Private Walking Tour With A Guide ( Private Tour ): $124
  • Bonn : Private Walking Tour With A Guide ( Private Tour ): $122
  • Bonn Exploration Game and City Tour on your Phone: $7.90
  • Bonn Private Walking Tour With A Professional Guide: $230
  • Bonn Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $5.08
  • Bonn Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $6.06
  • Bonn Self Guided City Walking Tour with Audio Guide: $7.52
  • Bonn Self Guided Historical Walking Tour: $7.90
  • Bonn Walking Tour (In the footsteps of Ludwig Van Beethoven): $332
  • Bonn private guided city tour: $477
  • 24-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus Ticket: $22

Tours and Activities in Panama City

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Panama City.

  • Canopy-ziplining Adventures in Anton Valley: $195
  • Eco Tour Boat Ride in the Panama Canal waters : $125
  • #1 Walking Tour in Casco Viejo, Panama Canal Museum & Lunch : $77
  • "Panama Tour: Canal, Old Town, Amador, and Americas Lookout": $123
  • 1- or 2-Night Experience in San Blas Islands: $260
  • 2 Hours Tour to Panama La Vieja for Groups: $170
  • 2-Day San Blas Adventure from Panama City: $270
  • 3 Hour Airport Tour from Tocumen: $125
  • 4-hour tour in Panama: $85
  • 5 hours Whale Watching Experience from Panama City: $100
  • 5hour tour of Panama City and Panama Canal - Shared or Private: $65
  • 6-Hour Panama Canal Ship Cruise: $250

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Bonn 23
    Panama City 16


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.