Which place is cheaper, Boquete or Brussels?
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 Brussels or Boquete?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Brussels and Boquete. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Brussels or Boquete?
Brussels
Brussels is the capital of Belgium and also the sight of the headquarters of the European Union. Generally speaking, it's an expensive city that sees a good amount of travelers. It is also a highly political city that has an air of importance and power. It's an incredibly international city, with people from all over the world flocking to it due to its political, economical, and cultural significance.
Boquete
Boquete is a village located in the pacific west of Panama. This town very recently became an attractive destination for tourists and expatriates. Before the early 2000's, it was a quiet town hidden away in the mountains with very little tourism. After the development of Valle Escondido, which is a largely residential area, many North Americans flocked to this town and an expat community developed. Boquete is known for it's near perfect year round temperature of about seventy degrees Fahrenheit, beautiful untouched nature, and world renowned coffee.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Belgium, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Belgium, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Panama City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Panama City.
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Brussels Prices
Belgium PricesBoquete Prices
Panama Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBrussels €165Boquete €59
The average daily cost (per person) in Brussels is €165, while the average daily cost in Boquete is €59. 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 Brussels and Boquete in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBrussels €73Boquete €20
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBrussels €146Boquete €40
Compare Hotels in Brussels and Boquete
Looking for a hotel in Brussels or Boquete? 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: Brussels Hotel Prices and Boquete Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Brussels €17Boquete €4.58
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Brussels
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Brussels are as follows:
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Subway Pass€4.50
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Atomium train ticket (2)€8.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Brussels
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Brussels:
- BRU Airport to City Centre Private Transfer: $31
- Private Airport Transfer to the City: $58
- Brussels Private Transfer from Brussels city centre to Brussels Airport (BRU): $70
- Brussels Shuttle Transfer Mons (1 to 8 PLACES): $73
- Shuttle transfer Brussels Gare du Midi Mons (1 to 8 PLACES): $73
- Transfer Shuttle Brussels South Station Mons (1-8 SEATS): $73
- Private Departure Transfer from Brussels City to Brussels Airport by luxury car: $86
- Departure Private Transfer from Brussels to Brussels Airport BRU by Business Car: $86
- Airport Transfer: Brussels to Brussels Airport BRU by Luxury Van: $97
- Brussels Airport Transfer (BRU) to or from Brussels (Sedan): $108
- Private Transfer from/to Brussels Zaventem Airport: $113
- Private Transfers Between Brussels Airport and the City: $116
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Boquete
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Boquete:
- Private transfer from Boquete to Bocas del Toro: $200
Is it cheaper to fly into Brussels or Boquete?
Prices for flights to both Boquete and Brussels 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 dayBrussels €66Boquete €28
Typical Food Prices in Brussels
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Brussels:
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Ice Cream & Macaroons€4.60
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Dessert (Turkish Delights)€4.75
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Cheese€5.60
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Olives and Snacks€6.98
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Waffle€3.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Brussels
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Brussels.
- Hard Rock Cafe with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $33
- City Center Guided Food Tour with Tastings: $74
- Brussels Food Tour: Main Dish, Beer, Waffle & Chocolate: $93
- Brussels Food Tour with Full Meal & Drinks by Do Eat Better: $109
- Walking Food Tour with Chocolate, Beer, & Waffles: $111
- Brussels Food Tour: 10 Tastings of Waffles, Beers, Fries & More: $124
- Food Tour of 10 Tastings - Waffles, Beers & More: $147
- Brussels Private Food Tour: Waffles, Fries, Beer & Local History: $148
- Private Food Tour – 10 Tastings with Locals: $183
- Brussels Food Tour: Private & Personalized with a Local Guide: $236
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Brussels €23Boquete €15
Tours and Activities in Brussels
Here are a few actual costs in Brussels for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Tasting Tour: A Taste of Brussels - by Legends: $2.33
- The first free tour of Italians in Brussels | Since 2016: $2.73
- Gastronomic Tour: A Taste of Brussels: $3.42
- Evening Tour: The Dark Side of Brussels: $3.42
- The Most Complete Tour Of Brussels: $3.42
- Where Comics, Culture & Quirk Collide Walking Tour: $4.65
- Brussels Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $5.03
- Self Guided Podcast Tour: The Resurrection of Leuven: $5.48
- Audio Guided Walking Tour of Brussels: $5.72
- Brussels Essential : Self-Guided Tour created by local Official Guide: $6.01
- Brussels Treasure Hunt: Gold Quest Walking Adventure: $6.80
- Podcast Tour The Echoes of Congo in Brussels: $6.85
Tours and Activities in Boquete
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Boquete are as follows:
- Taste Panama Coffee Tasting Experience: $25
- Coffee Tasting Experience-Los Molinos Hotel-Panama's Top Product: $25
- Fun Adventure at Finca CreaDora Cafe and Animals and Hiking: $35
- Small, Hands-on Coffee Tour: $46
- Guided Market Tour with Sensory Coffee Tasting Boquete: $48
- Epic Cloud Forest Horseback Riding Adventure in Boquete: $55
- River Tubing - Fun and Nature Experience: $55
- Ancestral Coffee Experience in Boquete: $55
- Boquete Adventure - E-Bike Tour (2 hrs.) (2 Person Min.): $55
- Tubing Adventure on the Cochea River: $55
- Family experience in boiler Thermal wells and limestone: $65
- Private E-Bike Tour in Scenic Views & Coffee Farms: $75
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBrussels €13Boquete €3.91
Typical Alcohol Prices in Brussels
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Brussels are as follows:
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Bottle of Wine€10
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Beer€6.00
Sample the Local Flavors in Brussels
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Brussels:
- Immersive Brewery Tour with Beer Tastings - Brussels Area: $18
- Rodenbach Brewery Tour - Roeselare: $19
- Brussels Pub Crawl - Nightlife & Party Experience: $22
- Pub Crawl and Nightlife Party Experience: $23
- micro brewery & distillery tour + beer tasting: $29
- Discovery of the La Senne Brewery: $30
- Immersive Brewery Tour for 2 with Beer Flight - Brussels Area: $42
- Beer Tasting Workshop at a Brussels Microbrewery: $46
- Spirit tasting workshop at a Brussels distillery: $65
- Private tasting: Beer & Chocolate in a Micro Brewery-Distillery: $74
- Beer Pong Session at a Micro Brewery & Distillery: $74
- Beer Pong in a Micro Brewery and Distillery: $76
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Brussels and Boquete, we can see that Brussels is more expensive. And not only is Boquete much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Brussels is in Europe and Boquete 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 Boquete would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Boquete 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 Brussels would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Brussels than you might in Boquete.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Brussels Expensive? and Is Boquete Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Brussels or Boquete?
Brussels has a larger population, and is about 170 times larger than the population of Boquete. When comparing the sizes of Brussels and Boquete, 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.