Which place is cheaper, Panama City 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 Panama City?
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 Panama City. 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 Panama City?
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.
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 Cultural Tours in Belgium, The Best Budget Tours to Belgium, The Best Budget Tours to Panama, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Panama City.
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Brussels Prices
Belgium PricesPanama City Prices
Panama Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBrussels €165Panama City €97
The average daily cost (per person) in Brussels is €165, 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 Brussels and Panama City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBrussels €73Panama City €33
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBrussels €146Panama City €66
Compare Hotels in Brussels and Panama City
Looking for a hotel in Brussels 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: Brussels Hotel Prices and Panama City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Brussels €17Panama City €10
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:
- Brussels Airport (BRU) To Amsterdam: VIP Transfer: $487
- Private Transfer from Brussels to Luxembourg By Luxury car: $422
- Private Transfer from Brussels to Dusseldorf By Luxury car: $390
- Private Transfer from Brussels to Luxembourg with Luxury car: $279
- Private Transfer from Brussels Airport or city to Rotterdam By Business car: $269
- VIP Transfer between Brussels Airport (BRU) and Antwerp: $243
- Private VIP Transfer to/from Bruges: $242
- Private Arrival Transfer from Brussels to Maastricht by Business car: $193
- Private Transfer from Antwerp to Brussels By luxury car: $189
- Private Transfer From Brussels To Circuit SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS Belgium Luxury car : $189
- Private Arrival Transfer from Brussels Airport to Bruges with Business car: $162
- Private Transfert from Bruges to Brussels Airport By Business car: $162
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Panama City
Also for Panama City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private round trip transfer service for layover flights : $39
- " Book your Private Transfer to Panama Airport : $30
- Airport TRANSFER 1 way Tocumen Howard BLB Albrook Rio Hato Colon: $28
- Arrival Private Transfer Panama PTY Airport to City by Luxury SUV: $84
- Arrival Private Transfer Panama PTY Airport to Panama City by SUV: $75
- Arrival Transfer Panama Tocumen Airport PTY to Panama by Sprinter: $152
- Ciudad De Panamá Private Transfer from City to Airport (PTY): $16
- Luxury SUV Private Transfer Panama City to Panama PTY Airport: $84
- PTY Airport Transfer Service To Panama City: $28
- PTY Tocumen Airport Private Transfer One Way or Round Trip!: $45
- Panama Airport (PTY) to Playa Bonita/Gamboa - Private Transfer: $38
- Panama Airport (PTY) to Playa Bonita/Gamboa - Round-Trip Transfer: $150
Is it cheaper to fly into Brussels or Panama City?
Prices for flights to both Panama City 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 €66Panama City €34
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: $28
- City Center Guided Food Tour with Tastings: $60
- Experience Authentic Belgian Cuisine: Cooking Lesson and Meal with a Ghent Local: $90
- Guided Food Tour with Full Meal and Drinks: $100
- Brussels Food Tour with Full Meal - Do Eat Better Experience: $107
- Brussels Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $128
- Secret Food Tours Brussels: $140
- The 10 Tastings of Brussels With Locals: PRIVATE Food Tour (B-Corp certified): $157
- Private Food Tour – 10 Tastings with Locals: $161
- Brussels Private Custom Food Tour with a Local Foodie : $193
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:
- Panamanian Dinner and Folkloric Show Ticket with Pickup: $60
- 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.Brussels €23Panama City €63
Tours and Activities in Brussels
Here are a few actual costs in Brussels for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Brussels in 1 Day - Walking Tour - Audioguide in 7 languages: $7.18
- Christmas Gems of Brussels - Walking Tour: $258
- 2-Hour Private Walking Tour in the templar village of Lissewege: $74
- 4 Hour Private Tour in Brussels : $269
- 600 Years of History and Heritage: A Self-Guided Walking Tour of Leuven: $9.99
- A Self-Guided Tour of From Medieval to Modern Times: $9.99
- A day in the life of Brussels - Private tour with a local: $146
- AXE THROWING & CRAFT BEER EXPERIENCE IN BRUSSELS: $26
- Belgian Beer Tour: $31
- Belgium Trappist Beer Tour: Westmalle, La Trappe, Achel: $582
- Best Intro tour of Brussels with a Local: $139
- Best of Brussels Private Tour from Cruise Port Zeebrugge: $739
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
- Panama City Must-see Attractions Walking Tour with a Guide: $25
- Panama: Highlights Bike Tour in Casco Viejo & Cinta Costera: $26
- Walking tour in Casco Viejo with locals: $27
- Best Bike tour to Old Town with locals: $27
- Half-Day Casco Viejo The Real City Guided with a Local Touch Tour: $28
- City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $30
- Transportation From Airport To Port Of Cruises In Colon: $30
- walking tour in Casco Antiguo !: $30
- Walking tour through the Hidden treasures of Casco Viejo: $30
- City Sightseeing Panama City Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBrussels €13Panama City €17
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:
- Brussels Pub Crawl - Nightlife & Party Experience: $17
- Pub Crawl and Nightlife Party Experience: $18
- BXL Pub Crawl Guided Tour: $19
- Discovery of the La Senne Brewery: $28
- Chocolate and beer tasting in a craft brewery & distillery: $70
- Beer & Chocolate Tasting in a Brewery-Distillery: $71
- micro brewery tour with beer tasting: $110
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Brussels and Panama City, we can see that Brussels is more expensive. And not only is Panama City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Brussels 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 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 Panama City.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Brussels Expensive? and Is Panama City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Brussels or Panama City?
Brussels has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Panama City. When comparing the sizes of Brussels 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.