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

Should you visit Bucharest 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 Bucharest 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: Bucharest or Panama City?

Bucharest

Bucharest is the capital and largest city in the country of Romania. With about 2 million residents living in the city and about 2.4 million in the surrounding urban area, it is also one of the largest cities in Southeastern Europe. As such, it is the economic, industrial and commercial center for the country. As a visitor, you will likely enter Romania by arriving in Bucharest. The city continues to grow and change, and there are ongoing infrastructure projects that continue to modernize the city. It is not uncommon to find historic churches on the same block as modern office buildings and Communist style apartment buildings. There are also many sights around town and the city continues to grow as a trendy and fascinating city.

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 Bucharest, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Romania.


Which place is cheaper, Panama City or Bucharest?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Bucharest Prices
    Romania Prices
    Panama City Prices
    Panama Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Bucharest $173
    Panama City $101

The average daily cost (per person) in Bucharest is $173, while the average daily cost in Panama City is $101. 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 Bucharest and Panama City in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Bucharest $60
    Panama City $35
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Bucharest $120
    Panama City $70
Compare Hotels in Bucharest and Panama City

Looking for a hotel in Bucharest 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 Bucharest


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: Bucharest Hotel Prices and Panama City Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Bucharest $25
    Panama City $11

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bucharest

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bucharest:

  • Bucharest to Sofia Private Transfer: $616
  • Bucharest Airport Transfer To Constanta Mamaia: $294
  • Private Transfer from Bucharest to Sofia (SOF) Airport : $286
  • Transfer From Bucharest Airport To Sofia Bulgaria: $278
  • Transfer Bucharest Airport to Brasov: $276
  • Private Airport Transfer Service: $268
  • Private Transfer from Bucarest (OTP) Airport to Brasov: $256
  • Private transfer Bucharest to Constanta Mamaia or back: $251
  • Private Transfer Bucharest Otopeni Airport (OTP) to/from Brasov: $251
  • Private transfer from Bucharest Otopeni Airport OTP to Chisinau KIV: $250
  • Private transfer Constanta to Bucharest or back: $250
  • Private Transfer Bucharest to Constanta/Mamaia or Back: $246

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Panama City

Also for Panama City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Accommodation and transfers for cruise departures from Puerto de Colón: $135
  • Airport To City Hotel transfer: $50
  • Arrival Transfer Panama Tocumen Airport PTY to Panama by Sprinter: $152
  • Ciudad de Panamá Private Airport Transfer (PTY) to City: $16
  • Panama Airport (PTY) to Panama city - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $100
  • Panama City Private Arrival Transfer: $17
  • Panama City Private Departure Transfer: $42
  • Guided Panama Canal & City Tour with Transfers: $65
  • Miraflores Visitor Center Ticket & Transfer: $155
  • One-Way or Round-Trip PTY Airport Transfer: $54
  • Shopping at Albrook Mall & Round-Trip Transfer: $36
  • Panama One Way Transfer: Van from Tocumen Airport to Panama City: $83

Is it cheaper to fly into Bucharest or Panama City?

Prices for flights to both Panama City and Bucharest 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
    Bucharest $97
    Panama City $36

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bucharest

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bucharest.

  • Dinner &tour at Museum of Communism after closing: $48
  • Unhealthy Food Tour of Bucharest – 4 hours: $66
  • 5 Premium Wine Tasting with Delightful Dinner,incl Sommelier: $71
  • Bucharest Historical Food Tour in Old Center: $78
  • Bohemian Bucharest Markets and Mahallas Traditional Food Tour: $78
  • Street Food Tour with a Local Guide: $81
  • Cooking Class traditional food: $84
  • Bucharest Evening Tour and Traditional Dinner: $91
  • Private Bucharest Food Tour with a Local Foodie: $123
  • 4-Hour Walking Food Tour in the Old Town: $194
  • Bucharest City Tour & Traditional Home-made Cooking Experience: $218

Typical Food Prices in Panama City

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


  • Sandwich
    $8.21

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
  • Panamanian Dinner and Folkloric Show Ticket with Pickup: $60
  • 3-hour Afropanamanian Cooking Experience in Panama: $70
  • 4-Hour Guided Panamanian Cooking Class and Markets Experience: $85
  • Panama: 10-Recipe Boozy Panamanian Cooking Class + Dinner: $85
  • Embera Village Cooking Class with Gatun Lake Boat Safari: $105
  • Folkloric Dance & Typical Dinner at Sabroso Panamá: $125
  • The 'Real' Panamanian Private Food Tour: $200
  • Street Food Tour in Panama with a Local Guide: $230

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Bucharest $14
    Panama City $65

Tours and Activities in Bucharest

Here are a few actual costs in Bucharest for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Transfagarasan Road & Bâlea Lake - Private Tour from Bucharest : $204
  • Transylvania Heritage Tour at Peles Bran and Cantacuzino Castles: $135
  • 1 Day 4x4 Tour in Carpathian Mountains: $166
  • 1 Day Castles Tour - Sinaia and Bran: $131
  • 1-Day Guided Tour: Bucharest-Peles, Dracula Castle & Brasov: $26
  • 10 hours Private Apiary Tour in Romania - From Bucharest: $235
  • 10h Bucharest City Tour & Snagov Monastery (Dracula's Grave): $198
  • 2 Hour Photoshoot Experience Near Bucharest Architectural Charms: $125
  • 2 Hours Private Walking Tour in Bucharest City: $71
  • 2-Day Medieval Transylvania with Brasov,Sibiu and Sighisoara Tour from Bucharest: $103
  • 2-Day Small-Group Tour to Dracula's Castle, Rasnov Fortress, Peles Castle, Sighisoara and Libearty Brown Bear Sanctuary with Overnight in Brasov: $194
  • 2-Hour Private Walking Tour in Bucharest: $21

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
  • Best Bike tour to Old Town with locals: $27
  • Walking tour in Casco Viejo with locals: $27
  • City Sightseeing Panama City Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $30
  • Get to know the city aboard CitySightseeing Panama: $30
  • Sunset Walking Tour at Casco Viejo El Chorrillo and the fish market: $30
  • City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $30
  • Poin Glass Observation Deck Ticket with VR Tour: $32
  • POIN Swing Experience: $32
  • Panama: Highlights Bike Tour in Casco Viejo & Cinta Costera: $33
  • “Bike Tour Casco Viejo and Panama City Discover the Essence: $34

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Bucharest $8.82
    Panama City $18

Sample the Local Flavors in Bucharest

Also in Bucharest, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Weekend Pub Crawl: $23
  • Romanian Wine Tasting Experience at Corks: $27
  • Bachelor Party Custom Bar Crawl: $36
  • Bucharest Guided Pub Crawl: $37
  • Bar Crawling: $42
  • Pub Crawl in the Old CIty and Rooftop Hopping in Bucharest: $45
  • Private Romanian Wine Tasting in Urlați: $49
  • Wine Tasting in Bucharest: $53
  • Private Wine Tasting Experience: $53
  • Pub Crawling in Style to the Most Fancy Bars, Drinks Incl.: $56
  • Wine Tasting in Bucharest long version: $65
  • Bucharest City Tour and Wine Tasting: $81


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bucharest and Panama City, we can see that Bucharest is more expensive. And not only is Panama City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bucharest 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 Bucharest would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bucharest 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 Bucharest Expensive? and Is Panama City Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Bucharest or Panama City?

Bucharest has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Panama City. When comparing the sizes of Bucharest 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.