Which place is cheaper, Panama City or Buzios?
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 Buzios or Panama City?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Buzios 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: Buzios or Panama City?
Buzios
Initially a fishing village, Armação dos Buzios is a small beach resort town about three hours from Rio de Janeiro by bus. Buzios is a common weekend getaway destination for Cariocas. With 23 beaches, visitors from all over come to swim, snorkel, surf and enjoy sun and sand.
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 Rio de Janeiro, The Best 3-Day Tours from Foz Do Iguacu, The Best Budget Tours to Panama, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Panama City.
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Buzios Prices
Brazil PricesPanama City Prices
Panama Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBuzios $94Panama City $101
The average daily cost (per person) in Buzios is $94, 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 Buzios and Panama City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBuzios $37Panama City $35
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBuzios $74Panama City $70
Compare Hotels in Buzios and Panama City
Looking for a hotel in Buzios 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: Panama City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Buzios $19Panama City $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Buzios
Also for Buzios, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from GIG Airport to City Buzios in Rio: $230
- Private transfer Buzios in Rio to the SDU Airport: $189
- Private Transfer from Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) to Buzios Port: $116
- Private Transfer from Buzios Port to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB): $116
- Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) to Beach Resorts - Round-Trip Transfer: $89
- Tour in Buzios City Tour, Lunch and Transfer: $60
- Beach Resorts to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) - Private Transfer: $44
- Beach Resorts to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) - Departure Transfer: $44
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Panama City
Also for Panama City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer Tocumen International Airport - Playa Blanca, Rio Hato, Buena Ventura: $75
- Private Transfer from Tocumen Airport to Gamboa: $40
- Transfer from Playa Bonita or Gamboa to PTY Airport: $35
- Panama Private Airport/Port/Hotel Transfer Service: $28
Is it cheaper to fly into Buzios or Panama City?
Prices for flights to both Panama City and Buzios 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 dayBuzios $41Panama City $36
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$8.25
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Buzios $26Panama City $66
Tours and Activities in Buzios
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Buzios.
- 3-hour Small Group Buzios Peninsula Open Air Trolley Tour: $39
- Búzios Full day: Boat and Trolley Tour with Lunch from Búzios: $105
- Búzios Full day: Boat and Trolley Tour with Lunch from Cabo Frio: $112
- Boat Tour Open Bar A Floor Arraial do Cabo: $14
- Boat Tour in Arraial do Cabo: $24
- Boat Tour in Arraial do Cabo from Buzios with Lunch: $60
- Buggy Ride in Buzios by Buziana Tour: $20
- Buggy Tour in Arraial do Cabo by Arraial Viagens: $60
- Buzios Trolley City Tour: $41
- Cabo Frio Full-Day Tour From Buzios with Lunch: $64
- Catamaran Boat Tour in Búzios: $31
- Diving Experience In Buzios: $147
Tours and Activities in Panama City
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Panama City.
- ALL INCLUSIVE San Blas Islands Day Tour on Sailboat: $240
- City Tour Panama City + Canal + Shopping: $40
- City Tour: Miraflores Locks, Casco Viejo & Amador Causeway: $90
- Ecotour and Indian Village: $150
- Embera Adventure Waterfall and Culture on the Chagres: $120
- Embera Tour + Waterfall + Traditional Lunch + Fruits + Dance&Fun: $75
- Half Day Tour, Old City and Miraflores Locks: $55
- Kayaking tour in the Chagres River: $149
- Monkey Tour Adventure with Gamboa Rainforest Nature Walk: $120
- Night Adventure at Soberania National Park: $95
- Panama Canal Boat Tour to Monkey Islands: $68
- Panama Canal and City Tour Experience: $67
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBuzios $17Panama City $18
When comparing the travel costs between Buzios and Panama City, we can see that Panama City is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Buzios is in South America and Panama City is in Central America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Buzios Expensive? and Is Panama City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Buzios or Panama City?
Panama City has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Buzios. When comparing the sizes of Buzios 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.