Which place is cheaper, Panama City or Cabarete?
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 Cabarete or Panama City?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Cabarete or Panama City, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Cabarete or Panama City?
Cabarete
Nestled on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic, Cabarete is a vibrant beach town known for its stunning coastline, world-class water sports, and lively nightlife. Originally a small fishing village, Cabarete has transformed into a hub for travelers seeking both adventure and relaxation.
Traveling to Cabarete on a budget is entirely feasible with a bit of planning. Accommodation options range from budget-friendly hostels to affordable hotels and guesthouses. Eating on a budget is easy in Cabarete, with numerous local eateries and street vendors serving delicious Dominican dishes at reasonable prices. Look for "comedores," small local restaurants where you can enjoy meals like "la bandera" (rice, beans, and meat) for under $5. Public transportation in Cabarete is both affordable and convenient. The local "guaguas" (minibuses) and "motoconchos" (motorcycle taxis) are inexpensive ways to get around.
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 Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Panama City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Panama City.
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Cabarete Prices
Dominican Republic PricesPanama City Prices
Panama Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCabarete $178Panama City $101
The average daily cost (per person) in Cabarete is $178, 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 Cabarete and Panama City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCabarete $73Panama City $35
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCabarete $146Panama City $70
Compare Hotels in Cabarete and Panama City
Looking for a hotel in Cabarete 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: Cabarete Hotel Prices and Panama City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cabarete $41Panama City $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cabarete
Also for Cabarete, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfers from Samana Airport to cabarete, sosua: $250
- Transfers from Jarabacoa to cabarete, sosua: $75
- Puerto Plata: Private Airport Transfer to/from Cabarete: $40
- Punta Cana Airport PUJ to Puerto Plata -Arrival Private Transfer: $22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Panama City
Also for Panama City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfers from PTY Airport to Playa Bonita or Gamboa and Back: $20
- Transfers: $37
- Transfer to Panama Canal (Miraflores Locks): $14
- Transfer from Playa Bonita or Gamboa to PTY Airport: $35
- Transfer from Panama City Hotel to Tocumen Airport: $23
- Transfer from Panama Airport to Colon Cruise Terminal: $110
- Transfer from PTY/Panama City to Cruise Terminal or to the Marina: $32
- Transfer from Downtown Panama City to PTY Airport: $24
- Transfer Tocumen International Airport - Playa Blanca, Rio Hato, Buena Ventura: $75
- Transfer Colon Cruise Port - Panama Airport: $45
- Terminal Transfer from Amador to Panama City : $38
- Skip the Line: Miraflores Visitor Center Ticket with Transfer: $155
Is it cheaper to fly into Cabarete or Panama City?
Prices for flights to both Panama City and Cabarete 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 dayCabarete $71Panama 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$8.24
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
- Panama City FOOD Tour: $65
- 3.5 -hour Afropanamanian Cooking Experience in Panama: $70
- E-Tickets Emotions Dinner Theater Live Show Admission: $75
- 4-Hour Guided Panamanian Cooking Class and Markets Experience: $85
- Panama: 10-Recipe Boozy Panamanian Cooking Class + Dinner: $85
- Folkloric Dance & Typical Dinner at Sabroso Panamá: $115
- The Real Panamanian Private Food Tour through Panama City: $200
- Street Food Tour in Panama with a Local Guide: $256
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cabarete $52Panama City $66
Tours and Activities in Cabarete
For Cabarete, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 27 Waterfalls Damajagua Tour from Cabarete Sosua & Puerto Plata: $79
- 4 Wheel Adventure: $124
- 4-Wheel Adventure: $102
- From Puerto Plata: Cayo Arena Catamaran Tour with Snorkeling: $227
- Full-Day Tour to Punta Rucia and Cayo Arena with Snorkeling: $89
- Monkeyland and Zipline Adventure from Puerto Plata: $90
- Private tour: Dudu cenotes + Playa Grande Beach + much more: $220
- Puerto Plata Triple Adventure: $120
- Scuba Diving tour in puerto plata Hotel/Shore: $189
- Snorkeling Tour & Sosua Beach Day: $79
- Super Buggy Tour in Puerto Plata Shore/hotel + Lunch: $169
- Two-hour adventure on a TUBING along the Yasica River.: $95
Tours and Activities in Panama City
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Panama City.
- CITY TOUR to the Old Town ,Canal and 360° view from POIN : $62
- Canopy-ziplining Adventures in Anton Valley: $195
- Gatun Lake Panamá Wildlife Adventure Guided Experience: $159
- Horseback riding Agri-Tour and adventures in Colon Private tour: $75
- PRIVATE TOUR to Old Town, Canal and Amador: $65
- Private tour of Panama City and the Panama Canal.: $57
- Street Food Panama Gastronomic Experience: $60
- #1 Panama Stayover City & Canal Tour 2 Visits 1 Fare - Fees incl.: $170
- #1 Walking Tour of Casco Viejo Panama with Lunch included : $70
- “Bike Tour Casco Viejo and Panama City Discover the Essence: $40
- "Panama Tour: Canal, Old Town, Amador, and Americas Lookout": $145
- 1- or 2-Night Experience in San Blas Islands: $260
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCabarete $17Panama City $18
Sample the Local Flavors in Panama City
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Panama City:
- Casco Antiguo Guided Bar Crawl: $65
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cabarete and Panama City, we can see that Cabarete is more expensive. And not only is Panama City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cabarete is in Caribbean Islands 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 Cabarete would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cabarete 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 Cabarete Expensive? and Is Panama City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cabarete or Panama City?
Panama City has a larger population, and is about 100 times larger than the population of Cabarete. When comparing the sizes of Cabarete 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.