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

Should you visit Cesis or Panama City?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Cesis and Panama City can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Cesis or Panama City?

Cesis

Cesis is the quintessential old world town in Latvia. It is nestled among rolling hills, giving it a beautiful, fantasy world like setting. The small town is sprinkled with old castles, fortresses, and parks that you can leisurely wander through to pass the time. There's a lovely town square that is the perfect place to grab a seat on a bench and people watch. Because of the square's central location, many residents pass through it on their way to and from the market. The town is intertwined with lovely cobblestone streets that are lined with old homes, in various stages of disrepair. Cesis manages to perfectly balance a level of authentic wear and tear with a fairytale ambiance. Outside of town you'll find great hiking trails that you can use to explore the rolling hills and picturesque countryside. The small town is also conveniently located less than 100 kilometers from Riga, making it an easy trip on a bus.

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 Budget Tours to Panama, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Panama City.


Which place is cheaper, Panama City or Cesis?

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

  • Cesis Prices
    Latvia Prices
    Panama City Prices
    Panama Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Cesis €138
    Panama City €90

The average daily cost (per person) in Cesis is €138, while the average daily cost in Panama City is €90. 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 Cesis and Panama City in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cesis €47
    Panama City €31
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cesis €94
    Panama City €62
Compare Hotels in Cesis and Panama City

Looking for a hotel in Cesis 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 Cesis


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: Cesis Hotel Prices and Panama City Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cesis €30
    Panama City €9.40

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Panama City

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

  • Airport To City Hotel transfer: $50
  • Arrival Private Transfer Panama PTY Airport to Playa Bonita: $84
  • Arrival Private Transfer Panama PTY Airport to Playa Bonita: $75
  • Panama Airport (PTY) to Coronado/Gorgona - Round-Trip Transfer: $203
  • Panama Airport (PTY) to Decameron - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $203
  • Panama Airport (PTY) to Panama city - Arrival Private Transfer: $23
  • Panama Airport (PTY) to Playa Blanca Round-Trip Private Transfer: $153
  • Panama Airport (PTY) to Playa Bonita/Gamboa - Round-Trip Transfer: $64
  • Panama City Private Departure Transfer: $42
  • Panama One Way Transfer: Van from Tocumen Airport to Panama City: $83
  • Panama Private Airport/Port/Hotel Transfer Service: $28
  • Panama Tocumen Airport (PTY) to Colón - Arrival Private Transfer: $74

Is it cheaper to fly into Cesis or Panama City?

Prices for flights to both Panama City and Cesis 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
    Cesis €71
    Panama City €32
Typical Food Prices in Cesis

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cesis:


  • Lunch in town for two
    €6.67

Typical Food Prices in Panama City

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


  • Sandwich
    €7.33

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 Ravioli Masterclass + Dinner in Panama City center: $55
  • 3.5 -hour Afropanamanian Cooking Experience in Panama: $70
  • Panamanian Dinner and Folkloric Show - All Inclusive Experience: $70
  • E-Tickets Emotions Dinner Live Show Admission: $75
  • Street Food Tour Panama City (25+ tastings) By Paradox Experience: $95
  • 4-Hour Guided Panamanian Cooking Class and Markets Experience: $95
  • 4h Cooking Class in 10 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $95
  • Embera Village Cooking Class Experience in Chagres National Park: $125

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cesis €16
    Panama City €58

Tours and Activities in Panama City

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Panama City.

  • BEC Immersive Museum: Panama Through Your Senses Admission Ticket: $15
  • Archaeological Site. Admission ticket to Panama La Vieja: $15
  • Private Historic Tour of the Old Town: $15
  • Panama Old Town Tour: Learn about our History and Culture: $22
  • Sunset Bike Tour/ Cinta Costera Casco Viejo by Paradox Experience: $22
  • Spanish Experience in Panama City: $25
  • Casco Viejo Walking Tour: History, Culture & Local Tasting: $25
  • Museum of Illusions Panama Admission Ticket: $26
  • Panama City Must-see Attractions Walking Tour with a Guide: $26
  • City Sightseeing Panama City Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $30
  • Panama City Walking Tour: Explore Top Sights & Hidden Gems: $30
  • Get to know the city on board CitySightseeing Panama (24 Hours): $30

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cesis €17
    Panama City €16


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


Which is Bigger, Cesis or Panama City?

Panama City has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Cesis. When comparing the sizes of Cesis 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.