Which place is cheaper, Panama City or Coimbra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Coimbra or Panama City?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Coimbra 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: Coimbra or Panama City?
Coimbra
Coimbra is located in Central Portugal in the Centro Region. It's the third largest city in the country with about 460,000 people living in the entire region. It is also where you'll find the University of Coimbra, which is one of the oldest universities in Europe and the oldest academic institution in the Portuguese speaking world. During the High Middle Ages, Coimbra served as the nation's capital and there are archaeological structures that date back to the Roman era.
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 Food and Culinary Tours in Portugal, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Portugal, The Best Budget Tours to Panama, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Panama City.
-
Coimbra Prices
Portugal PricesPanama City Prices
Panama Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCoimbra €138Panama City €89
The average daily cost (per person) in Coimbra is €138, while the average daily cost in Panama City is €89. 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 Coimbra and Panama City in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCoimbra €44Panama City €31
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCoimbra €88Panama City €62
Compare Hotels in Coimbra and Panama City
Looking for a hotel in Coimbra 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: Coimbra Hotel Prices and Panama City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Coimbra €11Panama City €9.37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Coimbra
Also for Coimbra, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private transfer from/to Fatima - Porto, Coimbra or Aveiro: $263
- Private transfer from/to Fátima - Porto, Braga or Guimarães: $204
- Private transfer to and from Lisbon Airport: $183
- Coimbra Private Transfers Multiple Destinations: $157
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Panama City
Also for Panama City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- VIP transfers from the Airport to your Hotel in Panama: $32
- VIP Private Transfer: Tocumen Airport (PTY) to Panama City Hotels: $44
- Travel in Comfort Airport Transfer Pty: $30
- Transfers to Riu Playa Blanca, The Buenaventura Golf, Rio hato: $45
- Transfers from PTY Airport to Playa Bonita or Gamboa and Back: $27
- Transfer from Tocumen Airport to Colon Cruise Port: $160
- Transfer from Playa Bonita or Gamboa to PTY Airport: $35
- Transfer from PTY/Panama City to Cruise Terminal or Back: $35
- Transfer Tocumen International Airport - Playa Blanca, Rio Hato, Buena Ventura: $75
- Transfer Panama City to Amador Cruise Port: $35
- Transfer Colon Cruise Port - Panama Airport: $90
- San Blas Day Trip (Transfers & Lunch included): $175
Is it cheaper to fly into Coimbra or Panama City?
Prices for flights to both Panama City and Coimbra 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 dayCoimbra €83Panama City €32
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Coimbra
For Coimbra, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Erotic Cabaret Show and Dinner: $64
- Bairrada Food Tour: $115
Typical Food Prices in Panama City
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Panama City:
-
Sandwich€7.24
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:
- 3.5 -hour Afropanamanian Cooking Experience in Panama: $70
- Panamanian Dinner and Folkloric Show - All Inclusive Experience: $70
- Panama City by Night: Rooftop Skyline, Dinner & Folklore Show: $85
- 4-Hour Guided Panamanian Cooking Class and Markets Experience: $95
- Embera Village Cooking Class Experience in Chagres National Park: $125
- The Real Panamanian Private Food Tour through Panama City: $245
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Coimbra €18Panama City €58
Tours and Activities in Coimbra
For Coimbra, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Academic Traditions Tour in Coimbra: $69
- An adventure through the Forest and Palace of Bussaco - Coim: $99
- An adventure through the Forest and Palace of Bussaco - Coimbra: $86
- An adventure through the Schist Villages of Lousã: $86
- Aveiro, Barra and Costa Nova | Full-day Private Tour: $221
- Bairrada Experience Full day with a local Sommelier: $206
- Best of Private Walking Tour with a Local: $29
- Buracas do Casmilo Private Hiking Tour from Coimbra: $103
- Bussaco Forest Walking Experience, half day from Coimbra: $80
- Coimbra - Condeixa: 120-minute Off-road Buggy Adventure: $303
- Coimbra - Condeixa: 240-minute Off-Road Buggy Adventure: $512
- Coimbra - Condeixa: 60-minute Off-road Buggy Adventure: $175
Tours and Activities in Panama City
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Panama City.
- "Bridge of the Americas Stand-Up Paddle Private 2 hours Tour ": $100
- 1- or 2-Night Experience in San Blas Islands: $260
- 1st Mysteries and FreeMasons Tour: $38
- 3 1/2 Hour Experience of Lake Gatun in Panama: $95
- 4-Hour Guided Tour of Panama Canal & Old Town & More: $150
- 4-hour tour in Panama: $105
- 5 Hours Private Panama City Tour: $200
- 5 hour tour in Panama City: $35
- 5-Hour Tour of Panama City, Panama from Tocumen Airport: $130
- 5-hour tour in Panama by a Local Guide: $39
- 5hour tour of Panama City and Panama Canal - Shared or Private: $65
- 5hrs Panama City and Canal Tour + Amenities: $65
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayCoimbra €12Panama City €16
Sample the Local Flavors in Coimbra
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Coimbra:
- Guided Wine Tasting with Regional Bites: $31
- Coimbra Food and Wine Tasting Private Guided Walk: $41
- Wine Tasting and Scenic Tour in Bairrada: $113
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Coimbra and Panama City, we can see that Coimbra is more expensive. And not only is Panama City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Coimbra 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 Coimbra would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Coimbra 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 Coimbra Expensive? and Is Panama City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Coimbra or Panama City?
Panama City has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Coimbra. When comparing the sizes of Coimbra 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.