Which place is cheaper, Panama City or Darwin?
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 Darwin or Panama City?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Darwin 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: Darwin or Panama City?
Darwin
Darwin is a tropical city set against the Timor Sea in north central Australia. It is also the capital city of the Northern Territory. Despite being a relatively small city, Darwin is very diverse with residents from all over the world. The city itself has a very relaxed vibe with plenty to do. Visitors can enjoy everything from traditionally Asian style markets to culturally diverse events such as concerts, festivals or art shows.
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 Luxury Tours to Australia, The Best Adventure Tours to Australia, The Best Budget Tours to Panama, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Panama City.
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Darwin Prices
Australia PricesPanama City Prices
Panama Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDarwin $151Panama City $101
The average daily cost (per person) in Darwin is $151, 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 Darwin and Panama City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDarwin $68Panama City $35
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDarwin $136Panama City $70
Compare Hotels in Darwin and Panama City
Looking for a hotel in Darwin 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: Darwin Hotel Prices and Panama City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Darwin $13Panama City $11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Darwin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Darwin:
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Shuttle to Train Station$11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Darwin
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Darwin:
- Darwin Int Airport (DRW) to Darwin - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $198
- Darwin to Darwin Int Airport (DRW) - Departure Private Transfer: $99
- Spectacular Jumping Crocodile Cruise with Darwin Transfer Bus: $87
- Private Transfer from Darwin Cruise Port to Darwin Airport (DRW): $85
- Private Transfer from Darwin Airport (DRW) to Darwin Cruise Port: $85
- Private Transfer from Darwin Cruise Port to Darwin city hotels: $85
- Crocodile Jumping Boat Cruise with Transfer from Darwin: $85
- DRW Airport to Darwin City Centre Private Transfer: $47
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Panama City
Also for Panama City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfers to Riu Playa Blanca, The Buenaventura Golf, Rio hato: $8.00
- Private Departure Transfer to Panama City Airport (PTY): $13
- Private transfer from airport to hotels in Panama City: $15
- Private Transfer from Panama City Airport (PTY): $15
- Private Transfer Airport PTY to/from Panama City: $17
- Private Transfer from Tocumen Airport to Panama City: $19
- Private One-way Airport Transfer from Tocumen Airport to Panamá: $19
- Private One-way Airport Transfer from Panamá to Tocumen Airport: $19
- Private transfer Panama City - Fort Amador Cruise Terminal: $20
- Transfer to or from the airport / Min 2 pax: $20
- Private Transfer Tocumen Airport to Panama City or Beach: $20
- Panama: Private Transfer from Tocumen Airport: $23
Is it cheaper to fly into Darwin or Panama City?
Prices for flights to both Panama City and Darwin 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 dayDarwin $70Panama City $36
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Darwin
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Darwin.
- Sunset Harbour Cruise with Fish and Chips Dinner: $72
- Darwin Harbor Sunset Cruise with Buffet Dinner: $96
- Charles Darwin Dinner Cruise: $111
- Cape Adieu Sunset Cruise with 4-Course Dinner: $112
- Signature four course Sunset Dinner Cruise: $112
- Waterfront Seafood Dinner with Wine for Two: $132
- Sunset 3-Hour Cruise from Darwin with Dinner and Sparkling Wine: $135
- Cape Adieu Darwin Sunset Dinner Cruise: $135
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
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 Food Tour Local Markets Immersion (Tasting tour + Lunch): $50
- Unique Ravioli Fusion Cooking Class with lunch in Panama City: $55
- Panama Evening Food Tour: $60
- Panamanian Dinner and Folkloric Show Ticket with Pickup: $65
- Panama City FOOD Tour: $65
- 3.5 -hour Afropanamanian Cooking Experience in Panama: $70
- E-Tickets Emotions Dinner Live Show Admission: $75
- Afro-Panamanian Cooking Class with Meal: $75
- Street Food Tour with 24 Tastings: $75
- Street Food Tour Panama (25+ tastings) By Paradox Experience: $90
- 4-Hour Guided Panamanian Cooking Class and Markets Experience: $95
- 4h Cooking Class in 10 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $95
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Darwin $17Panama City $66
Tours and Activities in Darwin
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Darwin are as follows:
- 1 Day Corroboree Billabong Wetland Experience including 2.5 hour cruise + lunch: $168
- 1 Hour Jumping Crocodile Cruise on the Adelaide River: $39
- Adelaide River Cruises - Jumping Crocodile Experience: $43
- Bombing of Darwin WWII Heritage Tours: $103
- Corroboree Billabong Wetland Cruises - 2 hour Sunset Cruise: $71
- Crocosaurus Cove General Admission Ticket: $26
- Darwin City Explorer Tour: $125
- Darwin Harbour Gaze and Graze Sunset Cruise: $92
- Darwin History and Wartime Experience Tour: $46
- Darwin Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour: $35
- Darwin and Crocodile Tour: $529
- Darwin to Cairns: Kakadu & Gulf Savannah 11 Day Tour: $2,314
Tours and Activities in Panama City
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Panama City.
- Archaeological Site. Admission ticket to Panama La Vieja: $15
- Spanish Experience in Panama City: $25
- Panama Casco Viejo: Walking Tour Must See Treasures!!!: $25
- Panama: Highlights Bike Tour in Casco Viejo & Cinta Costera: $26
- Panama : Must-See Sites Walking Tour With A Guide: $27
- Panama City Must-see Attractions Walking Tour with a Guide: $27
- Casco Viejo a Panama's Hidden Treasures Walking Tour: $28
- City Sightseeing Panama City Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $30
- City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $30
- Monkey and Sloth Jungle Habitat Panama Tour: $30
- Half-Day Tour to Miraflores Locks & Casco Viejo: $32
- POIN Panama City Climb Experience: $32
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDarwin $14Panama City $18
Typical Alcohol Prices in Darwin
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Darwin from other travelers:
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Evening at a Bar$17
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Glass of Wine$4.99
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Darwin and Panama City, we can see that Darwin is more expensive. And not only is Panama City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Darwin is in Pacific 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 Darwin would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Darwin 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 Darwin Expensive? and Is Panama City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Darwin or Panama City?
Panama City has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Darwin. When comparing the sizes of Darwin 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.