Which place is cheaper, Panama City or Dubrovnik?
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 Dubrovnik or Panama City?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Dubrovnik 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: Dubrovnik or Panama City?
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik, the "Pearl of the Adriatic", is a beautiful walled city in southern Croatia that sits on the edge of the Adriatic Sea. It's a small city, with only about 40,000 residents, but it's become one of the most significant tourist destinations in the Mediterranean. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The city was historically built on maritime trade, which is not surprising given its location near major Italian and Greek ports such as Venice, Bari, Corfu, and Trieste. It was a center of language and literature and was the home of many important poets, playwrights, painters, and scientists during the 15th and 16th centuries. Today its economy is dependent on tourism and it is one of the most popular destinations in the region. People visit the city for its impressive history, beautiful setting, great weather, and interesting architecture.
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 2-Week Tours from Split, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Croatia, The Best Budget Tours to Panama, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Panama City.
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Dubrovnik Prices
Croatia PricesPanama City Prices
Panama Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDubrovnik €158Panama City €87
The average daily cost (per person) in Dubrovnik is €158, while the average daily cost in Panama City is €87. 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 Dubrovnik and Panama City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDubrovnik €65Panama City €30
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDubrovnik €130Panama City €60
Compare Hotels in Dubrovnik and Panama City
Looking for a hotel in Dubrovnik 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: Dubrovnik Hotel Prices and Panama City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dubrovnik €22Panama City €9.23
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Dubrovnik
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dubrovnik:
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Bus Around Town€1.43
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dubrovnik
Also for Dubrovnik, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Zagreb to VIP Transfer with Your Choice of Tours: $846
- Split: TO Dubrovnik Private Transfer with Stop in Ston: $467
- Budva to Dubrovnik one way transfer: $460
- Private Transfer from Mostar to Dubrovnik: $362
- Private transfer from Kotor to Dubrovnik city: $303
- Private transfer from Tivat to Dubrovnik city: $303
- Private Transfer from Dubrovnik to Trogir with 2h of Sightseeing, local driver: $298
- Dubrovnik to Split Private Transfer with 2-Hour Sightseeing: $298
- From Split: Private Transfer to Dubrovnik with Sightseeing: $298
- Transfer Dubrovnik to Split with Sightseeing in Ston Town: $293
- Private Transfer from Split to Dubrovnik: $292
- Airport Transfer Dubrovnik to Herceg Novi / Portonovi: $286
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Panama City
Also for Panama City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from PTY to Playa Blanca resorts: $225
- Private Transfer from Panama City or PTY Airport to Beach Resort: $220
- Panama Airport (PTY) to Decameron - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $212
- Private Transfer from Panama City Airport to Beach Resorts: $175
- San Blas Day Trip (Transfers & Lunch included): $175
- Transfer from Tocumen Airport to Colon Cruise Port: $160
- Panama Airport (PTY) to Playa Blanca Round-Trip Private Transfer: $160
- Panama Tocumen Airport(PTY) to Colón Round-Trip Private Transfer: $155
- Private Transfer from Panama Tocumen Airport (PTY) to Colón resorts: $149
- Transfer Hotel/Airport to Resorts in Playa - return or return: $125
- Private Transfer Tocumen Airport - Linton Bay Marina: $90
- Transfer from Tocumen Airport to Playa Blanca Hotels: $85
Is it cheaper to fly into Dubrovnik or Panama City?
Prices for flights to both Panama City and Dubrovnik 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 dayDubrovnik €75Panama City €31
Typical Food Prices in Dubrovnik
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Dubrovnik:
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Seafood Dinner (for 2)€29
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dubrovnik
For Dubrovnik, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Gastro Dinner and Cruise around Dubrovnik Old Town: $93
- Sunset Dubrovnik & Dinner At St Jacob Beach: $101
- Dubrovnik Food Tour: Local Dishes & City Stories: $118
- Taste A Full Meal Walking Food Tour by Do Eat Better: $130
- Dinner in the Sky Dubrovnik - Dine 50m Above Ground: $132
- Old Town Dubrovnik Food Tour of 8 Authentic Croatian Tastings: $142
- Dinner on Peljesac with 5-Course Signature Wine & Food: $161
- Croatian Traditional Cuisine: Peka Cooking Lesson: $161
- Dubrovnik Sunset Cruise with dinner on board: $164
- Cooking Classes Traditional Meals of Konavle region: $206
- Blue Cave, Elaphiti Islands, Wine Tasting and Cooking Experience: $261
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€7.13
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
- Panama City FOOD Tour: $65
- 3.5 -hour Afropanamanian Cooking Experience in Panama: $70
- Street Food Tour Panama City (28+ tastings) By Paradox Experience: $95
- 4h Cooking Class in 10 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $95
- Embera Village Cooking Class Experience in Chagres National Park: $125
- The Real Panamanian Private Food Tour through Panama City: $245
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dubrovnik €15Panama City €57
Typical Entertainment Prices in Dubrovnik
For Dubrovnik, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Boat to Lokrum Island (for 2)€13
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Dubrovnik City Wall Tour (for 2)€53
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Dubrovnik Cable Car (for 2)€45
Tours and Activities in Dubrovnik
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dubrovnik.
- 'Game of Thrones' Walking Tour in Dubrovnik: $85
- 2 Hours Private Dubrovnik City Walls Walking Tour: $164
- 3-Hour Dubrovnik Countryside ATV/Quad Safari Adventure Tour: $131
- 4 Hours Caves, Snorkeling and Swimming Tour in Dubrovnik: $93
- Adults Only Sunset Cruise in Dubrovnik on a 16th-Century Karaka: $61
- Adventure Dalmatia - Sunset Sea Kayaking & Snorkelling Dubrovnik: $54
- Adventure Park Cadmos Village from Dubrovnik: $214
- Ancient Old City– Finest tour of Dubrovnik: $30
- Ancient Ston Walls & Exquisite Oysters: A Half-Day Adventure: $212
- Best Dubrovnik Tour for Cruise Passengers: $77
- Best of Dubrovnik History and Game of Thrones Private Tour: $107
- Best of Montenegro PRIVATE Tour by CRUISER TAXI DUBROVNIK: $274
Tours and Activities in Panama City
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Panama City.
- #1 Walking Tour of Casco Viejo Panama with Lunch included: $70
- "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
- 2 Days 1 Night San Blas Adventure in Pamana: $260
- 3 1/2 Hour Experience of Lake Gatun in Panama: $95
- 3 Hours Private Walking Tour in Casco Antiguo Panama City: $45
- 4-hour tour in Panama: $105
- 5 Hours Private Panama City Tour: $200
- 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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDubrovnik €16Panama City €16
Sample the Local Flavors in Dubrovnik
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dubrovnik:
- Dubrovnik Sunset Tour with Wine Tasting: $42
- Panoramic Dubrovnik Tour Golden Hour Sunset and Wine Tasting: $46
- Wine Tasting in Konavle, Near Dubrovnik & Cavtat – Join Us!: $54
- Private Scenic Sunset Tour & Premium Wine Tasting Above Dubrovnik: $77
- Day Tour of Korcula Island from Dubrovnik with Wine Tasting: $82
- Ston and Korcula Island Day Trip from Dubrovnik with Wine Tasting: $82
- Konavle Valley Wine Tour from Dubrovnik -Train Ride &Wine Tasting: $95
- Sunset wine tasting in vineyard: $95
- Day trip to Korčula and Pelješac with Wine Tasting: $95
- 2-Hour Kayaking at Sunset with Wine Tasting and Appetizers: $101
- Luxury Sunset Tour with Wine Tasting: $101
- Day trip to Korčula and Pelješac with Wine Tasting from Koločep: $105
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dubrovnik and Panama City, we can see that Dubrovnik is more expensive. And not only is Panama City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dubrovnik 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 Dubrovnik would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dubrovnik 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 Dubrovnik Expensive? and Is Panama City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dubrovnik or Panama City?
Panama City has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Dubrovnik. When comparing the sizes of Dubrovnik 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.