Should you visit Flores or Panama City?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Flores and Panama City can help. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Flores
The town of Flores is located in Peten, Guatemala. The main hub is located on an island on Lago Peten Itza, which is connected to the mainland by a causeway. On the other side of the causeway are the towns of Santa Elena and San Benito, however, all three are often referred to as Flores. Most people visit the area for its proximity to the ancient Mayan ruins of Tikal, though the town itself is also charming with colonial buildings and historic churches lining the cobbled streets.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Panama City or Flores?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Flores is $26, while the average daily cost in Panama City is $68. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Flores and Panama City in more detail.
Accommodation
Travelers usually pay around $14 for a double occupancy room in Flores If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $56 in Panama City For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
While meal prices in Flores can vary, the average travelers spends about $10 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Flores should cost around $4.00 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Flores is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
In Panama City travelers spend around $17 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
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Food
Meals for one day
Flores $10
Panama City $17
Typical Food prices in Panama City
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Panama City:
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:
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Panama Evening Food Tour:
$60
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Panama City Food Tour: Taste of Panama Walking Tour:
$76
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Food Tour - Panama Gastronomy:
$102
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Casco Antiguo Sunset Walking Tour with Dinner:
$170
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The 'Real' Panamanian Private Food Tour:
$200
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Whale Watching + Beach + Seafood Dinner - BEST VALUE IN PANAMA:
$205
Local Transportation
To get around in Flores, the average visitor spends $6.32 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
To get around in Panama City, the average visitor spends $8.54 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Flores
Also for Flores, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Round-Trip Private Transfer to Tikal from Flores:
$90
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Tikal National Park Tour with Guide and Transfer:
$45
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Panama City
Also for Panama City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Transfers from Tocumen Airport to Panama City:
$40
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Transfer to Panama Canal (Miraflores Locks):
$11
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Transfer to Monkey Island and Embera Village:
$130
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Transfer to Dreams Playa Bonita:
$18
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Transfer to Carti, San Blas from Panama City:
$80
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Transfer in private vehicle from Panamá City to Panamá Tocumen Airport:
$28
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Transfer in private minivan from Panama City to Panama Tocumen Airport:
$44
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Transfer from Tocumen Airport to Playa Bonita or Gamboa:
$27
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Transfer from Tocumen Airport or Panama City to Playa Blanca:
$63
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Transfer from Tocumen Airport or Panama City to Colon Cruise Terminal:
$54
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Transfer from Playa Bonita or Gamboa to Tocumen Airport:
$27
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Transfer from Panama City to Tocumen Airport:
$19
Entertainment
In Flores, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $16 per person, per day.
In Panama City, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $53 per person, per day.
Typical Entertainment prices in Flores
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Flores's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Tikal Entrance (for 2)
$39
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Map of Tikal
$3.23
Tours and Activities in Flores
For Flores, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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2-Day Mayan Ruins Tour of Tikal and Yaxha from Flores:
$302
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Bird Observation Tour:
$117
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Bird Watch Tour in Ixpanpajul, Tikal or Taxha:
$274
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Birding Tour In Tikal:
$130
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Crater Azul, Full day Tour, From FLORES, Petén.:
$171
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Day Tour to Ixpanpajul Natural Park:
$171
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Day Tour to Petén Itzá Lake and Petencito Zoo:
$123
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Day Trip from Flores with Sunrise in Tikal and Archeology Tour:
$80
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El Mirador And Crater Azul Tour From Flores 2d / 1n:
$703
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El Mirador And Tikal Tour From Flores 2d / 1n:
$670
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El Mirador And Yaxha Tour From Flores City 2d / 1 N:
$650
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El Mirador Tour By Helicopter From Flores:
$482
Tours and Activities in Panama City
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Panama City.
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2 Nights in San Blas Islands! Beach & Community Tour includes La casa de papel:
$326
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2-day San Blas Islands in Shared Cabin with Tour, Meals and Transport Included:
$209
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2D/1N Private Cabin (min 2 Guests) in San Blas INCLUDING Day Tour + Transport:
$231
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3.5-Hour Discover Panama City Tour:
$148
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5-Day Tour to Bocas del Toro from Panama City:
$974
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5-Hour City Tour & The Panama Canal Including Ticket:
$81
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5-Hour Tour of Panama City, Panama from Tocumen Airport:
$123
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6-Hour Panama Canal Ship Cruise:
$215
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A Volcano adventure: Hiking, Waterfall and more:
$275
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Adventure and relaxing at the Caribbean:
$165
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AfroLatino Travel - AfroPanama in Focus City Day Tour:
$138
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All Inclusive Full-Day Taboga Island Catamaran Tour from Panama City, Panama:
$89
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Flores spend on average $17 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Panama City, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $15.
Typical Alcohol prices in Flores
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Flores are as follows:
Sample the Local Flavors in Panama City
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Panama City:
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Panama Bar Crawl (private):
$33
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Flores and Panama City, we can see that Panama City is more expensive. And not only is Flores much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Flores would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Flores 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 Panama City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Panama City than you might in Flores.
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