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

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Should you visit Flores 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 Flores 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.

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 $69. 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. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Flores and Panama City in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Flores $6.96
    Panama City $28
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Flores $14
    Panama City $56

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Flores $6.35
    Panama City $8.58

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Flores

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

  • Round-Trip Private Transfer to Tikal from Flores: $90
  • 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:

  • Transfers from Tocumen Airport to Panama City: $40
  • Transfer to Panama Canal (Miraflores Locks): $11
  • Transfer to Monkey Island and Embera Village: $130
  • Transfer to Dreams Playa Bonita: $18
  • Transfer to Carti, San Blas from Panama City: $80
  • Transfer in private vehicle from Panamá City to Panamá Tocumen Airport: $28
  • Transfer in private minivan from Panama City to Panama Tocumen Airport: $44
  • Transfer from Tocumen Airport to Playa Bonita or Gamboa: $27
  • Transfer from Tocumen Airport or Panama City to Playa Blanca: $63
  • Transfer from Tocumen Airport or Panama City to Colon Cruise Terminal: $54
  • Transfer from Playa Bonita or Gamboa to Tocumen Airport: $27
  • Transfer from Panama City to Tocumen Airport: $19

Is it cheaper to fly into Flores or Panama City?

Prices for flights to both Panama City and Flores 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
    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:


  • Sandwich
    $8.29

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 Evening Food Tour: $60
  • Food Tour - Panama Gastronomy: $102
  • Casco Antiguo Sunset Walking Tour with Dinner: $170
  • The 'Real' Panamanian Private Food Tour: $200
  • Whale Watching + Beach + Seafood Dinner - BEST VALUE IN PANAMA: $205

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Flores $16
    Panama City $53
Typical Entertainment prices in Flores

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Flores's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Tikal Entrance (for 2)
    $39
  • Map of Tikal
    $3.25

Tours and Activities in Flores

For Flores, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 2-Day Mayan Ruins Tour of Tikal and Yaxha from Flores: $302
  • Bird Observation Tour: $117
  • Bird Watch Tour in Ixpanpajul, Tikal or Taxha: $274
  • Birding Tour In Tikal: $130
  • Crater Azul, Full day Tour, From FLORES, Petén.: $171
  • Day Tour to Ixpanpajul Natural Park: $171
  • Day Tour to Petén Itzá Lake and Petencito Zoo: $123
  • Day Trip from Flores with Sunrise in Tikal and Archeology Tour: $80
  • El Mirador And Crater Azul Tour From Flores 2d / 1n: $703
  • El Mirador And Tikal Tour From Flores 2d / 1n: $670
  • El Mirador And Yaxha Tour From Flores City 2d / 1 N: $650
  • 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.

  • 2 Nights in San Blas Islands! Beach & Community Tour includes La casa de papel: $326
  • 2-day San Blas Islands in Shared Cabin with Tour, Meals and Transport Included: $209
  • 2D/1N Private Cabin (min 2 Guests) in San Blas INCLUDING Day Tour + Transport: $231
  • 5-Day Tour to Bocas del Toro from Panama City: $974
  • 5-Hour City Tour & The Panama Canal Including Ticket: $81
  • 5-Hour Tour of Panama City, Panama from Tocumen Airport: $123
  • A Volcano adventure: Hiking, Waterfall and more: $275
  • Adventure and relaxing at the Caribbean: $165
  • AfroLatino Travel - AfroPanama in Focus City Day Tour: $138
  • All Inclusive Full-Day Taboga Island Catamaran Tour from Panama City, Panama: $89
  • All inclusive San Blas 4 Islands Day Tour No hidden fees: $176
  • Amazing Bayano Cave experience: $650

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Flores $17
    Panama City $15
Typical Alcohol prices in Flores

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Flores are as follows:


  • Two Margaritas
    $2.60

Sample the Local Flavors in Panama City

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Panama City:

  • Panama Bar Crawl (private): $33

About these numbers

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.

Budget Your Trip

Budget Your Trip has average travel costs for thousands of cities around the world, all provided by other travelers. You can also register to organize your spending by category and location with graphs, maps, charts, and tables.
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Flores vs. Panama City Travel Comparison

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