Which place is cheaper, Panama City or Florianopolis?
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 Florianopolis or Panama City?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Florianopolis 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: Florianopolis or Panama City?
Florianopolis
With a population of almost 500,000, Florianopolis is the capital city of the state of Santa Catarina in southern Brazil. The city is split between mainland Brazil and Santa Catarina Island.
Florianopolis has grown in popularity with tourists recently because of its wonderful scenery, beautiful beaches, and fascinating culture. Many Brazilians have also moved here, leaving behind the big cities of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
Florianopolis has a warm humid subtropical climate. There are summer, winter, spring and fall seasons. Frosts are rare but do occur occasionally. Highs during the warmest months are usually in the high 70s Fahrenheit. Rain is evenly distributed throughout the year and there is no distinct dry season.
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 Budget Tours to Brazil, The Best Tours for Seniors to Brazil, The Best Budget Tours to Panama, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Panama City.
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Florianopolis Prices
Brazil PricesPanama City Prices
Panama Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayFlorianopolis $77Panama City $101
The average daily cost (per person) in Florianopolis is $77, 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 Florianopolis and Panama City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFlorianopolis $26Panama City $35
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFlorianopolis $52Panama City $70
Compare Hotels in Florianopolis and Panama City
Looking for a hotel in Florianopolis 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: Florianopolis Hotel Prices and Panama City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Florianopolis $13Panama City $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Florianopolis
Also for Florianopolis, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Florianópolis Airport to Bombinhas: $115
- Private Transfer from FLN Airport to the City Balneario Camboriú: $83
- Transfer Hotels in Florianópolis/Airport - private: $70
- Florianópolis Airport Transfer anywhere on the island by Floripa Nativa: $60
- Shared transfer from Florianópolis airport to Balneário Camboriú: $56
- Private Transfer Florianópolis Airport to City Center: $32
- Hercilio Luz Airport - North Island Transfer: $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Panama City
Also for Panama City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Playa Bonita or Gamboa to PTY Airport: $35
- Transfer Tocumen International Airport - Playa Blanca, Rio Hato, Buena Ventura: $75
- Private Transfer from Tocumen Airport to Gamboa: $40
- Panama Private Airport/Port/Hotel Transfer Service: $28
Is it cheaper to fly into Florianopolis or Panama City?
Prices for flights to both Panama City and Florianopolis 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 dayFlorianopolis $37Panama City $36
Typical Food Prices in Florianopolis
For Florianopolis, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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A Quick Snack$0.43
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Florianopolis
For Florianopolis, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 4h Cooking Class in 8 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $85
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Florianopolis $26Panama City $66
Typical Entertainment Prices in Florianopolis
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Florianopolis's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Internet$0.58
Tours and Activities in Florianopolis
For Florianopolis, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Balneário Camboriú tour and cable car ride from Florianópolis: $47
- Bombinhas Beach and 4 Islands Tour: $22
- Discover Florianópolis: Full Day City Tour and Local Highlights: $32
- Florianópolis city tour (full day): $22
- Florianopolis Bike Tour: Photography, History & Street Food: $89
- Florianopolis Food Walking Tour: $99
- Florianopolis Walking Tour - History, Art and Gastronomy: $18
- Floripa City Tour by Bus - Whole Island - The Most Complete City Tour: $38
- Lagoinha do Leste Hiking and Photography Tour in Florianopolis: $70
- Mountain biking experiences in Florianópolis: $95
- Panoramic Tour to Campeche Island & Lagoon of Conception: $39
- Private Tour - Full Island - Nature, beach and sea - Ecotour: $240
Tours and Activities in Panama City
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Panama City.
- ALL INCLUSIVE San Blas Islands Day Tour on Sailboat: $240
- City Tour Panama City + Canal + Shopping: $40
- City Tour: Miraflores Locks, Casco Viejo & Amador Causeway: $90
- Ecotour and Indian Village: $150
- Embera Adventure Waterfall and Culture on the Chagres: $120
- Embera Tour + Waterfall + Traditional Lunch + Fruits + Dance&Fun: $75
- Half Day Tour, Old City and Miraflores Locks: $55
- Kayaking tour in the Chagres River: $149
- Monkey Tour Adventure with Gamboa Rainforest Nature Walk: $120
- Night Adventure at Soberania National Park: $95
- Panama Canal Boat Tour to Monkey Islands: $68
- Panama Canal and City Tour Experience: $67
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayFlorianopolis $8.62Panama City $18
Typical Alcohol Prices in Florianopolis
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Florianopolis from other travelers:
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Beer$0.58
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Florianopolis and Panama City, we can see that Panama City is more expensive. And not only is Florianopolis much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Florianopolis is in South America 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 Florianopolis would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Florianopolis 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 Florianopolis.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Florianopolis Expensive? and Is Panama City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Florianopolis or Panama City?
Florianopolis has a larger population, and is about 1% larger than the population of Panama City. When comparing the sizes of Florianopolis 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.