A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Fort-de-France vs. Panama City for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Fort-de-France 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 Fort-de-France 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.

Where Should I go: Fort-de-France or Panama City?

Fort-de-France

As the largest city and capital of Martinique, Fort-de-France serves as the main entryway for visitors traveling to the island. It is a busy city with a significant population, which creates an atmosphere bustling with traffic amidst its historic and cultural sights.

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 Panama, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Panama City.


Which place is cheaper, Panama City or Fort-de-France?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Fort-de-France Prices
    Martinique Prices
    Panama City Prices
    Panama Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Fort-de-France 194
    Panama City 87

The average daily cost (per person) in Fort-de-France is €194, 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 Fort-de-France and Panama City in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Fort-de-France 79
    Panama City 30
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Fort-de-France 158
    Panama City 60
Compare Hotels in Fort-de-France and Panama City

Looking for a hotel in Fort-de-France 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.

Hotels in Fort-de-France


Hotels in Panama City


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: Fort-de-France Hotel Prices and Panama City Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Fort-de-France 16
    Panama City 9.20

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Fort-de-France

Also for Fort-de-France, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Martinique Airport (FDF) to Fort de France - Round-Trip Transfer: $138
  • Transfer from Fort de France Port to Martinique Airport (FDF): $76
  • Private Transfer Martinique Airport (FDF) to Fort de France Port: $76
  • Private Transfer from Fort de France Port to Fort de France: $76
  • Private Transfer from Fort de France to Fort de France Port: $76
  • Martinique Airport (FDF) to Fort de France - Arrival Transfer: $69
  • Fort de France to Martinique Airport (FDF) - Departure Transfer: $66

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Panama City

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

  • Panama 2 days / 1 night : hotel, transfers and city tour: $278
  • Transfer to Panama City, Hotel and City tour - 1 night: $266
  • Private Transfer from PTY to Playa Blanca resorts: $224
  • Private Transfer from Panama Tocumen Airport (PTY) to Playa Blanca resorts: $224
  • Panama Airport (PTY) to Decameron - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $211
  • Panama Airport (PTY) to Coronado/Gorgona - Round-Trip Transfer: $211
  • 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
  • Miraflores Visitor Center Ticket & Transfer: $155
  • Private Transfer from Panama Airport (PTY) to Colón Resorts: $148
  • Private Transfer from Panama Tocumen Airport (PTY) to Colón resorts: $148

Is it cheaper to fly into Fort-de-France or Panama City?

Prices for flights to both Panama City and Fort-de-France 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
    Fort-de-France 100
    Panama City 31

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Fort-de-France

For Fort-de-France, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Food tour in the rainforest and St Pierre - Pile et Face: $104

Typical Food Prices in Panama City

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Panama City:


  • Sandwich
    7.11

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
  • 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
  • Panama: 10-Recipe Boozy Panamanian Cooking Class + Dinner: $95
  • Folkloric Dance & Typical Dinner at Sabroso Panamá: $110

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Fort-de-France 31
    Panama City 57

Tours and Activities in Fort-de-France

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Fort-de-France.

  • Authentic Tour of Southern Martinique: $75
  • Fort-de-France Food Tasting and Cultural Walking Tour: $70
  • Fort-de-France Private 2-Hour Walking Tour: $26
  • Habitation Clement - entrance ticket: $15
  • Half-Day Nature and Panorama Tour in Martinique: $108
  • Karaib Tour: $66
  • Mangrove Guided Tour: $43
  • Martinique Shore Excursion - Authentic Tour of Southern Martinique: $75
  • Martinique Shore Excursion - Unmissable Martinique North tour: $75
  • Martinique: Coral and Turtle Coves Cruise: $84
  • Martinique: Private Tour with Local Guide: $176
  • North Caribbean Coast and Tropical Forest-Whole Day Tour: $263

Tours and Activities in Panama City

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Panama City.

  • “Bike Tour Casco Viejo and Panama City Discover the Essence: $40
  • "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 Island Hopping Adventure San Blas Islands - Private Cabin: $265
  • 2 Hours Private Luxury Tour in a Convertible Car in Panama City: $255
  • 2 Nights in San Blas - Shared Cabin + Meals + Boat Tour: $179
  • 3 Hour Airport Tour from Tocumen: $125
  • 3 Hours Private Walking Tour in Casco Antiguo Panama City: $45
  • 4-Hour Guided Tour of Panama Canal & Old Town & More: $150
  • 4-hour tour in Panama: $105
  • 5 Hours Private Panama City Tour: $200

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Fort-de-France 10
    Panama City 16

Sample the Local Flavors in Fort-de-France

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Fort-de-France:

  • Small-Group Tour: Unmissable Martinique with Rum Distillery, Ruins, and More: $75
  • North Tour: rainforest, rum distillery, black sand beach etc: $120


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Fort-de-France and Panama City, we can see that Fort-de-France is more expensive. And not only is Panama City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Fort-de-France is in Caribbean Islands 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 Fort-de-France would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Fort-de-France 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 Fort-de-France Expensive? and Is Panama City Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Fort-de-France or Panama City?

Panama City has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Fort-de-France. When comparing the sizes of Fort-de-France 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.