Which place is cheaper, Panama City or Guatemala City?
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 Guatemala City or Panama City?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Guatemala City 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: Guatemala City or Panama City?
Guatemala City
Referred to by the locals as "Guate," Guatemala City is the largest and most modern city in Guatemala, as well as its capital. While the atmosphere of the place is big, dirty, and dangerous with city fumes and skyscrapers, it is the hub of the country. It is the place where travelers first step foot into Guatemala and, though it is a place of modern chaos, it does have some of the best galleries and museums as well as a selection of bars, cafes, and restaurants.
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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Guatemala, The Best Adventure Tours to Guatemala, The Best Budget Tours to Panama, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Panama City.
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Guatemala City Prices
Guatemala PricesPanama City Prices
Panama Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGuatemala City $56Panama City $101
The average daily cost (per person) in Guatemala City is $56, 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 Guatemala City and Panama City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGuatemala City $24Panama City $35
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGuatemala City $48Panama City $70
Compare Hotels in Guatemala City and Panama City
Looking for a hotel in Guatemala City 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: Guatemala City Hotel Prices and Panama City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Guatemala City $6.27Panama City $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guatemala City
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guatemala City:
- Private Transfer from Guatemala City to Panajachel or Atitlan: $254
- Private Museums Tour with Transfers: $225
- Private Transfer from Guatemala City to Puerto Quetzal Port: $203
- Private Transfer - Guatemala Airport (GUA) to Puerto Quetzal Port: $203
- Private Transfers from Guatemala city to Panajachel: $200
- Private transfer - San Pedro la Laguna to Guatemala City: $200
- Airport Transfer for Large Groups – Private Bus: $195
- Guatemala Airport (GUA) to San Felipe de Lara - Arrival Transfer: $182
- Guatemala City Airport (GUA) to Quetzaltenango-Arrival Transfer: $162
- Transfer Private Group Airport to Antigua or Viceversa: $120
- Private Transfer from Guatemala Airport GUA to Lake Atitlán: $96
- Private Transfer from Airport to Antigua: $90
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Panama City
Also for Panama City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Tocumen Airport to Panama City Hotels: $25
- Panama Private Airport/Port/Hotel Transfer Service: $28
- Transfer from Playa Bonita or Gamboa to PTY Airport: $35
- Private Transfer from Tocumen Airport to Gamboa: $40
- Private Transfer Panama City or Airport PTY to Colon Cruise Terminal: $54
- Transfer Tocumen International Airport - Playa Blanca, Rio Hato, Buena Ventura: $75
Is it cheaper to fly into Guatemala City or Panama City?
Prices for flights to both Panama City and Guatemala City 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 dayGuatemala City $27Panama City $36
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guatemala City
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guatemala City.
- Cooking Experience in Guatemala from Market to Table: $23
- Guatemala: Wine and Pizza Tasting Experience: $35
- Antigua: Authentic Guatemalan Cooking Class: $80
- Small-Group Cooking Class in Antigua from Guatemala City: $120
- Food Tour Zona 4: Dinner Date Experience: $125
- Antigua Market, Cooking Class and Choco Museum from Guatemala City: $188
- Pacaya Volcano Vistas + Enjoy Pizza Surrounded by The Volcano: $195
- Pacaya Volcano Vistas + Enjoy Pizza with Great Volcano Views: $205
- Puerto Quetzal: Private Tour Pacaya Volcano 4x4 and Pizza: $550
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$8.24
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:
- 3.5 -hour Afropanamanian Cooking Experience in Panama: $70
- 4h Cooking Class in 10 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $77
- Street Food Tour Panama City (25+ tastings) By Paradox Experience: $95
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Guatemala City $1.23Panama City $66
Tours and Activities in Guatemala City
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Guatemala City are as follows:
- 1 Day Lake Atitlan Tour from Guatemala City: $150
- 2-Day Tour: Antigua Guatemala, Lake Atitlan and Hobbitenango: $299
- 2in1 Tour: Avocado Farm + Private Tour in Antigua Guatemala: $199
- 3-Day Antigua Guatemala and Pacaya Volcano Adventure: $256
- 4-Hour Bike Tour Guatemala City: $70
- Antigua + Guatemala City Full Day Tour - History Lovers Favorite: $245
- Antigua City Tour Full Day From Guatemala City: $60
- Antigua City Tour from Guatemala City: $78
- Antigua Guatemala Full Day Tour: $85
- Antigua Guatemala Full-Day Shared City Tour: $60
- Antigua Guatemala Full-Day Tour from Guatemala City: $79
- Antigua Guatemala NIGHT Photo Tour FROM Guatemala City: $125
Tours and Activities in Panama City
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Panama City.
- City Sightseeing Panama City Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $30
- Monkey and Sloth Jungle Habitat Panama Tour: $30
- Craft Your Own Rum: The Casa Barú Experience Casco Viejo: $35
- Legends of Casco Viejo Tour: Hidden Gems with Panama Vibes Tours: $37
- Panama City Bike Tour: $40
- Tour to a waterfall and Embera village with lunch included: $40
- City Tour Panama City + Canal + Shopping: $40
- Tour Embera Indigenous Village and waterfall with lunch: $50
- Half-day Tour of Panama City and Panama Canal: $54
- Half Day Tour, Old City and Miraflores Locks: $55
- Private tour of Panama City and the Panama Canal.: $60
- Black History: Shadows & Lights- Afro Panama heritage experience: $60
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGuatemala City $6.96Panama City $18
Sample the Local Flavors in Guatemala City
Also in Guatemala City, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Guatemala City Legends Tour + Craft Beers at El Cadejo Brewery: $105
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Guatemala City and Panama City, we can see that Panama City is more expensive. And not only is Guatemala City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Guatemala City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Guatemala 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 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 Guatemala City.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Guatemala City Expensive? and Is Panama City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Guatemala City or Panama City?
Guatemala City has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Panama City. When comparing the sizes of Guatemala City 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.