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

Should you visit Hvar 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 Hvar 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: Hvar or Panama City?

Hvar

Hvar is a Croatian island full of mountains, vegetation, beaches, vineyards, shops, restaurants, and also people! Hvar Town is the main city on the island, but there are many other small villages throughout. The best time to visit Hvar is between May and September, although keep in mind it can get busy during this period.

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 One Week (7-Day) Tours in Croatia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Croatia, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Panama City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Panama City.


Which place is cheaper, Panama City or Hvar?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Hvar is €131, while the average daily cost in Panama City is €86. 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 Hvar and Panama City in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Hvar 38
    Panama City 30
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Hvar 76
    Panama City 60
Compare Hotels in Hvar and Panama City

Looking for a hotel in Hvar 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 Hvar


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: Hvar Hotel Prices and Panama City Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Hvar 47
    Panama City 9.09

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hvar

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hvar:

  • Private Transfer to Dubrovnik with Korčula Stopover: $3,394
  • Speedboat Transfer from Hvar Town to Split Airport: $585

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Panama City

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

  • Private Departure Transfer to Panama City Airport (PTY): $13
  • Transfer to Panama Canal (Miraflores Locks): $14
  • Private transfer from airport to hotels in Panama City: $15
  • Private Transfer from Panama City Airport (PTY): $16
  • Private Transfer Airport PTY to/from Panama City: $17
  • Private One-way Airport Transfer from Panamá to Tocumen Airport : $19
  • Transfers from PTY Airport to Playa Bonita or Gamboa and Back: $20
  • Private transfer Panama City - Fort Amador Cruise Terminal: $20
  • Transfer Airport - City / Min 2 pax: $20
  • Panama: Private Transfer from Tocumen Airport: $23
  • Transfer from Panama City Hotel to Tocumen Airport: $23
  • Private Transfer from Tocumen Airport to Downtown Panama City, Panama: $23

Is it cheaper to fly into Hvar or Panama City?

Prices for flights to both Panama City and Hvar 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
    Hvar 66
    Panama City 31

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hvar

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Hvar.

  • Traditional Hvar Cooking Classes, Dinners & 'Poje' Field Tour!: $167
  • Hvar Hidden Gems Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $205
  • Hvar Hidden Gems Small Group Half Day Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $208
  • Private Hvar Wine Tasting Tour with Traditional Dinner/Lunch: $256
  • Hvar Small Group Wine Tour and Authentic Dalmatian Dinner: $298

Typical Food Prices in Panama City

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


  • Sandwich
    7.03

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
  • Street Food Tour in Panama City with 24 samples and secret drinks: $69
  • Afro-Panamanian Cooking Class with Meal: $75
  • Street Food Tour with 24 Tastings: $75
  • Cooking Class in Panama City with 10 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $95
  • 4-Hour Guided Panamanian Cooking Class and Markets Experience: $95
  • Panama: 10-Recipe Boozy Panamanian Cooking Class + Dinner: $95
  • Folkloric Dance & Typical Dinner at Sabroso Panamá: $110
  • Embera Village Cooking Class Experience in Chagres National Park: $125
  • The Real Panamanian Private Food Tour through Panama City: $205
  • Street Food Tour in Panama with a Local Guide: $263

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Hvar 7.51
    Panama City 56

Tours and Activities in Hvar

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Hvar are as follows:

  • BLUE CAVE & 5 islands tour from Hvar: $113
  • 1-Hour Battle Archery Game in Hvar Adventure Park: $24
  • 1-Hour Private Paintball Adventure in Park Hvar Jelsa: $32
  • 50 Shades of Blue: Blue Cave & 5 Islands Boat Tour from Hvar: $12
  • Adventurous Blue and Green Cave group tour: $94
  • Back to the Roots - Ancient Island Interactive Experience: $154
  • Beach bar Laganini and Hula Hula half-day Private Boat Tour: $1,004
  • Beautiful Sites of Hvar -Private Walking Tour : $243
  • Blue & Green cave tour with yacht from town Hvar: $250
  • Blue Cave & Vis Island speedboat tour from Hvar: $119
  • Blue Cave and Pakleni Islands group Tour from Hvar: $132
  • Blue Cave, Blue Lagoon, Pakleni Islands Group boat tour from Hvar: $118

Tours and Activities in Panama City

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

  • The Hull Experience Colonial Tour: $14
  • Archaeological Site. Admission ticket to Panama La Vieja: $15
  • Experience of Salsa in Panama: $25
  • Panama Casco Viejo: Walking Tour Must See Treasures!!!: $25
  • Panama: Highlights Bike Tour in Casco Viejo & Cinta Costera: $26
  • Panama : Must-See Sites Walking Tour With A Guide: $27
  • Get to know the city aboard CitySightseeing Panama: $29
  • Panama City Tour and Panama Canal – Miraflores Locks Experience: $30
  • Causeway and Old Town Night Tour: $30
  • City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $30
  • Sunset Walking Tour at Casco Viejo El Chorrillo and the fish market: $30
  • City Sightseeing Panama City Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $30

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Hvar 9.21
    Panama City 15

Sample the Local Flavors in Hvar

Also in Hvar, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Wine Tasting Round Trip from Hvar - Family Winery at a Hilltop: $93
  • Hvar Island E-Bike Tour with Wine Tasting and Starters: $115
  • Private Hvar Island Bike Tour and Wine Tasting: $117
  • Hvar Wine Tasting Experience: $129
  • Hvar Wine tasting small group experience: $131
  • Private Hvar Wine Tasting Tour : $173
  • Private Best Beaches Boat Tour with Wine Tasting: $1,001


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


Which is Bigger, Hvar or Panama City?

Panama City has a larger population, and is about 110 times larger than the population of Hvar. When comparing the sizes of Hvar 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.