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

Should you visit Izmir or Panama City?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Izmir and Panama City. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Izmir or Panama City?

Izmir

Izmir is a metropolitan city of Turkey and the second most populous city on the Aegean Sea after Athens, Greece. Known as Smyrna in antiquity, it was founded by the Greeks, taken over by the Romans, and rebuilt by Alexander the Great before becoming part of the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century. Most remnants of this past are gone; however, there are a few archaeological sites in addition to beaches, bustling city streets, and colorful markets.

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 G Adventures Tours to Turkey, The Best 3-Day Tours from Istanbul, The Best Budget Tours to Panama, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Panama City.


Which place is cheaper, Panama City or Izmir?

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 Izmir is $86, 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 Izmir and Panama City in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Izmir $43
    Panama City $35
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Izmir $86
    Panama City $70
Compare Hotels in Izmir and Panama City

Looking for a hotel in Izmir 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 Izmir


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: Izmir Hotel Prices and Panama City Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Izmir $21
    Panama City $11

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Izmir

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Izmir:

  • Private Transfer from Izmir Airport to Bergama: $284
  • Transfer from Izmir to Didim: $282
  • Antalya Airport AYT Transfers to Fethiye-Oludeniz Hotels: $247
  • Fethiye-Oludeniz Hotels to Antalya Airport AYT Transfers: $247
  • Private Transfers İzmir City or Adnan Menderes Apt to/from Ayvalik Resort: $242
  • Private Transfers İzmir City or Adnan Menderes Apt to/from Ayvalik Resort: $242
  • Private Transfer from Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport to Didim: $241
  • Izmir Airport ADB Transfers to Akbuk Hotels: $211
  • Izmir Airport ADB Transfers to Yalikoy (Didim) Hotels: $207
  • Izmir Airport (ADB) to Çeşme, Alaçatı Round-Trip Private Transfer: $176
  • VIP Private Transfer | Izmir Airport to Kusadasi or Selcuk: $170
  • Luxury Private Izmir Airport Transfer Service: $160

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Panama City

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

  • Airport TRANSFER 1 way Tocumen Howard BLB Albrook Rio Hato Colon: $28
  • Airport To City Hotel transfer: $50
  • Arrival Private Transfer Panama PTY Airport to Playa Bonita: $75
  • Panama 2 days / 1 night : hotel, transfers and city tour: $278
  • Panama Airport (PTY) to Coronado/Gorgona - Round-Trip Transfer: $211
  • Panama Airport (PTY) to Decameron - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $211
  • Panama Airport (PTY) to Panama city - Arrival Private Transfer: $24
  • Panama Airport (PTY) to Panama city - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $47
  • Panama Airport (PTY) to Playa Bonita/Gamboa - Round-Trip Transfer: $66
  • Panama City Private Departure Transfer: $42
  • Guided Panama Canal & City Tour with Transfers: $70
  • Historic District and Canal Tour with Transfer: $65

Is it cheaper to fly into Izmir or Panama City?

Prices for flights to both Panama City and Izmir 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
    Izmir $30
    Panama City $36

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Izmir

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

  • Authentic Turkish Home Cooking Class with Locals: $76
  • Authentic Dinner Cooking with a Local Family in İzmir: $90
  • Private Food tour in Europe and Asian Side of Istanbul: $294

Typical Food Prices in Panama City

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


  • Sandwich
    $8.25

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.
    Izmir $14
    Panama City $66

Tours and Activities in Izmir

Here are a few actual costs in Izmir for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • 2 Day Ephesus and Pamukkale Tour from Izmir Hotels: $294
  • Alaçatı & Çeşme Chill Tour: Vibes, Streets & Snapshots: $120
  • BEST SELLER Small Group Ephesus Tour from Izmir: $117
  • Best of Ephesus and Virgin Mary Tour From Port/Hotel/Airport: $225
  • Best of Private Walking Tour with a Local: $66
  • Budget - Friendly Ephesus Tour from Izmir: $41
  • Cesme-Alacati Tour from Izmir: $71
  • Customized Ephesus Private Tour / FOR CRUISE GUESTS ONLY: $170
  • Customized Ephesus Tour with Lunch: $189
  • Daily Ephesus & Virgin Mary House Tour from Izmir: $159
  • EPHESUS PRIVATE TOUR From Izmir Port: $116
  • Ephesus & Sirince Village Tour from İzmir: $145

Tours and Activities in Panama City

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

  • Archaeological Site. Admission ticket to Panama La Vieja: $15
  • Private Historic Tour of the Old Town: $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
  • Panama City Must-see Attractions Walking Tour with a Guide: $27
  • Panama City Bike Tour By Paradox Experience: $29
  • Monkey and Sloth Jungle Habitat Panama Tour: $30
  • City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $30
  • City Sightseeing Panama City Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $30
  • Half-Day Tour to Miraflores Locks & Casco Viejo: $32
  • POIN Panama City Climb Experience: $32

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Izmir $6.26
    Panama City $18

Sample the Local Flavors in Izmir

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Izmir:

  • Wine Tasting Tour at Two Wineries in Urla Turkey: $276


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Izmir and Panama City, we can see that Panama City is more expensive. And not only is Izmir much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Izmir 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 Izmir would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Izmir 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 Izmir.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Izmir Expensive? and Is Panama City Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Izmir or Panama City?

Izmir has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Panama City. When comparing the sizes of Izmir 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.