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

Should you visit Lyon or Panama City?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Lyon or Panama City, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Lyon or Panama City?

Lyon

Lyon, located within the region of Southeastern France, is France's third largest city in terms of population, with just over 500,000 inhabitants. This makes the city large, yet still small and personable enough to be explored properly in a short visit. Known as the gastronomic capital of Europe, your culinary needs are exceptionally well catered to here, and for those with historical and cultural interests, you will never be at a loss for new things to do and see.

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 10-Day Tours from Paris, The Best 2-Week Tours from Paris, The Best 2-Week Tours from Panama City, and The Best Adventure Tours to Panama.


Which place is cheaper, Panama City or Lyon?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Lyon is €125, while the average daily cost in Panama City is €80. 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 Lyon and Panama City in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Lyon 53
    Panama City 33
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Lyon 106
    Panama City 66
Compare Hotels in Lyon and Panama City

Looking for a hotel in Lyon 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 Lyon


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: Lyon Hotel Prices and Panama City Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Lyon 17
    Panama City 9.94
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lyon

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Lyon:


  • Funiculaire
    5.20
  • Hop-on Hop-off Tourist Bus
    19

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lyon

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lyon:

  • Superior Private Transfer From Lyon City to Geneva City: $297
  • Private Direct Transfer from Lyon to Geneva: $274
  • Private Transfer Grenoble Airport GNB - Grenoble Ski Resort: $230
  • Lyon St Exupery Airport to Courchevel/Les Arcs - Arrival Transfer: $181
  • Lyon Saint Exupery Airport to Meribel - Arrival Private Transfer: $180
  • Lyon Saint Exupery Airport(LYS) to Alpe d'Huez - Arrival Transfer: $164
  • Lyon Exupery Airport to Les Deux La Clusaz Round Trip Transfer: $143
  • Lyon Private Transfer from Lyon city centre to Lyon (LYS) Airport: $131
  • Private Transfer: Lyon to Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport (LYS): $125
  • Private Transfer: (LYS) Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport to Lyon: $124
  • Transfer Privé Lyon saint exupery airport to lyon : $120
  • Lyon : Private Transfer from/to Lyon Saint-Exupery Airport: $118

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Panama City

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

  • Transfer in private vehicle from Panama City - Panama Tocumen Airport (PTY): $15
  • Transfer in private vehicle from Panama Tocumen Airport (PTY)- Panama City: $15
  • Private transfer from Panama Tocumen Airport (PTY)- Panama City: $15
  • Private transfer from airport to hotels in Panama City: $15
  • Panama City Private Arrival Transfer: $17
  • Private Transfer Tocumen Airport to Panama City or Beach: $20
  • Transfer from Panama City Hotel to Tocumen Airport: $23
  • Transfer from Downtown Panama City to PTY Airport: $24
  • Transfer Tocumen Airport to Panama City Hotels.: $25
  • Airport TRANSFER 1 way Tocumen Howard BLB Albrook Rio Hato Colon: $28
  • Panama Airport (PTY) to Panama city - Arrival Private Transfer: $28
  • Private Transfer from Tocumen Airport to Playa Bonita: $30

Is it cheaper to fly into Lyon or Panama City?

Prices for flights to both Panama City and Lyon 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
    Lyon 41
    Panama City 19
Typical Food Prices in Lyon

Some typical examples of dining costs in Lyon are as follows:


  • Pastry
    1.70

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lyon

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

  • Street Food Tour: $65
  • Croix-Rousse District Vegan Food Tour with Tastings: $65
  • Lyon Street Food Tour : $66
  • 3h Lyon Vegan Food Tour: $66
  • Guided Food Tour with Tastings: $67
  • Afternoon Old Town Food tour: $77
  • Lyon 2.5-Hour Dinner Cruise: $81
  • Cultural Walking Food Tour in the Vieux Lyon District: $86
  • Lyon Old Town Half-Day Walking Food Tour with Local Specialties Tasting & Lunch: $93
  • Old Town Food Tour: $97
  • Guided Food Tour with Tastings and Wine: $102
  • Guided Evening Food Tour: $102

Typical Food Prices in Panama City

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


  • Sandwich
    7.69

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:

  • Panamanian Dinner and Folkloric Show Ticket with Pickup: $60
  • Panama Evening Food Tour: $60
  • Panama City FOOD Tour: $65
  • Night Out Experience (360 Panoramic Views + Dinner Show): $80
  • Panama: 10-Recipe Boozy Panamanian Cooking Class + Dinner: $85
  • The 'Real' Panamanian Private Food Tour: $200

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Lyon 20
    Panama City 61
Typical Entertainment Prices in Lyon

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Lyon are as follows:


  • Lunch for 2
    45

Tours and Activities in Lyon

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

  • 1 or 2-Hour Pedicab tour of Lyon: $27
  • 1-hour tourist walk with guide: $38
  • Access to a Self-Guided Tour to Traboules de Croix-Rousse: $8.77
  • Alternative Tour: Murals and Hidden Frescoes of Lyon: $46
  • An unusual city tour with sketches: $65
  • Audio-Guided Tour of the United States Quarter and Painted Walls: $11
  • Audio-guided tour of Old Lyon: $11
  • Audio-guided tour of the Fourvière and the Sacred Hill: $11
  • Beaujolais Wine Discovery - Private Tour - Half Day: $253
  • Beaujolais Wines & Castles - Private Tour - Half Day: $269
  • Best Intro Tour of Lyon with a Local: $142
  • Cheese and Wine Accord Tour at Château de Champ-Renard: $55

Tours and Activities in Panama City

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

  • Bar tour in El Cangrejo with Bar Hopping Panama: $20
  • Walking Tour Metropolitan Park Panama City : $25
  • POIN Swing Experience: $27
  • Poin Glass Observation Deck Ticket with VR Tour: $27
  • POIN The Edge Experience: $27
  • Panama: Highlights Bike Tour in Casco Viejo & Cinta Costera: $28
  • Get to know the city aboard CitySightseeing Panama: $30
  • City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $30
  • Sunset Walking Tour at Casco Viejo El Chorrillo and the fish market: $30
  • walking tour in Casco Antiguo !: $30
  • Bike tour in Panama City and Old Quarter with local guided: $31
  • Bike tour in Panama City and Old City with locals: $31

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Lyon 24
    Panama City 17
Typical Alcohol Prices in Lyon

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Lyon from other travelers:


  • Drinks for 2
    6.80
  • Bottle of Wine
    15

Sample the Local Flavors in Lyon

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

  • Beaujolais Segway Tour with Wine Tasting: $65
  • Guided tour of Beaujolais by electric bike and wine tasting: $98
  • Lyon Old Town Food & Wine Tasting Tour including a Bouchon Lyonnais : $99
  • Lyon Music & Wine tasting: $104
  • From Beaujolais Region Wine Tour with Tastings: $107
  • Golden Stones Beaujolais Wine Tasting Trip from Lyon: $107
  • Beaujolais: Half-Day Wine Tour: $107
  • From Wine tasting and visits of the Beaujolais: $107
  • Half-Day Côte-Rotie Wine Tasting Tour: $107
  • Lyon : Music & Wine tasting tour: $108
  • Beaujolais Half Day Wine Tasting Tour: $109
  • Golden stones Beaujolais Wine Tour with Tastings from Lyon: $109


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


Which is Bigger, Lyon or Panama City?

Lyon has a larger population, and is about 16% larger than the population of Panama City. When comparing the sizes of Lyon 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.