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

Should you visit Moshi or Panama City?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Moshi 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: Moshi or Panama City?

Moshi

Moshi is a town in northern Tanzania, near the Kenyan border. It’s known as a gateway to Kilimanjaro National Park, home to Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro. Trails run up the mountain's cloud-ringed, snow-capped dome, through alpine forests and meadows home to elephants and leopards. The noticeably clean capital of the densely populated Kilimanjaro region sits at the foot of Mt Kilimanjaro and makes a good introduction to the splendors of the north. It's a low-key place with an appealing blend of African and Asian influences and a self-sufficient, prosperous feel, due in large part to its being the center of one of Tanzania's major coffee-growing regions. Virtually all visitors are here to climb Mt Kilimanjaro or to recover after having done so. Yet there’s much more to do, including cultural tours and hikes on the mountain’s lower slopes.

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 Wildlife Tours to Tanzania, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Tanzania, 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 Moshi?

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 Moshi is $89, 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 Moshi and Panama City in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Moshi $39
    Panama City $35
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Moshi $78
    Panama City $70
Compare Hotels in Moshi and Panama City

Looking for a hotel in Moshi 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 Moshi


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: Moshi Hotel Prices and Panama City Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Moshi $18
    Panama City $11

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Moshi

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

  • Kilimanjaro Airport Transfer to Moshi/Arusha: $107
  • Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) Private Transfer to Mount Kilimanjaro: $78
  • Kilimanjaro Airport Transfer: $60
  • Private Kilimanjaro Airport Transfer to or from Tanzania: $55
  • Airport Transfer between Moshi and Kilimanjaro International Airport: $54
  • Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) Transfer/Taxi Services: $53
  • Kilimanjaro Airport Private Transfer from/to Moshi : $49
  • Private Transfer from Kilimanjaro Airport to Moshi: $47
  • Airport transfer: $45
  • Airport Transfer From Kilimanjaro International Airport 7 Seater: $42

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Panama City

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

  • Travel in Comfort Airport Transfer Pty : $12
  • Transfers from PTY Airport to Playa Bonita or Gamboa and Back: $20
  • Transfers from Airport to Panama City: $40
  • Transfer from Tocumen Airport to hotels in Gamboa or Viceversa: $30
  • Transfer from Tocumen Airport to Panama City Hotels : $25
  • Transfer from Tocumen Airport to Colon Cruise Port: $160
  • Transfer from Playa Bonita or Gamboa to PTY Airport: $35
  • Transfer from Panama City Hotel to Tocumen Airport: $23
  • Transfer from Panama Airport to Colon Cruise Terminal: $110
  • Transfer from PTY/Panama City to Cruise Terminal or to the Marina: $32
  • Transfer Tocumen International Airport - Playa Blanca, Rio Hato, Buena Ventura: $75
  • Transfer Panama City to Amador Cruise Port : $30

Is it cheaper to fly into Moshi or Panama City?

Prices for flights to both Panama City and Moshi 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
    Moshi $36
    Panama City $36

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Moshi

For Moshi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Kili View Tanzanian Cooking Class: $26
  • Private Market Tour and Tanzanian Cooking Class in Moshi: $86
  • 3 Days Chaga Culture: Cooking, NGO Projects, Banana Beer, Hiking: $207

Typical Food Prices in Panama City

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


  • 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:

  • Panamanian Dinner and Folkloric Show Ticket with Pickup: $60
  • Panama Evening Food Tour: $60
  • Panama City FOOD Tour: $65
  • E-Tickets Emotions Dinner Theater Live Show Admission: $75
  • 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
  • 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.
    Moshi $20
    Panama City $66

Tours and Activities in Moshi

For Moshi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Materuni Village Tour | Materuni waterfalls | materuni coffee tour: $91
  • #1 Best Tanzania Safari Tarangire Day tour Adventure : $200
  • 1 Day Tour to Materuni Waterfalls and Coffee Tour: $128
  • 1 Full-Day Safari Adventure in Tarangire National Park: $250
  • 1 day tour hike mount kilimanjaro through marangu route: $240
  • 1-Day Moshi Villages bike tour: $50
  • 1_Day Bike Tour to Chemka Hotspring: $80
  • Best 1# day Kilimanjaro trek Machame with Kilinge Adventure : $100
  • Best Kilimanjaro hiking day trip tour with Kilinge Adventures: $100
  • Bodaboda Experience to Materuni Waterfall and Coffee Tour : $52
  • Chemka Hot Spring Day Tour: $160
  • Chemka Hot Springs Tour from Moshi: $59

Tours and Activities in Panama City

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

  • Gatun Lake Panamá Wildlife Adventure Guided Experience: $159
  • Horseback riding and Agri-Tour in Colon Private tour: $75
  • Panama City Tour and Panama Canal – Miraflores Locks Experience: $30
  • Panama Viejo and Casco Antiguo Tour: $115
  • Panama a quick and memorable tour: $68
  • San Blas Islands, 4-Island Tour All-Inclusive Welcome Cocktail: $149
  • #1 Walking Tour of Casco Viejo Panama with Lunch included : $70
  • “Bike Tour Casco Viejo and Panama City Discover the Essence: $40
  • “Panama at Your Rhythm: Private Tour with Canal, Old Town and More”: $67
  • "Bridge of the Americas Stand-Up Paddle Private 2 hours Tour " : $100
  • 1st Mysteries and FreeMasons Tour: $38
  • 2 Days 1 Night San Blas Adventure in Pamana: $260

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Moshi $3.59
    Panama City $18


When comparing the travel costs between Moshi and Panama City, we can see that Panama City is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Moshi is in Africa and Panama City is in Central America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

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


Which is Bigger, Moshi or Panama City?

Panama City has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Moshi. When comparing the sizes of Moshi 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.