Which place is cheaper, Panama City or Nassau?
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 Nassau or Panama City?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Nassau 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: Nassau or Panama City?
Nassau
There are few vacation destinations more famous than the Bahamian city of Nassau. This capital city is full of laid back locals, relaxed tourists and the iconic pastel pink government houses.
As the largest city in the Bahamas, Nassau can hold plenty of people. Not only are there hundreds of tourists on any given day, the city is also home to 260,000 people – that is 80 percent of the Bahamas' total population.
Founded around 1650, Nassau's location made it a great spot on the trade route. So great, in fact, that it also became a popular destination for pirates – including the infamous Blackbeard.
Pack light because it's going to be pretty steamy in Nassau. The climate is essentially identical to southern Florida. It is warm and humid all year with the occasional cold snap in the winter.
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 Romantic Tours for Couples in Bahamas, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Bahamas, The Best Budget Tours to Panama, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Panama City.
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Nassau Prices
Bahamas PricesPanama City Prices
Panama Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNassau $227Panama City $101
The average daily cost (per person) in Nassau is $227, 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 Nassau and Panama City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNassau $108Panama City $35
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNassau $216Panama City $70
Compare Hotels in Nassau and Panama City
Looking for a hotel in Nassau 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: Nassau Hotel Prices and Panama City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Nassau $32Panama City $11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Nassau
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Nassau are as follows:
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Water Taxi$7.99
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Taxi to Cable Beach$25
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Taxi from Airport$30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nassau
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nassau:
- Nassau Roundtrip Airport Transfer to Paradise Island: $360
- Nassau Roundtrip Transfer by Limousine to Paradise Island: $335
- Round Trip Airport to/from Hotel Private Transfers: $301
- Round-Trip Private Transfer: $300
- Luxury Airport Transfer in Nassau – VIP Mercedes Sprinter Service: $250
- Private Bahamian Baking Class and Transfers with Chef Gabbi: $210
- Private SUV One way Airport Transfer/Grocery & Liquor stop included: $200
- Airport Transfer: $190
- Private Roundtrip Sedan Airport Transfer to Eastern District: $185
- Custom Family and Small Group Transfers for Comfortable Journeys: $185
- Private Nassau Airport and Port Transfer (1 way): $180
- Private Roundtrip Minivan Airport Transfer: $179
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
- Private transfer from airport to hotels in Panama City: $15
- Private Transfer to Panama City Airport (PTY): $15
- Private Transfer Airport PTY to/from Panama City: $17
- Private Airport Transfer PTY to Panama City or Playa Blanca: $18
- Private Transfer from Tocumen Airport to Panama City: $19
- Private One-way Airport Transfer from Panamá to Tocumen Airport: $19
- Private One-way Airport Transfer from Tocumen Airport to Panamá: $19
- Private Transfer Tocumen Airport to Panama City or Beach: $20
- Private transfer Panama City - Fort Amador Cruise Terminal: $20
- VIP Transfer Panama: Playa Bonita, Panama City & Pacific Riviera: $20
- Private Airport Transfer: $23
Is it cheaper to fly into Nassau or Panama City?
Prices for flights to both Panama City and Nassau 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 dayNassau $91Panama City $36
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nassau
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nassau.
- Nassau Sunset Dinner Cruise: $103
- Sunset Dinner Cruise: $119
- Dinner and Dancing: $130
- Flavors of Nassau Food Tour: $135
- All Inclusive Sunset Dinner Cruise in Nassau Bahamas: $138
- Experience Breakfast,Lunch or Dinner in the sky of Nassau Bahamas: $176
- NEW! Authentic Bahamian Cooking and Cocktails with Transfers: $179
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:
- Panamanian Ravioli Masterclass + Dinner in Panama City center: $55
- Panama City FOOD Tour: $65
- 3.5 -hour Afropanamanian Cooking Experience in Panama: $70
- Street Food Tour Panama City (28+ tastings) By Paradox Experience: $95
- 4h Cooking Class in 10 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $95
- Embera Village Cooking Class Experience in Chagres National Park: $125
- The Real Panamanian Private Food Tour through Panama City: $245
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Nassau $37Panama City $66
Typical Entertainment Prices in Nassau
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Nassau are as follows:
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Jet Ski$50
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4 Hr Kayak Tour$70
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1/2 Day Snorkel Trip$75
Tours and Activities in Nassau
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nassau are as follows:
- 3 Islands Tour, Swim with Pigs, Turtles, Snorkelling & lunch: $175
- ATV Guided Historical Site Tours Nassau: $175
- ATV Half Day City Tour in Guided Tour With Free Samples: $200
- Atv Guided Tours Nassau Bahamas: $250
- Audio Driving Tour Around St. Simons Island: $9.99
- Bahamas Adventure: Number 1 Scooter and Side by Side rentals: $140
- Bahamas Budget Adventure: Pigs, Snorkle, Turtles, and Beach: $229
- Bahamas Cabbage Beach Jet Ski Adventure: $120
- Bahamas Cabbage Beach Parasailing Adventure: $120
- Bahamas Funtastic Party Bus Tours: $99
- Bahamas Swimming Pigs Experience on Rose Island: $179
- Bahamas Watersports Adventure: Parasail, Jet Ski, Banana Boat: $240
Tours and Activities in Panama City
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Panama City.
- Casco Viejo Golden Hour Rooftop Sunset Social Experience: $21
- Sunset Bike Tour/ Cinta Costera Casco Viejo by Paradox Experience: $22
- Spanish Experience in Panama City: $25
- Casco Viejo Walking Tour: History, Culture & Local Tasting: $25
- Panama City Must-see Attractions Walking Tour with a Guide: $27
- City Sightseeing Panama City Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $30
- Get to know the city on board CitySightseeing Panama (24 Hours): $30
- City Tour guiado en Panamá con Canal y Casco Antiguo: $35
- Bike tour in Old City and Cinta costera with local markets: $35
- Half-Day Casco Viejo The Real City Guided with a Local Touch Tour: $35
- Panama City : Custom Walking Tour with A Guide (Private Tour): $36
- Walking tour through the Hidden treasures and gems of Casco Viejo: $36
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNassau $19Panama City $18
Typical Alcohol Prices in Nassau
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Nassau are as follows:
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Cocktail$6.49
Sample the Local Flavors in Nassau
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Nassau:
- Bottle Your Own at John Watling's Distillery: $20
- Bahamian Mixology Experience at John Watling Distillery: $80
- Mixology Experience at John Watling's Distillery: $80
- Rum Tasting Experience at John Watling's Distillery: $80
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nassau and Panama City, we can see that Nassau is more expensive. And not only is Panama City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Nassau is in Caribbean Islands 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 Nassau would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nassau 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 Nassau Expensive? and Is Panama City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Nassau or Panama City?
Panama City has a larger population, and is about 79% larger than the population of Nassau. When comparing the sizes of Nassau 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.