Which place is cheaper, Anchorage or Panama City?
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 Panama City or Anchorage?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Panama City and Anchorage can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Panama City or Anchorage?
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.
Anchorage
Anchorage, Alaska's largest city, is in the south-central part of the state on the Cook Inlet. It's known for its cultural sites and also as a gateway to nearby wilderness areas and mountains. From the sparkling waters of Cook Inlet to the tallest peaks of the Chugach Mountains, Anchorage encompasses incredible adventures and metropolitan appeals that are larger than life. With 1,500 moose, incredible national parks nearby and 60 glaciers a short drive away, it's a dream destination in Alaska.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Panama, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Panama City, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City.
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Panama City Prices
Panama PricesAnchorage Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPanama City $101Anchorage $228
The average daily cost (per person) in Panama City is $101, while the average daily cost in Anchorage is $228. 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 Panama City and Anchorage in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPanama City $35Anchorage $117
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPanama City $70Anchorage $234
Compare Hotels in Panama City and Anchorage
Looking for a hotel in Panama City or Anchorage? 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: Panama City Hotel Prices and Anchorage Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Panama City $11Anchorage $27
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Anchorage
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Anchorage:
- Matanuska Glacier Hike with Transfers: $329
- Dog Sled Ride in Willow with Transfers: $289
- Anchorage to Seward Cruise Transfer Tour with Port Drop-Off: $239
- Seward to Anchorage Cruise Transfer & Wildlife Tour: $227
- Anchorage to Seward Cruise Transfer & Wildlife Tour: $227
- Anchorage to Seward Cruise Transfer & Wildlife Tour: $227
- Anchorage to Whittier: Cruise Transfer with Wildlife Tour: $199
- Portage Glacier Express with Van Transfer from Anchorage: $123
- Anchorage to Seward Direct Transfer Tour: $79
- ANC Airport Private Transfer to/from City Center: $79
- Anchorage to Whittier Shared Bus Transfer Service: $69
- One Way Private Transfer: $10
Is it cheaper to fly into Panama City or Anchorage?
Prices for flights to both Anchorage and Panama City 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 dayPanama City $36Anchorage $87
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
Typical Food Prices in Anchorage
Some typical examples of dining costs in Anchorage are as follows:
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Bread$4.25
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Breakfast for Two$17
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Anchorage
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Anchorage.
- Anchorage Sightseeing and Food Tour - Available All Year Long!: $195
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Panama City $66Anchorage $30
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Anchorage
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Anchorage are as follows:
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1 Day Bike Rental$33
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1/2 Day Rafting Trip$105
Tours and Activities in Anchorage
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Anchorage are as follows:
- 3 Hour Ladies Only Kayak Tour in Knik River: $130
- Aerial Tram and Wildlife Center tour from Anchorage: $199
- Alaska 9 Day Ocean Wildlife to Interior Wilderness Adventure: $7,599
- Alaska Road Trip: Anchorage, Seward, Homer & Denali Audio Tour: $40
- Alaska Wildlife CC and Turnagain Arm Scenic Tour from Girdwood: $185
- Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center & Turnagain Arm Tour: $149
- Alaska Wildlife Day Tour with Free Hotel Pickup: $122
- Alaska Wildlife Tour: $119
- Alaska Wildlife Visit and Glacier Cruise Adventure: $259
- Alaska: Kenai Fjords & Denali National Park 5 Day Adventure: $2,599
- Anchorage City Tour and Highlights: $55
- Anchorage City Tour w/ Taste of Wild Smoked Salmon & Reindeer Sausage: $69
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPanama City $18Anchorage $20
Sample the Local Flavors in Anchorage
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Anchorage:
- Distillery Tour in the Heart of Anchorage: $25
- Chocolate and Wine Tasting Tour: $110
- Girdwood Views and Brews with Aerial Tram and Brewery: $209
- Hike Matanuska Glacier w/Alaska Honey, Wine Tasting: $315
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Panama City and Anchorage, we can see that Anchorage is more expensive. And not only is Panama City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Panama City is in Central America and Anchorage is in North 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 Anchorage would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Anchorage 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 Panama City Expensive? and Is Anchorage Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Panama City or Anchorage?
Panama City has a larger population, and is about 57% larger than the population of Anchorage. When comparing the sizes of Panama City and Anchorage, 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.