Which place is cheaper, Boquete 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 Boquete?
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 Boquete can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Panama City or Boquete?
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.
Boquete
Boquete is a village located in the pacific west of Panama. This town very recently became an attractive destination for tourists and expatriates. Before the early 2000's, it was a quiet town hidden away in the mountains with very little tourism. After the development of Valle Escondido, which is a largely residential area, many North Americans flocked to this town and an expat community developed. Boquete is known for it's near perfect year round temperature of about seventy degrees Fahrenheit, beautiful untouched nature, and world renowned coffee.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Panama City, The Best 2-Week Tours from Panama City, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Panama, and The Best Adventure Tours to Panama.
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Panama City Prices
Panama PricesBoquete Prices
Panama Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPanama City $101Boquete $67
The average daily cost (per person) in Panama City is $101, while the average daily cost in Boquete is $67. 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 Boquete in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPanama City $35Boquete $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPanama City $70Boquete $44
Compare Hotels in Panama City and Boquete
Looking for a hotel in Panama City or Boquete? 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 Boquete Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Panama City $11Boquete $5.22
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
- Transfer to Panama Canal (Miraflores Locks): $14
- Ciudad De Panamá Private Transfer from City to Airport (PTY): $16
- Ciudad de Panamá Private Airport Transfer (PTY) to City: $16
- Transfers from PTY Airport to Playa Bonita or Gamboa and Back: $20
- Private Transfer Panama Tocumen Airport PTY to Panama City: $21
- Panama: Private Transfer from Tocumen Airport: $23
- Transfer from Panama City Hotel to Tocumen Airport: $23
- Panama Airport (PTY) to Panama city - Arrival Private Transfer: $23
- Panama city to Panama Tocumen Airport (PTY)- Private Transfer: $23
- Private Transfer from Tocumen Airport to Downtown Panama City, Panama: $23
- Private Airport Transfer: $23
Is it cheaper to fly into Panama City or Boquete?
Prices for flights to both Boquete 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 $36Boquete $32
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$8.25
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:
- Causeway: Bike & Panamanian Food Tour now with Audio Guide.: $49
- Panama Evening Food Tour: $60
- 3.5 -hour Afropanamanian Cooking Experience in Panama: $70
- 4-Hour Guided Panamanian Cooking Class and Markets Experience: $85
- Panama: 10-Recipe Boozy Panamanian Cooking Class + Dinner: $85
- Folkloric Dance & Typical Dinner at Sabroso Panamá: $115
- Street Food Tour in Panama with a Local Guide: $256
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Panama City $66Boquete $17
Tours and Activities in Panama City
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Panama City.
- Panama : Must-See Sites Walking Tour With A Guide: $26
- Walking tour in Casco Viejo with locals: $27
- City Sightseeing Panama City Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $30
- City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $30
- walking tour in Casco Antiguo !: $30
- Panama City Tour and Panama Canal – Miraflores Locks Experience: $32
- “Bike Tour Casco Viejo and Panama City Discover the Essence: $32
- Poin Glass Observation Deck Ticket with VR Tour: $32
- POIN Swing Experience: $32
- Panama: Highlights Bike Tour in Casco Viejo & Cinta Costera: $33
- Walking tour through the Hidden treasures of Casco Viejo: $35
- Half-Day Casco Viejo Tour: The Real City with a Local Touch: $35
Tours and Activities in Boquete
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Boquete are as follows:
- Boquete E-bike Tour History Culture and Scenic Views: $65
- 2-Hour Private Mezcal and Geisha Liqueur Tasting Experience: $65
- 3-Hour Private Tour to La Estrella Lake from Boquete on E Bike: $84
- 3-hour Private Tour to the Peque Doraz Butterfly Garden by Ebike: $90
- Ancestral Coffee Experience in Boquete: $45
- Boquete Adventure - E-Bike Tour (2 hrs.) (2 Person Min.): $55
- Boquete Panoramic Tour: $200
- Boquete, Panama: Self-Guided E-Bicycle Half-Day Tour: $48
- Cangilones Mini Canyons Tour: $38
- Cloud Forest Wildlife Hike Tour: $36
- Family Tour (Experiences in caldera): $85
- Dirtbike adventure in Boquete (half day): $165
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPanama City $18Boquete $4.45
Sample the Local Flavors in Panama City
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Panama City:
- Casco Antiguo Guided Bar Crawl: $50
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Panama City and Boquete, we can see that Panama City is more expensive. And not only is Boquete much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Boquete would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Boquete 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 Boquete.
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 Boquete Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Panama City or Boquete?
Panama City has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Boquete. When comparing the sizes of Panama City and Boquete, 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.