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

Should you visit Panama City or Cordoba?

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 Cordoba can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Panama City or Cordoba?

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.

Cordoba

Cordoba is the capital of the Cordoba province and the second largest city in all of Argentina. The city is in a beautiful setting surrounded by valleys and hills. Within the city you will find many colonial buildings and beautiful architecture. Cordoba also has many universities and scientific institutes, giving it the nickname "La Docta." Because of the large number of students, Cordoba's population is young and active, which keeps the atmosphere light and fun.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Panama City, The Best Adventure Tours to Panama, The Best Adventure Tours to Argentina, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Argentina.


Which place is cheaper, Cordoba or Panama City?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Panama City is $86, while the average daily cost in Cordoba is $8.40. 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 Cordoba in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Panama City $35
    Cordoba $3.05
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Panama City $70
    Cordoba $6.10
Compare Hotels in Panama City and Cordoba

Looking for a hotel in Panama City or Cordoba? 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 Panama City


Hotels in Cordoba


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 Cordoba Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Panama City $11
    Cordoba $2.08

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Panama City

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

  • Embera Indian Village Tour w/ Airport Transfer: $290
  • Panama Tocumen Airport (PTY): Private Transfer to Coronado: $269
  • Transfer to Panama City, Hotel and City tour - 1 night: $266
  • Panama Tocumen Airport (PTY): Transfer to Decameron hotels: $265
  • Round trip transfer in private Car from Tocumen Airport to Playa Blanca-Farallon: $240
  • Half-Day City & Canal Tour w/ Airport Transfer: $215
  • Private Transfer from PTY to Playa Blanca resorts: $206
  • Transfer in private minivan from Panama Tocumen Airport to Playa Blanca-Farallon: $160
  • Skip the Line: Miraflores Visitor Center Ticket with Transfer: $155
  • Panama Tocumen Airport(PTY) to Colón Round-Trip Private Transfer: $142
  • Private Transfer from Panama Tocumen Airport (PTY) to Colón resorts: $136
  • Panama Airport (PTY) to Playa Blanca Round-Trip Private Transfer: $127

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cordoba

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Cordoba are as follows:


  • Taxi Ride
    $0.01

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cordoba

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

  • Transfer in private minivan from Cordoba to Ingeniero Ambrosio Taravella Airport: $61

Is it cheaper to fly into Panama City or Cordoba?

Prices for flights to both Cordoba 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Panama City $21
    Cordoba $3.83
Typical Food Prices in Panama City

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


  • Sandwich
    $8.27

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:

  • Panama Evening Food Tour: $60
  • 10-Recipe Boozy Panamanian Cooking Class : $85
  • 4-Hour Guided Panamanian Cooking Class and Markets Experience: $85
  • Panama: 10-Recipe Boozy Panamanian Cooking Class + Dinner: $85
  • The 'Real' Panamanian Private Food Tour: $200

Typical Food Prices in Cordoba

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


  • Empanadas
    $0.01
  • Sandwich
    $0.00
  • Ice Cream
    $0.00

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Panama City $66
    Cordoba $1.88

Tours and Activities in Panama City

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

  • City Tour y Canal de Panamá: $35
  • #1 Walking Tour in Casco Viejo, Panama Canal Museum & Lunch : $77
  • "Bridge of the Americas Stand-Up Paddle Private 2 hours Tour " : $100
  • 1- or 2-Night Experience in San Blas Islands: $260
  • 2 Hours Private Luxury Tour in a Convertible Car in Panama City: $255
  • 2 Hours Tour to Panama La Vieja for Groups: $170
  • 2 Hr Express Tour for Business Travellers & Airport Layovers: $75
  • 2-Day San Blas Adventure from Panama City: $270
  • 3 Hours Private Photo Tour in Casco Antiguo: $90
  • 3-Hour Private Tour in Panama La Vieja: $45
  • 5 Hours Tour to Monkey Island Embera community Gamboa Panama: $165
  • 5-Hour Tour in Agua Clara New Locks: $100

Tours and Activities in Cordoba

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

  • Alta Gracia: Unveiling Cordoba's Cultural Heritage Tour: $48
  • Córdoba CityTour FULLDAY x 2 pax: $60
  • Córdoba: Villa Carlos Paz Tour: $59
  • Caroya WineTour x 2 Pax: $60
  • Cordoba City Tour: $50
  • Cordoba City Tour with Optional Jesuitic Square: $60
  • Cordoba Cumbrecita Tour with Spanish Speaking Guide: $88
  • Cordoba Jesuit Legacy Tour: $87
  • Cumbrecita Tour: $88
  • El Inicio WineTour x 2 Pax (History and Wines): $85
  • Exploring Villa Carlos Paz: Guided Sightseeing Tour: $50
  • Full Day Jesuit Legacy Tour from Cordoba: $80

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Panama City $18
    Cordoba $1.48

Sample the Local Flavors in Cordoba

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cordoba:

  • Full-Day Private Colonia Caroya Wine Tour from Córdoba: $120
  • Wine Tour Privado - Colonia Caroya: $130
  • Wine Tour Privado - Calamuchita: $150


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Panama City and Cordoba, we can see that Panama City is more expensive. And not only is Cordoba much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Panama City is in Central America and Cordoba is in South 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 Cordoba would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cordoba 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 Cordoba.

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 Cordoba Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Panama City or Cordoba?

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