A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Panama City vs. Durham for Families, Nightlife, Couples, and Food

Should you visit Panama City or Durham?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Panama City or Durham, 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.

Panama City

Panama City is a cosmopolitan, fun-filled, and active beach town. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. Other popular activities here include beaches, shopping, and nightlife.

Durham

Durham is a sports oriented, diverse, and student-filled city. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Panama City and Durham: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Panama City or Durham?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Panama City. Although Panama City and Durham are both popular with visitors, Panama City has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Panama City is more popular for its nightlife, music, resorts, beaches, and impressive beauty, while Durham is known for its museums. Panama City is more touristy than Durham and is known for its watersports, sandy beaches, and year-round beach weather. It is also home to Pier Park. Durham is popular for its college town vibe as well as being the home of the famous Blue Devil basketball team.

How is Panama City different from Durham?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Durham and Panama City. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Panama City or Durham?

Durham is a great destination for its museums and landmarks. However, Panama City does not have museums and landmarks.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Durham can be an interesting and educational experience. Duke University is one of the most popular destinations in town. There are several museums on campus as well as the famous Duke Chapel. Elsewhere in Durham there's the Durham Museum of Life and Science.

Panama City does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Panama City or Durham? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Panama City and Durham can be difficult as they are each good in their own way.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Panama City. There are many waterfront restaurants that serve freshly caught seafood. Head to town for a charming atmosphere or grab a bite at a casual eatery. Fried seafood is popular when eating out but you'll also find plenty of options for land-lovers. Most restaurants also have kid-friendly menus.

Durham is becoming an appealing option for foodies. Barbecue is a favorite around town. You'll also find plenty of restaurants that cater to the student population, particularly along Nineth Street near Duke's campus.

Is Panama City or Durham Better for Nightlife?

Panama City is a well-known place for its evening party scene. Also, Durham is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for nightlife.

Panama City offers plenty to do in the evening. The nightlife is particular crazy during spring break, when the town fills with students. Head to the famous Club La Vela or Spinnaker for music and fun at night.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Durham. The younger population tends to hang out near campus and along Nineth Street. If you're looking for something less student oriented, head to downtown Durham.

Is Panama City or Durham Better for Music?

Panama City is very good for its music scene. However, Durham is not a live music destination.

Music lovers will find a few good venues in Panama City. A popular way to enjoy music in the area is to find a restaurant with a lounge where local musicians perform.

Durham is not a live music destination.

Is Panama City or Durham Better for Resorts?

Panama City is very good for its resorts. However, Durham is not a resort destination.

Panama City has a few great resort options. Most people stay in condos that are VRBO's or Airbnbs, but there are resorts in the area as well.

Durham is not a resort destination.

Is Panama City or Durham Better for Beaches?

Panama City is a well-known place for the beach. However, Durham is not a beach destination.

Panama City is a very popular place to visit for its beaches. With miles of long white sandy beaches and crystal blue waters, this area's beaches offer a beautiful escape. Head to the area's state parks for the most natural experience. These include St. Andrews State Park and Camp Helen State Park. A day trip to Shell Island is also popular.

Durham is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Panama City or Durham?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Durham and Panama City.

Panama City offers some nice shopping areas. There are a number of malls and shopping centers in the area.

Durham has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. The Streets of Southpoint is the best mall in the area. Other shopping areas include Brightleaf Square and Nineth Street.

Is Panama City or Durham Better for Families?

Panama City is an amazing beach town to visit for its family-friendly activities. Also, Durham is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Panama City is one of the most popular family destinations. This area has large sandy beaches, waterparks, amusement parks, and marine parks. Kids will enjoy playing around at WonderWorks, cooling off at Shipwreck Island Waterpark, and learning about marine life at Gulf World Marine Park. There are also many watersports and water activities that are fun for the whole family.

Durham is a family-friendly beach town. A highlight for kids is a visit to the Durham Museum of Life and Science. It has both an indoor and an outdoor section and brings science to life for families. There's also an impressive playground and climbing area. Other activities in town include the Notasium and Eno River State Park. If you plan ahead you could also organize a trip to the Duke Lemur Center.

Is Panama City or Durham Better for Couples?

Panama City is a well-known place for couples. Also, Durham is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for romance.

Panama City is a very popular place to visit for couples. The beautiful beaches and romantic restaurants make for a great romantic getaway. This is the perfect place to take sunset walks along the beach and sample freshly caught local seafood.

Durham is a nice destination for couples. Have a picnic at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens or spend the day hiking at Eno River State Park. In the evening there's a wonderful selection of restaurants around town. Then you can check out a show at the Durham Performing Arts Center or see a Durham Bulls game.

Is Panama City or Durham Better for Students?

Panama City and Durham are excellent places to visit for students.

Panama City is a great beach town to visit as a student. It's not the spring break destination that it once was, but you'll still find students hanging out around the spring holidays.

Students come from all over to stay in Durham. Duke University has a stunning campus with a world class garden. There's also nearby Nineth Street, which has shops, restaurants, and bars that are geared toward the student population.

Is Panama City or Durham Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Panama City and Durham.

Public transit is generally limited in Panama City. Most people need a car in Panama City but there is a trolley service that connects major tourist areas.

Public transit is mostly limited in Durham. There are buses around town, but you really need a car to explore the area.

Is Panama City or Durham a more walkable city?

Durham is a city with a few options for its high level of walkability. However, Panama City is a beach town with minimal options for its ease of walking around.

Durham is generally not very walkable. Downtown Durham and a few areas near Duke University are the most walkable areas.

Panama City is not a very walkable beach town. There's often construction and the streets aren't designed for pedestrians.

For even more information, also check out Is Panama City Worth Visiting? and Is Durham Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Durham or Panama City?

How long in Panama City or Durham?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Panama City and Durham. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Panama City than in Durham. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Panama City, and 1-3 days is enough time in Durham.

Families should spend more time in Panama City than Durham. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Panama City, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Panama City than Durham. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Panama City that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Durham than Panama City if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Durham.

One day in Panama City or Durham?

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the destination of Panama City. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the diverse city of Durham. One day should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A weekend in Panama City or Durham?

Panama City is a great place to explore. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the student-filled destination of Durham. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Five days in Panama City or Durham?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Panama City. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Most people come for the beaches. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

The student-filled city of Durham offers shopping and museums. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

A week in Panama City or Durham?

Many travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the cosmopolitan destination of Panama City. This beach town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. If you have one week, this is a great place to go. This would be the perfect place to spend one week, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Durham. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America, The Best Coach Bus Tours in United States of America, and The Best Adventure Tours to United States of America.

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

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 Durham Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Panama City or Durham?

Durham has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Panama City. When comparing the sizes of Panama City and Durham, 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.

When is the best time to visit Panama City or Durham?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Panama City or Durham in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Panama City and Durham. Most visitors come to Panama City for the beaches, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Durham because of the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Panama City is around the same temperature as Durham. Typically, the summer temperatures in Panama City in July average around 82°F (28°C), and Durham averages at about 79°F (26°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Durham this time of the year. In Panama City, it's very sunny this time of the year. Panama City usually receives more sunshine than Durham during summer. Panama City gets 283 hours of sunny skies, while Durham receives 259 hours of full sun in the summer.

Durham receives a lot of rain in the summer. Panama City gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Panama City usually receives more rain than Durham. Panama City gets 7.3 inches (184 mm) of rain, while Durham receives 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Panama City or Durham in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Panama City as well as Durham. The autumn months attract visitors to Panama City because of the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, the shopping scene are the main draw to Durham this time of year.

In October, Panama City is generally a little warmer than Durham. Daily temperatures in Panama City average around 71°F (22°C), and Durham fluctuates around 61°F (16°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Durham. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Panama City this time of the year. In the autumn, Panama City often gets more sunshine than Durham. Panama City gets 256 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Durham receives 211 hours of full sun.

Panama City usually gets more rain in October than Durham. Panama City gets 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain, while Durham receives 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Panama City or Durham in the Winter?

Both Durham and Panama City are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The shopping scene and the cuisine are the main draw to Panama City this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Durham for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Durham. Panama City is much warmer than Durham in the winter. The daily temperature in Panama City averages around 52°F (11°C) in January, and Durham fluctuates around 40°F (5°C).

Panama City usually receives more sunshine than Durham during winter. Panama City gets 185 hours of sunny skies, while Durham receives 162 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Panama City usually receives more rain than Durham. Panama City gets 3.9 inches (99 mm) of rain, while Durham receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Panama City or Durham in the Spring?

Both Durham and Panama City during the spring are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Panama City for the beaches and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Panama City is a little warmer than Durham. Typically, the spring temperatures in Panama City in April average around 68°F (20°C), and Durham averages at about 60°F (16°C).

In Durham, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Panama City. In the spring, Panama City often gets more sunshine than Durham. Panama City gets 295 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Durham receives 251 hours of full sun.

Panama City usually gets less rain in April than Durham. Panama City gets 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain, while Durham receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Durham and Panama City