Which place is cheaper, Guadalajara or Panama City?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Panama City or Guadalajara?
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 Guadalajara can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Panama City or Guadalajara?
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.
Guadalajara
Guadalajara is the capital of the state of Jalisco in western Mexico, as well as one of the country's largest cities. It is best known for tequila and mariachi music, which both originate in Jalisco, as well as a thriving historic center with colonial architecture and landmarks.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Panama City, The Best Adventure Tours to Panama, The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPanama City $86Guadalajara $117
The average daily cost (per person) in Panama City is $86, while the average daily cost in Guadalajara is $117. 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 Guadalajara in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPanama City $35Guadalajara $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPanama City $70Guadalajara $84
Compare Hotels in Panama City and Guadalajara
Looking for a hotel in Panama City or Guadalajara? 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 Guadalajara Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Panama City $11Guadalajara $39
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guadalajara
Also for Guadalajara, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private transfer from Guadalajara to Sayulita: $240
- Airport-Chapala/Ajijic Transfer: $229
- Guadalajara Airport (GDL): Transfer to Guadalajara hotels: $174
- Airport to City Transfer: $151
- Airport Transfer to Guadalajara Hotels: $119
- Guadalajara Airport (GDL) to Guadalajara hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $98
- Guadalajara to Tequila - Private Transfer with English-speaking driver: $98
- Tequila to Guadalajara - Private Transfer with English-speaking driver: $98
- Private Transfer from Guadalajara city hotels to Manzanillo Port: $76
- Guadalajara Airport(GDL) to Tequila - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $76
- Private transfer: Guadalajara Airport (GDL) to Guadalajara: $73
- Guadalajara hotels to Guadalajara Airport (GDL) - Departure Private Transfer: $49
Is it cheaper to fly into Panama City or Guadalajara?
Prices for flights to both Guadalajara 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 $21Guadalajara $48
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$8.27
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Panama City $66Guadalajara $28
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 Guadalajara
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Guadalajara.
- 10-Day Audio Guide Tour of Guadalajara: $12
- 6 Hours Private Tour Guide in Guadalajara, you choose!: $144
- Air Adventure Paraglide over Incredible Landscapes: $156
- Canopy Experience Panoramic Flight in Zip Lines: $43
- Chapala Ajijic Area Tour from Guadalajara: $40
- Chapala and Ajijic Private Tour: $120
- Charreria heritage tour be a charro for a day: $50
- City tour in Guadalajara and Tlaquepaque: $94
- Complete Tour on the Tequila Route from Guadalajara: $58
- Downtown Guadalajara and Tlaquepaque Tour: $73
- Enjoy an exclusive Tequila Tour with a Tequila Master: $149
- From Chapala Lake & Ajijic Tour: $83
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPanama City $18Guadalajara $18
Sample the Local Flavors in Guadalajara
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Guadalajara:
- Guadalajara Arquitecture and Brewery Tour: $56
- Tequila distillery experience, Jose Cuervo & Tequila Magic Town: $77
- Private One Day Adventure Tour in Tequila and La Fortaleza Distillery: $173
- Sip & Savor Tequila Experience Distillery w/ Lunch fr Guadalajara: $180
- Private Tour La Fortaleza Distillery and visit to Tequila: $190
- Private Tour Cascahuin Distillery and visit to Tequila: $190
- Private Tour to El Tequileño Distillery and visit to Tequila: $190
- Private Tour one day in Guachimontones and La Fortaleza Distillery: $209
- Private Tour to Tequila Ocho Distillery and the Town of Arandas: $209
- Guachimontones and Tequila Distillery in One Day: $264
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Panama City and Guadalajara, we can see that Guadalajara 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 Guadalajara 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 Guadalajara would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Guadalajara 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 Guadalajara Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Panama City or Guadalajara?
Guadalajara has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Panama City. When comparing the sizes of Panama City and Guadalajara, 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.