Which place is cheaper, Miami 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 Miami?
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 Miami can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Panama City or Miami?
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.
Miami
Miami is a popular tourist destination and a modern city in South Florida. It has beautiful white beaches, crystal blue waters, cosmopolitan neighborhoods, impressive shopping, and excellent dining opportunities. It is also a gateway to the Florida Keys, which is another popular destination in South Florida.
Miami is the second most populated city in Florida and the metropolitan area is the most populated in the state with more than 5.4 million people. It's also the 7th largest metro area in the country. The city sits between the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Everglades to the west. It covers 110 miles north to south but is a narrow 20 miles east to west.
Miami sits at a low latitude, giving it a subtropical savannah climate. There are two seasons; the warm and dry season between November and April and the hot and wet season between May and October. The coldest months are between December and March when highs are in the upper 70 or low 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The summer months have highs in the upper 80s or 90s and lows in the mid 70s with high humidity.
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 Sightseeing Tours in United States of America, and The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in United States of America.
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Panama City Prices
Panama PricesMiami Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPanama City $101Miami $258
The average daily cost (per person) in Panama City is $101, while the average daily cost in Miami is $258. 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 Miami in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPanama City $35Miami $154
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPanama City $70Miami $308
Compare Hotels in Panama City and Miami
Looking for a hotel in Panama City or Miami? 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 Miami Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Panama City $11Miami $38
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Panama City
Also for Panama City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 2 Days 1 Night Tour in Panama : Hotel and Transfers: $278
- Airport To City Hotel transfer: $50
- Arrival Private Transfer Panama PTY Airport to City by Luxury SUV: $84
- Arrival Private Transfer Panama PTY Airport to Panama City by SUV: $75
- Arrival Transfer Panama Tocumen Airport PTY to Panama by Sprinter: $152
- Luxury SUV Private Transfer Panama City to Panama PTY Airport: $84
- One Way Private transfer Panama City PTY Airport to City: $19
- Panamá Tocumen Airport Hotel or airbnb Transfer: $25
- Panama Airport (PTY) to Decameron - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $213
- Panama Airport (PTY) to Playa Bonita/Gamboa - Private Transfer: $34
- Panama Airport (PTY) to Playa Bonita/Gamboa - Round-Trip Transfer: $67
- Guided Panama Canal & City Tour with Transfers: $70
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Miami
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Miami are as follows:
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Car Rental for a Day$18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Miami
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Miami:
- Transfer to West Palm Beach: $420
- From Roundtrip Bimini Ferry with Hotel Transfers: $289
- From Miami Airport - Private Transfer to Hotels and Homes: $265
- Private Miami Hotels Transfer to Airport : $265
- From Miami - Private Transfer from Miami Hotels to Airport: $255
- Round Trip Motorcoach Transfer to Key West from Miami: $245
- Miami Airport Executive Transfer Service: $190
- Transfer from Port Miami to Miami Airport. Up to 11 passengers.: $190
- Transfer from Miami Airport to Miami Hotel or Miami Port: $160
- Private transfer from Miami hotel to Port of Miami: $160
- Private Transfer from Hotel in Miami to Port Miami. Up to 11 pax.: $160
- Private Magic City Tour with Transfers Experience: $155
Is it cheaper to fly into Panama City or Miami?
Prices for flights to both Miami 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 $36Miami $72
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 Dinner and Folkloric Show Ticket with Pickup: $60
- Panama Evening Food Tour: $60
- Panama City FOOD Tour: $65
- E-Tickets Emotions Dinner Theater Live Show Admission: $75
- Afro-Panamanian Cooking Class with Meal: $75
- Street Food Tour with 24 Tastings: $75
- Cooking Class in Panama City with 10 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $95
- 4-Hour Guided Panamanian Cooking Class and Markets Experience: $95
- Panama: 10-Recipe Boozy Panamanian Cooking Class + Dinner: $95
- Folkloric Dance & Typical Dinner at Sabroso Panamá: $110
- The Real Panamanian Private Food Tour through Panama City: $205
- Street Food Tour in Panama with a Local Guide: $263
Typical Food Prices in Miami
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Miami:
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Lunch with Drinks (for 2)$45
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David's Cafe Lunch (for 1)$16
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Miami
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Miami.
- The Ultimate Little Havana Food Tour: $67
- Little Havana Street Food Tour with Enthusiastic Guide: $69
- South Beach Food Tour: $70
- Taste of Little Havana Food Tour in Miami with Cuban Street Food: $75
- Miami Mosaic Signature Food Tour: $75
- Guided Small Group Little Havana Food Tour: $91
- Mango's Tropical Cafe Dinner & Show: $98
- Miami Dinner Party w/ Night Club Experience: $100
- Ukrainian cooking class in Miami: $150
- Traditional Cuban Cooking Class in Miami: $155
- Food Tour in Little Havana, Miami: $216
- Miami : Small Group Cuban Cooking Class: $620
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Panama City $66Miami $31
Tours and Activities in Panama City
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Panama City.
- Archaeological Site. Admission ticket to Panama La Vieja: $15
- Spanish Experience in Panama City: $25
- Panama Casco Viejo: Walking Tour Must See Treasures!!!: $25
- Panama: Highlights Bike Tour in Casco Viejo & Cinta Costera: $26
- Panama : Must-See Sites Walking Tour With A Guide: $27
- Get to know the city aboard CitySightseeing Panama: $29
- Panama City Tour and Panama Canal – Miraflores Locks Experience: $30
- Causeway and Old Town Night Tour: $30
- City Sightseeing Panama City Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $30
- walking tour in Casco Antiguo !: $30
- City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $30
- Guided Walking Tour in Panama City: $32
Tours and Activities in Miami
Here are a few actual costs in Miami for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 30 Minute- Ocean Drive Segway Tour: $42
- Bayside Marketplace Miami Full Day Shopping Experience : $100
- Discover Miami Beach with a Shared Golf Cart Tour: $55
- Miami Beach Art Deco Tour with Cocktails: $75
- Miami to Key West Bus Tour with Narration: $39
- Miami's Most Authentic Walking Tour of Little Havana: $39
- South Beach Top Highlights Tour with Lincoln Rd and Espanola Way: $49
- #1 Private Boat Tour and 1 Hour Free Jet Ski Rental in Miami: $349
- 1 Hour Lady Buggy Art Tour Experience in Wynwood: $160
- 1 Hour Star Island Segway Tour: $74
- 1 hr Private Airboat Everglades Tour near Miami: $225
- 1-Hour ATV Tours: $130
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPanama City $18Miami $22
Typical Alcohol Prices in Miami
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Miami are as follows:
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Evening at a Bar$32
Sample the Local Flavors in Miami
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Miami:
- Miami Florida Bar Crawl: $15
- #1 Miami Pub Crawl + Clubbing Experience: $19
- Guided Pub Crawl Miami and Club Entry Wynwood: $21
- Miami Bar Crawl: $29
- Guided Bar Crawl with Drinks Discounts and Club Entry: $29
- Pub Crawl Miami: $30
- Ghosts, Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $30
- Miami Bachelorette Bar Crawl: $40
- Pedal Pub Art District Party Bike Pub Crawl: $41
- Miami Pedal Pub: Arts District Party Bike Pub Crawl: $58
- Small-Group Brewery Golf Cart Tour of Wynwood with a Local Guide: $59
- Wynwood Graffiti Brewery Golf Cart Tour: $63
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Panama City and Miami, we can see that Miami 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 Miami 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 Miami would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Miami 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 Miami Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Panama City or Miami?
Panama City has a larger population, and is about 7% larger than the population of Miami. When comparing the sizes of Panama City and Miami, 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.