Which place is cheaper, New Orleans 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 New Orleans?
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 New Orleans can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Panama City or New Orleans?
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.
New Orleans
New Orleans is the largest city in the state of Louisiana, and it is a cultural city that is the home of jazz, unique cuisine, and Mardi Gras in the U.S. It was established in 1718 and is one of the oldest cities in the country. The culture of the city has a mix of French, Creole, African American, Caribbean, Irish, Haitian, German and Vietnamese. There's an energy and atmosphere that is unlike any place else.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Panama, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Panama City, The Best Cultural Tours in United States of America, and The Best Photography Tours in United States of America.
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Panama City Prices
Panama PricesNew Orleans Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPanama City $102New Orleans $270
The average daily cost (per person) in Panama City is $102, while the average daily cost in New Orleans is $270. 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 New Orleans in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPanama City $35New Orleans $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPanama City $70New Orleans $248
Compare Hotels in Panama City and New Orleans
Looking for a hotel in Panama City or New Orleans? 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 New Orleans Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Panama City $11New Orleans $51
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Panama City
Also for Panama City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- VIP transfers from the Airport to your Hotel in Panama: $32
- VIP Private Transfer: Tocumen Airport (PTY) to Panama City Hotels: $44
- Travel in Comfort Airport Transfer Pty: $30
- Transfers to Riu Playa Blanca, The Buenaventura Golf, Rio hato: $45
- Transfers from PTY Airport to Playa Bonita or Gamboa and Back: $27
- Transfer from Tocumen Airport to Colon Cruise Port: $160
- Transfer from Playa Bonita or Gamboa to PTY Airport: $35
- Transfer from PTY/Panama City to Cruise Terminal or Back: $35
- Transfer Tocumen International Airport - Playa Blanca, Rio Hato, Buena Ventura: $75
- Transfer Panama City to Amador Cruise Port: $35
- Transfer Colon Cruise Port - Panama Airport: $90
- San Blas Day Trip (Transfers & Lunch included): $175
Typical Local Transportation Prices in New Orleans
Some typical examples of transportation costs in New Orleans are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in New Orleans
Also for New Orleans, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Handicap New Orleans Airport or Hotel Transfer: $260
- Luxury Airport Transfer Service in the Northshore: $250
- New Orleans Airport One way Transfer to Baton Rouge or Slidell: $250
- New Orleans Louis Armstrong Airport MSY Round-Trip Private Transfer: $215
- Private Mercedes Sprinter Transfer NOLA, Airport, Cruise Ship: $210
- NOLA Cruise Port to New Orleans hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $201
- One-Way Private New Orleans Arrival or Departure Transfer: $200
- Private Round-Trip Transfer New Orleans and Louis Armstrong MSY: $200
- 11 Passenger Executive Van: New Orleans Airport or Hotel Transfer: $197
- Transfer from New Orleans MSY or Port to New Orleans by Minibus: $195
- Airport Transfer in New Orleans: $175
- Private Airport Transfer MSY to Downtown by SUV: $150
Is it cheaper to fly into Panama City or New Orleans?
Prices for flights to both New Orleans 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 $36New Orleans $77
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:
- 3.5 -hour Afropanamanian Cooking Experience in Panama: $70
- Panamanian Dinner and Folkloric Show - All Inclusive Experience: $70
- Panama City by Night: Rooftop Skyline, Dinner & Folklore Show: $85
- 4-Hour Guided Panamanian Cooking Class and Markets Experience: $95
- Embera Village Cooking Class Experience in Chagres National Park: $125
- The Real Panamanian Private Food Tour through Panama City: $245
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in New Orleans
For New Orleans, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Bananas Foster Cooking Demonstration in the French Quarter: $18
- New Orleans Steamboat Natchez Jazz Cruise with Dinner Option: $58
- Jazz Dinner Cruise aboard the Riverboat City of New Orleans: $60
- Paddlewheeler Creole Queen Jazz Dinner Cruise in New Orleans: $60
- New Orleans Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $71
- French Quarter Walking Food Tour: Signature Tastes of New Orleans: $80
- French Quarter Food Tour: 5 Classic Bites and NOLA Stories: $81
- Lower Garden District Food Tour: $89
- NOLA Carte Food Tour: 300 Years of Flavor in the French Quarter: $96
- New Orleans Original Seafood Tour of the French Quarter: $100
- New Orleans Cooking Class and Cocktail Walking Tour: $106
- New Orleans Small-Group Food Walking Tour and Cooking Class: $117
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Panama City $66New Orleans $55
Tours and Activities in Panama City
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Panama City.
- "Bridge of the Americas Stand-Up Paddle Private 2 hours Tour ": $100
- 1- or 2-Night Experience in San Blas Islands: $260
- 1st Mysteries and FreeMasons Tour: $38
- 3 1/2 Hour Experience of Lake Gatun in Panama: $95
- 4-Hour Guided Tour of Panama Canal & Old Town & More: $150
- 4-hour tour in Panama: $105
- 5 Hours Private Panama City Tour: $200
- 5 hour tour in Panama City: $35
- 5-Hour Tour of Panama City, Panama from Tocumen Airport: $130
- 5-hour tour in Panama by a Local Guide: $39
- 5hour tour of Panama City and Panama Canal - Shared or Private: $65
- 5hrs Panama City and Canal Tour + Amenities: $65
Typical Entertainment Prices in New Orleans
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for New Orleans's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Zoo & Aquarium Tickets (2)$75
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Riverboat Cruise$70
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French Quarter City Tour$100
Tours and Activities in New Orleans
For New Orleans, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1811 Slave Revolt Tour at Destrehan Plantation: $30
- 45-Minute French Quarter Highlights Tour in New Orleans: $20
- 45-Minute Garden District Highlights Tour in New Orleans: $20
- 60-minute Tremé Walking Tour & Photo Experience: $27
- A Local's Private French Quarter Walking or Biking Tour: $200
- A Locals' Drink Dat! Cocktail Tour: $200
- A Spectacular Ghost Tour in New Orleans: $12
- A Walk in the Park: City Park New Orleans Audio Tour: $9.99
- Adults Only Ghost and Vampire Walking Tour in New Orleans: $40
- Adults Only Raunchy French Quarter History Tour: $21
- Adults-Only Garden District, Cemetery & Anne Rice True Crime Tour: $34
- Adults-Only New Orleans Ghost, Crime, Voodoo, and Vampire Tour: $37
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPanama City $18New Orleans $60
Sample the Local Flavors in New Orleans
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in New Orleans:
- Pub Crawl: French Quarter Haunted History Cocktail Tour: $14
- Ghost Tour and Haunted Pub Crawl Party with Free Shot: $21
- Pub Crawl: The Drunken Telling of New Orleans Tales: $22
- New Orleans Old Alker Distillery Tour and Expert Guided Tasting: $25
- New Orleans Seafood Bar Crawl: $25
- Crawl Haunted Pub Crawl and Ghost Tour: $27
- Haunted Pub Crawl in New Orleans: $30
- New Orleans Original True Crime Pub Crawl: $30
- Pub Crawl: New Orleans Cocktail and Ghost Tour: $30
- New Orleans Haunted Pub Crawl: $30
- Pub Crawl: New Orleans' Finest Haunted Pub Tour: $38
- Pub Crawl: Haunted New Orleans Booze and Boos Ghost Walking Tour: $40
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Panama City and New Orleans, we can see that New Orleans 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 New Orleans 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 New Orleans would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in New Orleans 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 New Orleans Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Panama City or New Orleans?
New Orleans has a larger population, and is about 19% larger than the population of Panama City. When comparing the sizes of Panama City and New Orleans, 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.