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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Panama City, The Best 2-Week 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 $101New Orleans $271
The average daily cost (per person) in Panama City is $101, while the average daily cost in New Orleans is $271. 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 $125
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPanama City $70New Orleans $250
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:
- Travel in Comfort Airport Transfer Pty : $12
- Transfers from PTY Airport to Playa Bonita or Gamboa and Back: $20
- Transfers from Airport to Panama City: $40
- Transfer from Tocumen Airport to hotels in Gamboa or Viceversa: $30
- Transfer from Tocumen Airport to Panama City Hotels : $25
- Transfer from Tocumen Airport to Colon Cruise Port: $160
- Transfer from Playa Bonita or Gamboa to PTY Airport: $35
- Transfer from Panama City Hotel to Tocumen Airport: $23
- Transfer from Panama Airport to Colon Cruise Terminal: $110
- Transfer from PTY/Panama City to Cruise Terminal or to the Marina: $32
- Transfer Tocumen International Airport - Playa Blanca, Rio Hato, Buena Ventura: $75
- Transfer Panama City to Amador Cruise Port : $30
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
- New Orleans Louis Armstrong Airport MSY Round-Trip Private Transfer: $226
- Private Transfer from Port Of New of New Orleans Cruise: $210
- One-Way Private New Orleans Arrival or Departure Transfer: $200
- Transfer from New Orleans MSY or Port to New Orleans by Minibus: $190
- Private Airport Transfer From New Orleans To Baton Rouge: $177
- Airport Transfer in New Orleans: $175
- Private Mercedes Sprinter Transfer NOLA, Airport, Cruise Ship: $175
- New Orleans Limo: Airport Transfer, Corporate Transport: $140
- New Orleans Departure Transfers: $135
- New Orleans Airport (MSY) to New Orleans - Round-Trip Transfer : $130
- Private Transfer: Louis Armstrong Airport MSY to New Orleans in Luxury SUV: $126
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 $78
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
- 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
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:
- Cajun and Creole Cooking Class: $38
- New Orleans Demonstration Cooking Class with Meal: $42
- Evening Steamboat Jazz Cruise + Optional Dinner: $58
- Steamboat Natchez Evening Jazz Cruise with Dinner Option: $58
- Evening Jazz Boat Cruise with Optional Dinner: $60
- Paddlewheeler Creole Queen Jazz Dinner Cruise in New Orleans: $60
- French Quarter Food Tour: Signature Tastes of New Orleans: $75
- Beloved Bites & Famous Dishes Food Tour: $76
- The Premier Food Tour — Your Must-Do Activity: $81
- New Orleans Sunset Food Tour Experience: $85
- Private New Orleans Food Tour of the French Quarter : $85
- Lower Garden District Food Tour: $89
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.
- Gatun Lake Panamá Wildlife Adventure Guided Experience: $159
- Horseback riding and Agri-Tour in Colon Private tour: $75
- Panama City Tour and Panama Canal – Miraflores Locks Experience: $30
- Panama Viejo and Casco Antiguo Tour: $115
- Panama a quick and memorable tour: $68
- San Blas Islands, 4-Island Tour All-Inclusive Welcome Cocktail: $149
- #1 Walking Tour of Casco Viejo Panama with Lunch included : $70
- “Bike Tour Casco Viejo and Panama City Discover the Essence: $40
- “Panama at Your Rhythm: Private Tour with Canal, Old Town and More”: $67
- "Bridge of the Americas Stand-Up Paddle Private 2 hours Tour " : $100
- 1st Mysteries and FreeMasons Tour: $38
- 2 Days 1 Night San Blas Adventure in Pamana: $260
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:
- Bom Creole Dining Experience w/ Pool and Louisiana Native Chef : $135
- Creole French Quarter Walking Tour: $35
- 45-Minute French Quarter Highlights Tour in New Orleans: $23
- 45-Minute Garden District Highlights Tour in New Orleans: $22
- 45-Minute Marigny Triangle Highlights Tour in New Orleans: $22
- 90-Minute Jean Lafitte Swamp and Bayou Tour with Transportation: $62
- A Locals' Drink Dat! Cocktail Tour: $200
- A Walk in the Park: City Park New Orleans Audio Tour: $9.99
- Adults-Only Garden District Cemetery Anne Rice True Crime Tour: $35
- Adults-Only New Orleans Ghost, Crime, Voodoo, and Vampire Tour: $37
- Adults-Only New Orleans Historic Red Light District Walking Tour: $44
- Adults-Only Uncensored Ghost, Vampire, and Voodoo Walking Tour: $35
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:
- Guided Rum Distillery Tour and Tasting: $15
- Ghost and Haunted Pub Crawl Tour with Free Shot: $18
- Ghost Tour and Haunted Pub Crawl Party with Free Shot!: $24
- New Orleans Small-Group History Tour Pub Crawl of The Irish Channel: $25
- Treme Bar Crawl & Seafood Experience: $25
- New Orleans Spooky Spirits Haunted Pub Crawl: $30
- New Orleans Original True Crime Pub Crawl: $30
- NOLA Distillery Tour: $30
- Vixens and Villains Haunted Pub Crawl: $30
- Haunted Pub Crawl: $30
- Haunted Pub Crawl: $32
- New Orleans Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
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.