Which place is cheaper, Orlando 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 Orlando?
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 Orlando can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Panama City or Orlando?
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.
Orlando
Orlando is a haven for tourists from the entire United States and abroad. The most famous sight in Orlando, Walt Disney World, is not actually located in the city at all, but in nearby Lake Buena Vista. The area attracts over 50 million visitors a year and the city's sprawling development has created amenities and entertainment options for tourists of all ages.
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 Train & Rail Tours in United States of America, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America.
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Panama City Prices
Panama PricesOrlando Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPanama City $101Orlando $368
The average daily cost (per person) in Panama City is $101, while the average daily cost in Orlando is $368. 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 Orlando in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPanama City $35Orlando $154
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPanama City $70Orlando $308
Compare Hotels in Panama City and Orlando
Looking for a hotel in Panama City or Orlando? 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 Orlando Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Panama City $11Orlando $66
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
- Transfer Airport or Hotel To Playa Venao Panama or vice versa: $260
- Panama Airport (PTY) to Decameron - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $213
- Transfer from Tocumen Airport to Colon Cruise Port: $160
- Private Transfer from Panama City Hotels to Colón Cruise Port: $158
- Miraflores Visitor Center Ticket & Transfer: $155
- Arrival Transfer Panama Tocumen Airport PTY to Panama by Sprinter: $152
- Private Transfer from Panama Airport (PTY) to Colón Resorts: $150
- Roundtrip Private Transfer Panama Airport (PTY) - Playa Blanca : $142
- Private Transfer Hotel or Airport to Resorts in Playa Blanca. One way: $125
- Transfer from Panama Airport to Colon Cruise Terminal: $110
- Panama Tocumen Airport PTY to Coronado/Gorgona - Arrival Transfer: $107
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Orlando
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Orlando are as follows:
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Parking$14
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Taxi Ride$45
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Orlando
Also for Orlando, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Orlando-Sanford (SFB) Airport to The Villages: $295
- Private Transfer from Windermere to Port Canaveral: $295
- Private Transfer from Reunion to Port Canaveral: $295
- Private Transfer from The Villages to Orlando-Sanford (SFB) Airport: $295
- Transfer: Lake Buena Vista Hotels To/From Orlando Airport: $295
- Private Transfer from Orlando (MCO) Airport to Port Canaveral: $289
- Private Transfer from Leesburg to Orlando (MCO) Airport: $284
- Private Transfer from Orlando (MCO) Airport to Lakeland: $284
- Private Transfer from Lakeland to Orlando (MCO) Airport: $282
- Private Transfer from Orlando (MCO) Airport to Leesburg: $282
- Private Transfer from Lake Mary to Port Canaveral: $280
- Private Transfer to Davenport: $275
Is it cheaper to fly into Panama City or Orlando?
Prices for flights to both Orlando 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 $36Orlando $113
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 Orlando
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Orlando:
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Lunch for Two at Epcot$29
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Orlando
For Orlando, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- The Outta Control Magic Comedy Dinner Show: $39
- Italian Buffet Dinner Cruise Aboard the Barbara Lee Paddlewheeler: $40
- Flavors of ICON Park Food Tour: $40
- St. Johns River Lunch and Dinner Cruises in Sanford, Florida: $43
- Orlando Polynesian Fire Luau and Dinner Show Experience: $75
- Immersive Pasta Making Cooking Class: $75
- Señor Frogs Lunch / Dinner Package: $75
- Pasta Making Cooking Class With Local Chef in Orlando: $75
- Sushi Making Cooking Class at a Local Brewery in Orlando: $75
- Pirates Adventure Dinner Show with Drinks: $80
- Medieval Times Dinner Show in Orlando: $80
- Speakeasy Murder Mystery Dinner Show in Orlando: $82
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Panama City $66Orlando $204
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 Orlando
For Orlando, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Universal Studios for Two$110
Tours and Activities in Orlando
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Orlando.
- 2 HR Interactive Walking Ghost Tour in Downtown Orlando: $78
- 90 minute Everglades Airboat Tour near Orlando Florida : $89
- Magic After Dark Bioluminescence Kayak Tour Orlando: $85
- 1 Hour Florida Everglades Wildlife Tour: $65
- 1 Hour Historical Wildlife Tour of The Famous Chain of Lakes: $27
- 1 Hour Scenic Pontoon Day Cruise: $48
- 2 Hour Historical Wildlife Tour of the Chain of Lakes: $42
- 2 Hour Investigative Walking Ghost Tour of Downtown Orlando: $53
- 2Park 1Day Park-to-Park + 1Day Universal Epic Ticket: $349
- 30 Days Self Guided Audio Tour: Discover Orlando Local Stories: $30
- 8-Hour Automatic Polaris Slingshot SL Adventure Rental: $300
- 90 Minute Airboat Tour in the Florida Everglades: $85
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPanama City $18Orlando $30
Sample the Local Flavors in Orlando
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Orlando:
- Orlando Bar Crawl: Orlando's Magical Nightlife Bar Crawl: $15
- Orlando Haunts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $27
- Orlando Haunts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $30
- Caribbean Moonshine Distillery Tour and Tasting: $40
- Sanford’s Haunted Brewery Tour: $43
- Brews and Bites Brewery Walking Tour: $75
- 2-Hour Sushi Making Class at a Local Brewery: $75
- Pontoon Pub Crawl, 5 Lakeside Pubs and Restaurants Visit by Boat: $90
- Happy Hour Downtown Pub Crawl: $139
- Ghost Tour and Pub Crawl: $139
- Chef's Table and Wine Tasting Tour: $300
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Panama City and Orlando, we can see that Orlando 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 Orlando 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 Orlando would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Orlando 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 Orlando Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Panama City or Orlando?
Panama City has a larger population, and is about 96% larger than the population of Orlando. When comparing the sizes of Panama City and Orlando, 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.