Which place is cheaper, Quebec City or Panama City?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Panama City or Quebec City?
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 Quebec City can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Panama City or Quebec City?
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.
Quebec City
Quebec City is the capital of the Quebec province. It has a dramatic location on the cliffs by St. Lawrence Seaway and the city's Old Town has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Quebec is a mid sized city with a population of about 700,000. Most of the economy is administrative and bureaucratic, but the city has a very impressive history as the fortress capital of New France. French is the official language of the entire province, but most people in the tourist areas of Quebec City speak English.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Panama City, The Best Adventure Tours to Panama, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Canada, and The Best Northern Lights Tours in Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPanama City $86Quebec City $127
The average daily cost (per person) in Panama City is $86, while the average daily cost in Quebec City is $127. 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 Quebec City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPanama City $35Quebec City $73
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPanama City $70Quebec City $146
Compare Hotels in Panama City and Quebec City
Looking for a hotel in Panama City or Quebec City? 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 Quebec City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Panama City $11Quebec City $16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Panama City
Also for Panama City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport TRANSFER 1 way Tocumen Howard BLB Albrook Rio Hato Colon: $28
- PTY Airport Transfer Service To Panama City: $50
- PTY Tocumen Airport Private Transfer One Way or Round Trip!: $45
- Panama Airport (PTY) to Panama city - Arrival Private Transfer: $28
- Panama Airport (PTY) to Panama city - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $57
- Panama Airport (PTY) to Playa Bonita/Gamboa - Private Transfer: $38
- Panama Airport (PTY) to Playa Bonita/Gamboa - Round-Trip Transfer: $77
- Panama City Private Arrival Transfer: $17
- Embera Indian Village Tour w/ Airport Transfer: $290
- Guided Panama Canal & City Tour with Transfers: $65
- Half-Day City & Canal Tour w/ Airport Transfer: $215
- Historic District and Canal Tour with Transfer: $65
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Quebec City
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Quebec City are as follows:
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Parking in Quebec City$3.66
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quebec City
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Quebec City:
- Le Terminal Quebec Cruise Port: Private Transfer to Quebec: $229
- Québec Airport (YQB): Transfer to Le Terminal Quebec Port: $229
- Quebec Airport (YQB) to Downtown private transfer: $117
- Québec Airport (YQB) to Le Terminal Quebec Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $114
- Jean Lesage Arrivals Private Airport Transfer: $108
- Private Transfer from Quebec City to YQB airport: $108
- YQB Quebec City Airport Cruise Terminal Train Station Transfer: $99
- Quebec city private transfer: $98
- Le Terminal Quebec Cruise Port to Quebec - Arrival Private Transfer: $97
- Le Terminal Quebec Port to Quebec city - Arrival Private Transfer: $97
- Quebec to Le Terminal Quebec Port - Departure Private Transfer: $97
- YQB Airport Transfer: $97
Is it cheaper to fly into Panama City or Quebec City?
Prices for flights to both Quebec City 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 $21Quebec City $37
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:
- Panamanian Dinner and Folkloric Show Ticket with Pickup: $60
- Panama Evening Food Tour: $60
- Panama City FOOD Tour: $65
- Night Out Experience (360 Panoramic Views + Dinner Show): $80
- Panama: 10-Recipe Boozy Panamanian Cooking Class + Dinner: $85
- The 'Real' Panamanian Private Food Tour: $200
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quebec City
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Quebec City.
- Dinner Cruise with Dance and VIP Option: $132
- Old Quebec 5-Course Gourmet Food Tour: $189
- Combo Historical and Food Tour of the Old Quebec City: $192
- Evening Gourmet Tour 5 Course Dinner - History and Food in Old Quebec City: $192
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Panama City $66Quebec City $24
Tours and Activities in Panama City
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Panama City.
- Bar tour in El Cangrejo with Bar Hopping Panama: $20
- Walking Tour Metropolitan Park Panama City : $25
- POIN Swing Experience: $27
- Poin Glass Observation Deck Ticket with VR Tour: $27
- POIN The Edge Experience: $27
- Panama: Highlights Bike Tour in Casco Viejo & Cinta Costera: $28
- Get to know the city aboard CitySightseeing Panama: $30
- City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $30
- Sunset Walking Tour at Casco Viejo El Chorrillo and the fish market: $30
- walking tour in Casco Antiguo !: $30
- Bike tour in Panama City and Old Quarter with local guided: $31
- Bike tour in Panama City and Old City with locals: $31
Tours and Activities in Quebec City
Here are a few actual costs in Quebec City for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Electric fatbike Tour of Québec City: $111
- Magnificent Montmorency Falls Private E-Bike Tour: $149
- 2-Hour Christmas Magic Tour in Old Quebec: $29
- APP Self-Guided Tours Quebec with Audioguide: $8.74
- Amazing Old Quebec City Classique Walking Tour with 1 Funicular Ticket included: $33
- Animated Crime Walking Tour in Old Quebec: $19
- Beautiful walking tour of Old Québec: $27
- Beyond the Walls Private E-Bike Tour: $178
- Bike Tour to Montmorency Falls from Quebec City: $126
- City & Market Farm Tour from Québec: $34
- Electric Bike Tour of Quebec City: $126
- Fatbike tour of Québec city in the winter: $102
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPanama City $18Quebec City $18
Sample the Local Flavors in Quebec City
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Quebec City:
- Honey and Distillery Tour with Tasting: $21
- Craft Brewery and Beer Tasting Tour: $50
- Island of Orleans Wine Tour: $91
- Wine Tasting on Ile d'Orleans: $92
- Quebec City : eTandem Rental on Ile d'Orleans-wine tasting: $116
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Panama City and Quebec City, we can see that Quebec City 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 Quebec City 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 Quebec City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Quebec City 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 Quebec City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Panama City or Quebec City?
Quebec City has a larger population, and is about 30% larger than the population of Panama City. When comparing the sizes of Panama City and Quebec City, 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.