A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Panama City vs. Reno for Families, Nightlife, Couples, and Food

Should you visit Panama City or Reno?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Panama City or Reno, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Panama City

Panama City is a cosmopolitan, fun-filled, and active beach town. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the food, beaches, and shopping.

Reno

Reno is a vibrant, energetic, and growing city. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Panama City and Reno: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Panama City or Reno?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Panama City. Although Panama City and Reno are both popular with visitors, Panama City has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Panama City is more popular for its music, resorts, beaches, and impressive beauty, while Reno is known for its museums. Panama City is more touristy than Reno and is popular for its watersports, sandy beaches, and year-round beach weather. It is also home to Pier Park. Reno is popular for its casinos and nightlife scene.

How is Panama City different from Reno?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Reno and Panama City. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Panama City or Reno?

Reno is a nice place to visit for its museums and landmarks. However, Panama City does not have museums and landmarks.

Reno offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Museums in town range from art and history to local or quirky. The National Automobile Museum, the Nevada Museum of Art, Fleischmann Planetarium, and the Anthropology Museum are some of the favorites.

Panama City does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Panama City or Reno? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Panama City and Reno can be difficult as they are each good in their own way.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Panama City. There are many waterfront restaurants that serve freshly caught seafood. Head to town for a charming atmosphere or grab a bite at a casual eatery. Fried seafood is popular when eating out but you'll also find plenty of options for land-lovers. Most restaurants also have kid-friendly menus.

Reno is becoming an appealing option for foodies. The food scene has been growing in recent years and you'll find plenty of casual restaurants that serve hearty and filling comfort foods.

Is Panama City or Reno Better for Nightlife?

It's hard to distinguish whether Panama City or Reno has a better nightlife scene.

The people in Panama City know how to have a good time. The nightlife is particular crazy during spring break, when the town fills with students. Head to the famous Club La Vela or Spinnaker for music and fun at night.

The nightlife in Reno has something for everybody. There's a big nightlife scene with a huge number of bars and entertainment options. There are also a growing number of breweries in town.

Is Panama City or Reno Better for Music?

Panama City is a popular place for its music scene. However, Reno is not a live music destination.

The music scene in Panama City is active and vibrant. A popular way to enjoy music in the area is to find a restaurant with a lounge where local musicians perform.

Reno is not a live music destination.

Is Panama City or Reno Better for Resorts?

Panama City is a popular place for its luxury resorts. However, Reno is not a resort destination.

Panama City has a few great resort options. Most people stay in condos that are VRBO's or Airbnbs, but there are resorts in the area as well.

Reno is not a resort destination.

Is Panama City or Reno Better for Beaches?

Panama City is an excellent place to visit for the beach. However, Reno is not a beach destination.

Panama City is considered a top beach destination. With miles of long white sandy beaches and crystal blue waters, this area's beaches offer a beautiful escape. Head to the area's state parks for the most natural experience. These include St. Andrews State Park and Camp Helen State Park. A day trip to Shell Island is also popular.

Reno is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Panama City or Reno?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Reno and Panama City.

Panama City offers some nice shopping areas. There are a number of malls and shopping centers in the area.

Reno has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. In addition to your standard suburban shopping malls and strip malls, there's the Midtown District, which has local retail shops and an eclectic and alternative vibe. The area has thrift shops, music vendors, and more.

Is Panama City or Reno Better for Families?

Panama City is renowned for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Reno is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

As it has a large number of activities for kids, Panama City is a very family-friendly destination. This area has large sandy beaches, waterparks, amusement parks, and marine parks. Kids will enjoy playing around at WonderWorks, cooling off at Shipwreck Island Waterpark, and learning about marine life at Gulf World Marine Park. There are also many watersports and water activities that are fun for the whole family.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Reno. You'll find some arcades and entertainment options for kids in some of the casinos. There's also the Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum, which has kid-friendly, hands-on exhibits, and the largest zoo in Nevado, the Sierra Nevada Zoological Park.

Is Panama City or Reno Better for Couples?

Panama City is an excellent place to visit for couples. Also, Reno is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for romance.

Panama City makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The beautiful beaches and romantic restaurants make for a great romantic getaway. This is the perfect place to take sunset walks along the beach and sample freshly caught local seafood.

Reno is a nice destination for couples. There are outdoor parks and scenic walks like the Truckee River Walk or the Rancho San Rafael Regional Park. There's also several great museums and some interesting restaurants.

Is Panama City or Reno Better for Students?

Panama City is an excellent place to visit for its student-friendly activities. However, Reno is not popular with students.

Panama City is a very popular beach town for students and younger travelers. It's not the spring break destination that it once was, but you'll still find students hanging out around the spring holidays.

Reno is not popular with students.

Is Panama City or Reno Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Panama City and Reno.

Public transit is generally limited in Panama City. Most people need a car in Panama City but there is a trolley service that connects major tourist areas.

Public transit is mostly limited in Reno. There's a public bus system with routes around town.

Is Panama City or Reno a more walkable city?

Reno is a city with a few options for its high level of walkability. However, Panama City is a beach town with minimal options for its ease of walking around.

Reno is generally not very walkable. While there are some reasonably walkable neighborhoods, you really need a car to get around town.

Panama City is not a very walkable beach town. There's often construction and the streets aren't designed for pedestrians.

For even more information, also check out Is Panama City Worth Visiting? and Is Reno Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Reno or Panama City?

How long in Panama City or Reno?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Panama City and Reno. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Panama City than in Reno. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Panama City, and 1-3 days is enough time in Reno.

Families should spend more time in Panama City than Reno. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Panama City, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Panama City than Reno. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Panama City that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Reno than Panama City if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Reno.

One day in Panama City or Reno?

Visitors enjoy the live music and food when visiting the destination of Panama City. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the vibrant city of Reno. One day should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A weekend in Panama City or Reno?

Panama City is a fun place to experience. It's also a great beach destination, too. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the energetic destination of Reno. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Five days in Panama City or Reno?

Visitors enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the active destination of Panama City. This beach town offers something for everyone. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.

The energetic city of Reno offers shopping and museums. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

A week in Panama City or Reno?

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the cosmopolitan beach town of Panama City. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. Many people spend one week here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. Because of this, one week is usually enough time for a trip here.

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Reno. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America, The Best Coach Bus Tours in United States of America, and The Best Adventure Tours to United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Panama City and Reno, we can see that Panama City is more expensive. And not only is Reno much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Reno would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Reno 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 Panama City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Panama City than you might in Reno.

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 Reno Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Panama City or Reno?

Reno has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Panama City. When comparing the sizes of Panama City and Reno, 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.