A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Panama City vs. Tamarindo for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Panama City or Tamarindo?

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 Tamarindo can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Panama City or Tamarindo?

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.

Tamarindo

Tamarindo is a small beach town in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica on the Pacific Coast. This town is usually sought out by surfers, fishers, couples, and families. There are delicious restaurants, beautiful beaches, and friendly Tico's and Tica's (local Costa Rican nicknames) everywhere.

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 Luxury Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica.


Which place is cheaper, Tamarindo or Panama City?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Panama City is $87, while the average daily cost in Tamarindo is $121. 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 Tamarindo in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Panama City $35
    Tamarindo $50
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Panama City $70
    Tamarindo $100
Compare Hotels in Panama City and Tamarindo

Looking for a hotel in Panama City or Tamarindo? 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.

Hotels in Panama City


Hotels in Tamarindo


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 Tamarindo Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Panama City $11
    Tamarindo $69

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Panama City

Also for Panama City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfer to Panama Canal (Miraflores Locks): $14
  • Private transfer from airport to hotels in Panama City: $15
  • Panama City Private Arrival Transfer: $17
  • Private Transfer from Tocumen Airport to Panama City: $17
  • Transfer in private vehicle from Panama Tocumen Airport (PTY)- Panama City: $19
  • Transfer in private vehicle from Panama City - Panama Tocumen Airport (PTY): $19
  • Transfer Airport - City / Min 2 pax: $20
  • Private Transfer from Tocumen Airport to Downtown Panama City, Panama: $23
  • Private One-way Airport Transfer (Tocumen Airport To/From Panamá): $23
  • Tocumen Airport Private Transfer. Arrivals / Departures: $27
  • Airport TRANSFER 1 way Tocumen Howard BLB Albrook Rio Hato Colon: $28
  • Panama city to Panama Tocumen Airport (PTY)- Private Transfer: $29

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tamarindo

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tamarindo:

  • Transfer to La Fortuna de Arenal: $307
  • Round Trip Transfer Liberia Airport (LIR) to JW Marriott Guanacaste: $280
  • Private Round Trip Transfer: From Liberia Airport To Reserva Conchal: $270
  • Round Trip Shuttle Transfer From Liberia Airport To Four Seasons Papagayo: $265
  • Round Trip Transfer From Liberia Airport To Secrets Papagayo: $250
  • Private Liberia airport transfer: $200
  • Round Trip Transfer Liberia Airport (LIR) to Four Seasons Resort: $200
  • Private Premium Transfer: Round Trip Private Transfer From Liberia Airport: $192
  • Round Trip Transfer Liberia Airport (LIR) to Riu Guanacaste Hotel: $181
  • Private Transfer Liberia Airport To Playa Conchal y Flamingo: $175
  • Transfer From Liberia Airport To Hacienda Pinilla Guanacaste: $175
  • Round Trip Transfer Liberia Airport (LIR) to Planet Hollywood Beach Resort: $171

Is it cheaper to fly into Panama City or Tamarindo?

Prices for flights to both Tamarindo 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Panama City $21
    Tamarindo $32
Typical Food Prices in Panama City

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Panama City:


  • Sandwich
    $8.29

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-hour Afropanamanian Cooking Experience in Panama: $55
  • Panama Evening Food Tour: $60
  • Panama City FOOD Tour: $65
  • 10-Recipe Boozy Panamanian Cooking Class : $85
  • Panama: 10-Recipe Boozy Panamanian Cooking Class + Dinner: $85
  • The 'Real' Panamanian Private Food Tour: $200

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tamarindo

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Tamarindo.

  • Traditional Cooking Class In Tamarindo: $95
  • Traditional Cooking Class In Tamarindo: $95

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Panama City $66
    Tamarindo $17

Tours and Activities in Panama City

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Panama City.

  • Archaeological Site. Admission ticket to Panama La Vieja: $15
  • Walking Tour in Panama City with Licensed Guide: $20
  • Tour de bares en El Cangrejo con Bar Hopping Panama: $20
  • Highlights Bike Tour in Casco Viejo & Cinta Costera: $26
  • POIN Glass Viewpoint Experience: $27
  • POIN The Edge Experience: $27
  • POIN Swing Experience: $27
  • Bike tour in Panama City and Old Quarter with local guided: $27
  • Get to know the city aboard CitySightseeing Panama: $30
  • walking tour in Casco Antiguo !: $30
  • Sunset Walking Tour at Casco Viejo El Chorrillo and the fish market: $30
  • City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $30

Tours and Activities in Tamarindo

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tamarindo are as follows:

  • ATV adventure from Riu, Secrets and papagayo: $90
  • Ecologic farming Sloth tour Hiking & Chocolate -Coffee tour: $245
  • Premium Tour: Rincón de la Vieja Volcano Adventure Combo Tour: $220
  • Premium Tour: Rincón de la Vieja Volcano and Waterfall Hiking: $170
  • Premium Tour:Sloths and Río Celeste y Cortez Waterfalls (Tenorio Volcano Park): $220
  • Private ATV or Buggy Tour from Riu Hotels: $85
  • Sloth Farm Watching Tour & Amazimg Waterfall: $185
  • Tour Tamarindo Estuary boat ride : $90
  • Wildlife Tour at Palo Verde National Park: $199
  • (Copy of) Costa Rica: tour in electric car (only best view locations): $100
  • 1,5 Hours Private Horseback Riding Tour in Playa Conchal: $80
  • 2-Hour Guided Tour by ATV near Playa Conchal: $130

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Panama City $18
    Tamarindo $14

Sample the Local Flavors in Tamarindo

Also in Tamarindo, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Tamarindo Bar Crawl Experience: $25


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Panama City and Tamarindo, we can see that Tamarindo is more expensive. And not only is Panama City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Tamarindo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tamarindo 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 Tamarindo Expensive?.