Which place is cheaper, Panama City or Petra?
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 Petra or Panama 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 Petra and Panama City can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Petra or Panama City?
Petra
Whether you're checking off the Seven Wonders of the World, or you're just a huge Indiana Jones fan, the city of Petra must be on your bucket list. The "rose red city, half as old as time," was the capital of the Nabataean kingdom in the 6th century BC. It was the center for trade and commerce until an earthquake took out buildings and destroyed their water management system. After this destruction, the city of Petra seemed to be lost to western civilization.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Jordan, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Jordan, The Best Budget Tours to Panama, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Panama City.
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Petra Prices
Jordan PricesPanama City Prices
Panama Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPetra $153Panama City $101
The average daily cost (per person) in Petra is $153, while the average daily cost in Panama City is $101. 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 Petra and Panama City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPetra $59Panama City $35
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPetra $118Panama City $70
Compare Hotels in Petra and Panama City
Looking for a hotel in Petra or Panama 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: Petra Hotel Prices and Panama City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Petra $23Panama City $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Petra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Petra:
- Petra Private Transfer To Jerusalem: $290
- From Eilat: Petra Full-Day Guided Tour with Transfers: $219
- Fast and Reliable Private Transfer: Petra to Ma’in Hot Springs: $180
- Private Transfers from Petra Inside Jordan and Vice Versa: $176
- Petra Private Transfer To Multiple Destinations By Minivan: $160
- Comfort VIP Private Transfer: Petra to Aqaba South Beach Hotels: $140
- Private Transfer from Petra to Madaba – Safe & Comfortable Ride: $140
- Private Transfer from Ma'in Hotel to Aqaba Airport: $120
- Private Transfer Amman Airport to Petra or vice versa via the King's Highway: $120
- Petra Private Transfer To Multiple Destinations: $115
- Comfortable and Reliable Private Transfer: Petra to Wadi Rum: $100
- Petra Private Transfer To Aqaba: $100
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Panama City
Also for Panama City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Panama Private Airport/Port/Hotel Transfer Service: $28
- Transfer from Playa Bonita or Gamboa to PTY Airport: $35
- Private Transfer from Tocumen Airport to Gamboa: $40
- Transfer Tocumen International Airport - Playa Blanca, Rio Hato, Buena Ventura: $75
Is it cheaper to fly into Petra or Panama City?
Prices for flights to both Panama City and Petra 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 dayPetra $66Panama City $36
Typical Food Prices in Petra
Some typical examples of dining costs in Petra are as follows:
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Dinner for Two$12
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Juice$1.76
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Petra
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Petra.
- Cooking outside in little Petra between the Mountains.: $50
- Private Outdoor bedouin Dinner in Petra: $150
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$8.25
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Petra $47Panama City $66
Typical Entertainment Prices in Petra
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Petra are as follows:
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Entry to Petra for One$71
Tours and Activities in Petra
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Petra are as follows:
- 2 day tour to Petra from Eilat: $299
- 3 Hour Horse Riding Adventure around the Petra Area: $145
- 6 Hours Private Tour in Petra: $125
- Amman: Petra by Night Tour with Optional Day Visit: $99
- From Petra : Wadi Rum Private 8 - hours roundtrip tour .: $190
- Guided 3 Hour Tour of Petra's Iconic Landmarks: $44
- Half-Day Private Indiana Jones Petra Back Road Trial Tour: $165
- Petra Highlight Tour with Private Guide Sami Nawafleh | 2.5 Hours: $120
- Petra Highlights Guided Golf Cart Tour with Hotel Pickup: $169
- Private 2-Day Jordan Tour: Petra, Wadi Rum & Dead Sea: $210
- Private 3-Day Jordan Tour: Petra, Wadi Rum & Dead Sea: $270
- Private 3-Hour Guided Tour of Petra with Hotel Pickup .: $75
Tours and Activities in Panama City
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Panama City.
- City Tour Panama City + Canal + Shopping: $40
- Half Day Tour, Old City and Miraflores Locks: $55
- Panama Canal and City Tour Experience: $67
- Panama Canal Boat Tour to Monkey Islands: $68
- Embera Tour + Waterfall + Traditional Lunch + Fruits + Dance&Fun: $75
- Cultural Tour at Embera Indigenous Village: $75
- City Tour: Miraflores Locks, Casco Viejo & Amador Causeway: $90
- Night Adventure at Soberania National Park: $95
- Monkey Tour Adventure with Gamboa Rainforest Nature Walk: $120
- Embera Adventure Waterfall and Culture on the Chagres: $120
- Kayaking tour in the Chagres River: $149
- Ecotour and Indian Village: $150
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPetra $15Panama City $18
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Petra and Panama City, we can see that Petra is more expensive. And not only is Panama City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Petra is in Middle East and Panama City is in Central 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 Petra would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Petra 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 Petra Expensive? and Is Panama City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Petra or Panama City?
Panama City has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Petra. When comparing the sizes of Petra and Panama 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.