Which place is cheaper, Panama City or San Juan del Sur?
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 San Juan del Sur or Panama City?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for San Juan del Sur and Panama City. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: San Juan del Sur or Panama City?
San Juan del Sur
San Juan del Sur is a popular port destination on the Pacific coast of southwest Nicaragua. The town was once a quaint fishing village but has grown into a tourist town with activities for visitors that include surfing, fishing, and, of course, partying. The town has a population of just over 15,000, most of whom are either fishermen or involved in the tourism industry. There is also a large expat community from the United States, Canada, and Europe.
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 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua, The Best Budget Tours to Panama, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Panama City.
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San Juan del Sur Prices
Nicaragua PricesPanama City Prices
Panama Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Juan del Sur $71Panama City $101
The average daily cost (per person) in San Juan del Sur is $71, 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 San Juan del Sur and Panama City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Juan del Sur $26Panama City $35
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Juan del Sur $52Panama City $70
Compare Hotels in San Juan del Sur and Panama City
Looking for a hotel in San Juan del Sur 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: San Juan del Sur Hotel Prices and Panama City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Juan del Sur $18Panama City $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan del Sur
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Juan del Sur:
- Granada: One way shared transfer to San Juan del Sur: $39
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Panama City
Also for Panama City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport To City Hotel transfer: $50
- Arrival Private Transfer Panama PTY Airport to Playa Bonita: $84
- Arrival Private Transfer Panama PTY Airport to Playa Bonita: $75
- Panama Airport (PTY) to Coronado/Gorgona - Round-Trip Transfer: $203
- Panama Airport (PTY) to Decameron - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $203
- Panama Airport (PTY) to Panama city - Arrival Private Transfer: $23
- Panama Airport (PTY) to Playa Blanca Round-Trip Private Transfer: $153
- Panama Airport (PTY) to Playa Bonita/Gamboa - Round-Trip Transfer: $64
- Panama City Private Departure Transfer: $42
- Panama One Way Transfer: Van from Tocumen Airport to Panama City: $83
- Panama Private Airport/Port/Hotel Transfer Service: $28
- Panama Tocumen Airport (PTY) to Colón - Arrival Private Transfer: $74
Is it cheaper to fly into San Juan del Sur or Panama City?
Prices for flights to both Panama City and San Juan del Sur 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 daySan Juan del Sur $32Panama City $36
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Juan del Sur
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Juan del Sur.
- ATV Adventure with Lunch and Dinner: $500
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$8.26
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 Ravioli Masterclass + Dinner in Panama City center: $55
- 3.5 -hour Afropanamanian Cooking Experience in Panama: $70
- Panamanian Dinner and Folkloric Show - All Inclusive Experience: $70
- E-Tickets Emotions Dinner Live Show Admission: $75
- Street Food Tour Panama City (25+ tastings) By Paradox Experience: $95
- 4-Hour Guided Panamanian Cooking Class and Markets Experience: $95
- 4h Cooking Class in 10 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $95
- Embera Village Cooking Class Experience in Chagres National Park: $125
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Juan del Sur $15Panama City $66
Tours and Activities in San Juan del Sur
Here are a few actual costs in San Juan del Sur for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- ATV Adventure Tour in San Juan del Sur, NICARAGUA: $145
- ATV Adventure at Lake Nicaragua in San Juan del Sur: $75
- Catamaran Cruise by Jossi Tours: $220
- Horse Riding Adventure by Jossi Tours: $295
- Kayak and Paddle Boarding Adventure by Jossi Tours: $105
- La Flor Beach Natural Reserve Bus Tour by Jossi Tours: $250
- Masaya Volcano Tour in Nicaragua by Jossi Tours: $130
- Mombacho Volcano Adventure Tour by Jossi Tours: $235
- Mombacho Volcano Hike and Ziplining Adventure from San Juan del Sur: $159
- Private Tour to Granada Colonial City and 365 Islets: $274
- Private Wakeboarding Session in San Juan del Sur by Jossi Tours: $140
- Relaxed Coastal Boat Tour in San Juan del Sur by Jossi Tours: $250
Tours and Activities in Panama City
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Panama City.
- Private Historic Tour of the Old Town: $15
- BEC Immersive Museum: Panama Through Your Senses Admission Ticket: $15
- Archaeological Site. Admission ticket to Panama La Vieja: $15
- Panama Old Town Tour: Learn about our History and Culture: $22
- Sunset Bike Tour/ Cinta Costera Casco Viejo by Paradox Experience: $22
- Spanish Experience in Panama City: $25
- Casco Viejo Walking Tour: History, Culture & Local Tasting: $25
- Museum of Illusions Panama Admission Ticket: $26
- Panama City Must-see Attractions Walking Tour with a Guide: $26
- Get to know the city on board CitySightseeing Panama (24 Hours): $30
- City Sightseeing Panama City Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $30
- Monkey and Sloth Jungle Habitat Panama Tour: $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Juan del Sur $13Panama City $18
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Juan del Sur and Panama City, we can see that Panama City is more expensive. And not only is San Juan del Sur much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to San Juan del Sur would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Juan del Sur 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 San Juan del Sur.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is San Juan del Sur Expensive? and Is Panama City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Juan del Sur or Panama City?
Panama City has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of San Juan del Sur. When comparing the sizes of San Juan del Sur 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.