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

Should you visit Santiago de Compostela or Panama City?

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

Should I visit Santiago de Compostela or Panama City? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Santiago de Compostela or Panama City?

Santiago de Compostela

Santiago de Compostela is the capital city of northwest Spain's Galicia region. Its famous cathedral marks the culmination of the Way of Saint James pilgrimage route, and is the alleged burial site of the apostle himself. The pilgrimage route begins in the Pyrenees, 500 miles away, though travelers can decide to join the journey at certain points in between, depending on how far they want to walk and how much they want to see.

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 One Week (7-Day) Tours in Spain, The Best 2-Week Tours in Spain, The Best Budget Tours to Panama, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Panama City.


Which place is cheaper, Panama City or Santiago de Compostela?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Santiago de Compostela Prices
    Spain Prices
    Panama City Prices
    Panama Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Santiago de Compostela €105
    Panama City €90

The average daily cost (per person) in Santiago de Compostela is €105, while the average daily cost in Panama City is €90. 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 Santiago de Compostela and Panama City in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Santiago de Compostela €37
    Panama City €31
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Santiago de Compostela €74
    Panama City €62
Compare Hotels in Santiago de Compostela and Panama City

Looking for a hotel in Santiago de Compostela 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.

Hotels in Santiago de Compostela


Hotels in Panama City


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: Santiago de Compostela Hotel Prices and Panama City Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Santiago de Compostela €38
    Panama City €9.40

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santiago de Compostela

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santiago de Compostela:

  • Private Transfer from Santiago de Compostela to Porto: $285
  • Private Transfer from Santiago de Compostela to Porto with Tour: $199
  • Private Transfer Santiago de Compostela to Porto or vice versa: $199
  • Private Transfer from Santiago city hotels to La Coruna Port: $149
  • Private Transfer from Santiago Airport (SCQ) to La Coruna Port: $149
  • Airport transfer Santiago de Compostela: $78
  • Airport Transfer Santiago de Compostela: $78
  • Santiago de Compostela Private Transfer from SCQ Airport to City centre: $66
  • Santiago de Compostela Private Transfer from the city centre to SCQ Airport: $54

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 Santiago de Compostela or Panama City?

Prices for flights to both Panama City and Santiago de Compostela 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
    Santiago de Compostela €34
    Panama City €32
Typical Food Prices in Santiago de Compostela

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Santiago de Compostela:


  • Raspberries
    €3.50
  • Ice Cream
    €2.00
  • Cookie
    €1.00
  • Kebab
    €7.25
  • Dinner & Tapas (for 2)
    €28
  • Tuna Empanada
    €3.50
  • Fruit Shake
    €3.50
  • Crepe
    €4.00

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santiago de Compostela

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Santiago de Compostela.

  • legends tour and galician dinner: $95
  • Santiago Food Tour Tapas Drinks and Delights with a Local: $101
  • Santiago de Compostela Food Tour: 5 Authentic Tastings & Drinks: $111

Typical Food Prices in Panama City

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


  • Sandwich
    €7.33

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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Santiago de Compostela €39
    Panama City €58

Tours and Activities in Santiago de Compostela

Here are a few actual costs in Santiago de Compostela for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • 5-day Private Tour Northern Spain (from Bilbao or Santiago): $5,868
  • Christmas in a tour among lights and stone: $12
  • Excursion to Finisterre, Muxia and Cabo Vilan With Boat Cruise: $67
  • From Santiago: A Coruña & Betanzos Full-Day Coastal Tour: $68
  • From Santiago: Finisterre Muxia Costa da Morte, 7 Stops Tour: $58
  • From Santiago: Finisterre, Muxía & Costa da Morte Tour: $58
  • From Santiago: Rías Baixas Galicia Seafood & Wine Day Tour: $50
  • From Santiago: Rías Baixas Tour with boat trip and winery: $50
  • From Santiago: Ribeira Sacra Tour & Boat Trip: $77
  • From Santiago: Tour Rias Baixas, Isla de Arousa y Combarro: $50
  • From Santiago: Tour to Rias Baixas with Boat Trip and Winery: $50
  • From Santiago: Tour to cathedrals Beach, Lugo and Asturias: $67

Tours and Activities in Panama City

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

  • BEC Immersive Museum: Panama Through Your Senses Admission Ticket: $15
  • Archaeological Site. Admission ticket to Panama La Vieja: $15
  • Private Historic Tour of the Old Town: $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
  • City Sightseeing Panama City Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $30
  • Panama City Walking Tour: Explore Top Sights & Hidden Gems: $30
  • Get to know the city on board CitySightseeing Panama (24 Hours): $30

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Santiago de Compostela €23
    Panama City €16
Typical Alcohol Prices in Santiago de Compostela

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Santiago de Compostela from other travelers:


  • 1 Pint Beer
    €2.00

Sample the Local Flavors in Santiago de Compostela

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

  • Cheese and Wine Tasting Experience: $34
  • Cheese and Wine Tasting Experience: $34


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


Which is Bigger, Santiago de Compostela or Panama City?

Panama City has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Santiago de Compostela. When comparing the sizes of Santiago de Compostela 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.