Which place is cheaper, Panama City or Sydney?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Sydney or Panama City?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Sydney or Panama City, 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.
Where Should I go: Sydney or Panama City?
Sydney
Sydney, known as the harbour city, is the most famous and frequently visited city in Australia. It is at the economical and cultural heart of the country, and is one of the most beautiful and livable cities in the world. It's situated on the water with stunning views of the famous harbour throughout the city. It's most famous landmarks include the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It is also very close wonderful beaches, parks, and nature.
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 Contiki Tours to Australia, The Best G Adventures Tours to Australia, The Best Budget Tours to Panama, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Panama City.
-
Sydney Prices
Australia PricesPanama City Prices
Panama Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySydney $218Panama City $101
The average daily cost (per person) in Sydney is $218, 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 Sydney and Panama City in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSydney $108Panama City $35
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSydney $216Panama City $70
Compare Hotels in Sydney and Panama City
Looking for a hotel in Sydney 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: Sydney Hotel Prices and Panama City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sydney $16Panama City $11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Sydney
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Sydney:
-
Taxi Ride$14
-
Taxi to Airport$17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sydney
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sydney:
- From Special Event, Festival or Conference Transfers: $661
- Hunter Valley Sunrise Balloon Flight with Transfer: $363
- From Sydney Hotels - Hotel Transfer to Airport: $355
- Private City, Harbour, and Bondi Tour with Transfer: $274
- Private Transfer from Sydney Hotels to Airport: $255
- Premium Private Transfer FROM Sydney CBD/Downtown to Sydney Airport 1-11 people: $253
- Premium Private Transfer FROM Sydney Airport to Sydney CBD/Downtown 1-11 people: $253
- Tandem Skydive with Optional Transfers: $251
- Private Transfer from Sydney City Hotels to Newcastle Cruise Port: $245
- Private Transfer - Sydney Airport (SYD) to Newcastle Cruise Port: $245
- Sydney Airport Transfers: $183
- Luxury Van - Sydney Airport Private Arrival Transfer: $173
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Panama City
Also for Panama City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport TRANSFER 1 way Tocumen Howard BLB Albrook Rio Hato Colon: $28
- 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
- Arrival Transfer Panama Tocumen Airport PTY to Playa Bonita: $284
- Panama 2 days / 1 night : hotel, transfers and city tour: $278
- Panama Airport (PTY) to Coronado/Gorgona - Round-Trip Transfer: $208
- Panama Airport (PTY) to Panama city - Arrival Private Transfer: $23
- Panama Airport (PTY) to Panama city - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $47
- Panama Airport (PTY) to Playa Bonita/Gamboa - Private Transfer: $33
- Panama Airport (PTY) to Playa Bonita/Gamboa - Round-Trip Transfer: $65
- Panama City Private Departure Transfer: $42
Is it cheaper to fly into Sydney or Panama City?
Prices for flights to both Panama City and Sydney 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 daySydney $81Panama City $36
Typical Food Prices in Sydney
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Sydney:
-
Tea$2.76
-
Lunch Special$10
-
Food/Drink Coogie Beach$10
-
Meat Pies$3.45
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sydney
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Sydney.
- Vivid Festival of Light Harbor Cruise with Dinner: $36
- City Highlights Walking Food Tour with Harbor Cruise: $45
- Vivid Sydney Dinner Cruises: $46
- Roti Making Class with 5-Course Dinner: $50
- Harbour Dinner Cruise with Buffet: $50
- Sydney Harbour Discovery Dinner Cruise Scenic Sights and Buffet: $53
- Foraging Food Tour Sydney Native Aussie Food: $53
- Twilight Dinner Cruise on Coral Trekker: $59
- Harbor Sunset Cruise with Dinner: $59
- Sydney Harbour Tall Ship Twilight Dinner Cruise: $63
- Tall Ship Harbour Twilight Dinner Cruise: $72
- Sydney Harbour: Latin Fiesta Dinner Cruise: $73
Typical Food Prices in Panama City
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Panama City:
-
Sandwich$8.25
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:
- Panama Food Tour Local Markets Immersion (Tasting tour + Lunch): $50
- Panama City FOOD Tour: $65
- 3.5 -hour Afropanamanian Cooking Experience in Panama: $70
- 4-Hour Guided Panamanian Cooking Class and Markets Experience: $95
- The Real Panamanian Private Food Tour through Panama City: $245
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sydney $33Panama City $66
Typical Entertainment Prices in Sydney
Here are a few typical costs in Sydney for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
-
Theatre Show$31
-
Sydney Tower Visit (for 2)$32
-
Blue Mountain Tour/Featherdale Park (for 2)$131
-
Powerhouse Museum$10
Tours and Activities in Sydney
Here are a few actual costs in Sydney for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- #1 Blue Mountains Tour Scenic World Waterfalls Wildlife Park: $188
- 1 Day Perisher Snow Tour: $133
- 1 Day Thredbo Snow Adventure: $119
- 1 Day Thredbo Snow Tour: $133
- 1/2 day Sydney Sightseeing and Bondi Beach Tour: $45
- 14-Day Sydney to Cairns, Fraser, Whitsundays Comfort Tour: $5,614
- 2 Hour Private Surf Lesson Experience in Wollongong: $155
- 2 Hours Running Tour in Sydney: $99
- 2-Hour Guided Walking Tour in Sydney Harbour National Park: $41
- 3 Hours Abba Tribute Cruise on Sydney Harbour: $56
- 30 Minute Shared Sydney Harbour Scenic Helicopter Tour: $238
- 30-Minute Sydney Harbour and Olympic Park Helicopter Tour: $236
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
- Panama City Sunset Bike Tour (Cinta Costera & Casco Viejo): $22
- Spanish Experience in Panama City: $25
- Private Historic Tour of the Old Town: $25
- Panama City Must-see Attractions Walking Tour with a Guide: $27
- Monkey and Sloth Jungle Habitat Panama Tour: $30
- Panama City Walking Tour: Explore Top Sights & Hidden Gems: $30
- Get to know the city on board CitySightseeing Panama (24 Hours): $30
- City Sightseeing Panama City Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $30
- Panama City : Custom Walking Tour with A Guide (Private Tour): $35
- Half-Day Casco Viejo The Real City Guided with a Local Touch Tour: $35
- Panama Viejo Ruins & Museum Tour – Guided Exploration: $35
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one daySydney $16Panama City $18
Typical Alcohol Prices in Sydney
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Sydney:
-
Wine$11
Sample the Local Flavors in Sydney
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Sydney:
- Big Night Out Pub Crawl: $28
- Big Night Out Pub Crawl with Local Party Hosts: $32
- Private Wine Tasting at The Rocks: $46
- Sydney The Rocks Historical Pub Tour: $84
- From: Sydney - Hunter Valley Wine Tasting Guided Day Tour: $89
- Sydney Beer and Brewery Tour: $109
- Brewery, Winery, and Distillery Tasting Tour: $112
- From Full-Day Hunter Valley Wine Tour & Lunch: $145
- From Hunter Valley Wine Tasting Day Tour: $145
- From Hunter Valley Multi-Brewery Tour with Lunch: $149
- From All Inclusive Boutique Hunter Valley Wine Tour: $155
- Hunter Valley: Wine Tour with 3 Tastings and Garden Lunch: $155
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sydney and Panama City, we can see that Sydney is more expensive. And not only is Panama City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Sydney is in Pacific 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 Sydney would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sydney 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 Sydney Expensive? and Is Panama City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sydney or Panama City?
Sydney has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Panama City. When comparing the sizes of Sydney 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.