Which place is cheaper, Panama City or Veracruz?
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 Veracruz 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 Veracruz and Panama City can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Veracruz or Panama City?
Veracruz
Veracruz is the name of both a state and city in the country of Mexico. Locals often call the city "Puerto" (port) in order to differentiate the city from the state. The general area runs along the Gulf of Mexico and encompasses ruins, old colonial cities, lush green mountains, and delicious seafood.
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 from Playa del Carmen, The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun, The Best Budget Tours to Panama, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Panama City.
-
Veracruz Prices
Mexico PricesPanama City Prices
Panama Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVeracruz $151Panama City $101
The average daily cost (per person) in Veracruz is $151, 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 Veracruz and Panama City in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVeracruz $52Panama City $35
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVeracruz $104Panama City $70
Compare Hotels in Veracruz and Panama City
Looking for a hotel in Veracruz 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: Veracruz Hotel Prices and Panama City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Veracruz $27Panama City $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Veracruz
Also for Veracruz, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Roundtrip Private Transfer from Veracruz Airport (VER): $52
- Transfer from Veracruz Airport to Hotel in Veracruz Port: $44
- Private Transfer from Veracruz Airport (VER): $26
- Private Transfer to Veracruz Airport (VER): $26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Panama City
Also for Panama City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Panama 2 days / 1 night : hotel, transfers and city tour: $278
- Private Transfer from Panama Tocumen Airport (PTY) to Playa Blanca resorts: $220
- Private Transfer from PTY to Playa Blanca resorts: $220
- Private Transfer from Panama City or PTY Airport to Beach Resort: $220
- Panama Airport (PTY) to Decameron - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $208
- San Blas Day Trip (Transfers & Lunch included): $175
- Private Transfer from Panama City Airport to Beach Resorts: $175
- Transfer from Tocumen Airport to Colon Cruise Port: $160
- Private Transfer from Panama Tocumen Airport (PTY) to Colón resorts: $146
- Private Transfer Tocumen Airport - Linton Bay Marina: $90
- Premium Private Transfer : Airport to Hotel Panama city: $85
- Arrival Private Transfer Panama PTY Airport to Playa Bonita: $84
Is it cheaper to fly into Veracruz or Panama City?
Prices for flights to both Panama City and Veracruz 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 dayVeracruz $82Panama City $36
Typical Food Prices in Panama City
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Panama City:
-
Sandwich$8.24
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 City Market Food Tour & Lunch | Paradox Experience: $50
- 3.5 -hour Afropanamanian Cooking Experience in Panama: $70
- 4h Cooking Class in 10 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $95
- Embera Village Cooking Class Experience in Chagres National Park: $125
- The Real Panamanian Private Food Tour through Panama City: $245
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Veracruz $14Panama City $66
Tours and Activities in Veracruz
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Veracruz.
- 1 day tour of Tlacotalpan and Alvarado from Veracruz: $134
- 3-hour tour to the San Juan de Ulúa Fortress: $29
- Alvarado And Tlacotalpan Tour From Veracruz Or Boca Del Rio: $107
- Aquatico Inbursa Waterpark: Veracruz - Ticket: $26
- Catemaco And Los Tuxtlas Tour From Veracruz Or Boca Del Rio: $105
- City Tour en Veracruz y Acuario: $100
- Full Day Coffee Guided Tour in Coatepec: $104
- Full Day Tour to Alvarado and Tlacotalpan from Veracruz or Boca del Río: $101
- Full Day Tour to Catemaco and Los Tuxtlas with Transportation: $98
- Full Day Tour to La Antigua, Cempoala and Quiahuiztlán: $92
- Full-Day Tour to El Tajin and Vanilla Factory from Veracruz: $138
- Jalcomulco Rapids Adventure from Veracruz or Boca del Río: $149
Tours and Activities in Panama City
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Panama City.
- "Bridge of the Americas Stand-Up Paddle Private 2 hours Tour ": $100
- 1st Mysteries and FreeMasons Tour: $38
- 2 Days Island Hopping Adventure San Blas Islands - Private Cabin: $265
- 2 Hours Private Luxury Tour in a Convertible Car in Panama City: $255
- 2-Day San Blas Adventure from Panama City with WiFi: $260
- 3 1/2 Hour Experience of Lake Gatun in Panama: $95
- 3 Hours Private Walking Tour in Casco Antiguo Panama City: $45
- 4 Hours Private Tour in Panama City Highlights: $70
- 4-Hour Guided Tour of Panama Canal & Old Town & More: $150
- 4-hour tour in Panama: $105
- 5 Hours Private Panama City Tour: $200
- 5-hour tour in Panama by a Local Guide: $29
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayVeracruz $16Panama City $18
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Veracruz and Panama City, we can see that Veracruz is more expensive. And not only is Panama City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Veracruz is in North America 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 Veracruz would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Veracruz 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 Veracruz Expensive? and Is Panama City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Veracruz or Panama City?
Veracruz has a larger population, and is about 39% larger than the population of Panama City. When comparing the sizes of Veracruz 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.