Which place is cheaper, Panama City or Willemstad?
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 Willemstad or Panama City?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Willemstad and Panama City can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Willemstad or Panama City?
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 Budget Tours to Panama, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Panama City.
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Willemstad Prices
Curacao PricesPanama City Prices
Panama Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayWillemstad $368Panama City $101
The average daily cost (per person) in Willemstad is $368, 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 Willemstad and Panama City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personWillemstad $265Panama City $35
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomWillemstad $530Panama City $70
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Compare Hotels in Willemstad and Panama City
Looking for a hotel in Willemstad 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: Willemstad Hotel Prices and Panama City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Willemstad $26Panama City $11
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
- Private Transfer from Tocumen Airport to Gamboa: $40
- Transfer Tocumen International Airport - Playa Blanca, Rio Hato, Buena Ventura: $75
- Transfer from Playa Bonita or Gamboa to PTY Airport: $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Willemstad or Panama City?
Prices for flights to both Panama City and Willemstad 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 dayWillemstad $67Panama City $36
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.Willemstad $94Panama City $66
Typical Entertainment Prices in Willemstad
Here are a few typical costs in Willemstad for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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1/2 Day ATV Excursion$88
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1 Hour Trolley Tour$25
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Jewish Cultural Historical Museum Entrance Fe$5.90
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 dayWillemstad $14Panama City $18
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Willemstad and Panama City, we can see that Willemstad is more expensive. And not only is Panama City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Willemstad is in Caribbean Islands 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 Willemstad would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Willemstad 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 Willemstad Expensive? and Is Panama City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Willemstad or Panama City?
Panama City has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Willemstad. When comparing the sizes of Willemstad 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.