How much does it cost to travel to Panama City?
You should plan to spend around $86 (B/.86) per day on your vacation in Panama City. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $21 (B/.21) on meals
- $11 (B/.11) on local transportation
- $70 (B/.70) on hotels
A one week trip to Panama City for two people costs, on average, $1,209 (B/.1,206). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to Panama City has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is Panama City expensive to visit?
Prices in Panama City are reasonable and comparable to your average travel destination. Hotels, food, and sightseeing are generally within normal price ranges.
Within Central America, Panama City is a moderately priced destination compared to other places. The overall cost of travel here is fair for the region and comparable to Bocas del Toro or Belize City.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Panama City Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Panama City?
The average Panama City trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Panama City travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
Category
|
Cost
|
Accommodation 1
(Double Occupancy)
|
B/.70
($70)
|
Local Transportation 1
|
B/.11
($11)
|
Food 2
|
B/.21
($21)
|
Entertainment 1
|
B/.66
($66)
|
Tips and Handouts 1
|
B/.6 -
17
($6 - 17)
|
Alcohol 2
|
B/.9 -
27
($9 - 27)
|
Accommodation Budget in Panama City
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Panama City is $35 (B/.35). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Panama City is $70 (B/.70). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Panama City? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Transportation Budget in Panama City
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The cost of a taxi ride in Panama City is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $11 (B/.11) per person, per day, on local transportation in Panama City.
-
Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$11
B/.11
How much does it cost to go to Panama City? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Panama City will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Food Budget in Panama City
Calculated from travelers like you
-
While meal prices in Panama City can vary, the average cost of food in Panama City is $21 (B/.21) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Panama City should cost around $8.33 (B/.8.31) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Panama City is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food2
Meals for one day
$21
B/.21
Typical prices for Food in Panama City are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Panama City, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.
Entertainment Budget in Panama City
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Entertainment and activities in Panama City typically cost an average of $66 (B/.66) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
-
Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$66
B/.66
Tips and Handouts Budget in Panama City
Calculated from travelers like you
Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps Budget in Panama City
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Unfortunately, bad things can happen on a trip. Well, you've just got to deal with it! The average price for a scam, robbery, or mishap in Panama City is $5.01 (B/.5.00), as reported by travelers.
-
Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps1
$5.01
B/.5.00
Alcohol Budget in Panama City
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $18 (B/.18) on alcoholic beverages in Panama City per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$18
B/.18
Water Budget in Panama City
Calculated from travelers like you
-
On average, people spend $4.13 (B/.4.12) on bottled water in Panama City per day. The public water in Panama City is considered safe to drink.
-
Water2
Bottled water for one day
$4.13
B/.4.12
Panama City On a Budget
Panama City, Panama
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.
The city is the most modern in all of Central America. The skyline has a large number of skyscrapers and high rise buildings, and the city continues to grow in wealth and prosperity.
Panama City's climate is tropical wet and dry. The wet season is between May and December and the dry season is from January through April. The temperatures are relatively constant throughout the year with an average temperature of about 81 degrees Fahrenheit.
Sights
There are some wonderful, world renowned sights around Panama City, with the most famous being the legendary Panama Canal. The most convenient and cheapest place to see the canal is at the Miraflores locks, where you can watch the boats travel through the canal. There's also a museum, movie theater, and expensive restaurant nearby. You can reach the locks by taxi for about US$6 one way.
Other places worth visiting in Panama City include Mi Pueblitos, Biomusea, Casco Viego, Panama Viejo, and Amador Causeway.
Neighborhoods
Panama City is a large city with many interesting neighborhoods worth visiting. Amador Causeway is a man-made peninsula on the southern part of the city. It's a great dining and entertainment area with nice views of the skyline.
Balboa, Cerro Ancon, and Albrook are all quiet, residential neighborhoods that are in the former Canal Zone. This is also where you'll find the domestic airport, Albrook.
Calidonia and La Exposicion are experiencing much of the city's growth. There are high rise developments and also budget accommodation, but there are safer and more enjoyable neighborhoods elsewhere in the city so this area is not recommended.
Casco Viejo and San Felipe are nice areas with houses that date back to the 1800s. This area has been made a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is being nicely restored.
Along the coastline in Marbella, Punta Paitilla, and Punta Pacifica where there are many residential towers and shopping malls.
El Cangrejo, Area Bancaria, and Bella Vista make up a compact, upscale area that has a lot of charm. The Financial District is in Area Bancaria and there are many great places to stay in El Cangrejo.
Panama Viejo is the on the eastern edge of the city. This was the first settlement in Panama but it was later burned. It's possible to visit this area as part of a walking tour.
Activities
As a large, modern city, there are plenty of activities that you can enjoy while you're in Panama City. There are several Spanish Language schools in the city. This is a great place to learn or improve your Spanish skills in a fun and upbeat setting.
There are also plenty of shopping opportunities throughout the city. You'll find many street markets in the Caledonia area. There are many malls in the city including the Albrook Shopping Mall where you can find affordable clothes and entertainment such as bowling, movie theaters, and arcades. For more traditional Panamanian crafts head to the shops in the Centro de Artesanias. This is in the Balboa neighborhood.
Food and Dining
There are many traditional Panamanian restaurants throughout the city. The prices range from affordable to expensive and the quality is usually quite good.
If you're looking for a cheap meal, there are many cafes around town that sell sandwiches that are quite good. Also head to the fish market outside of Casco Viejo where you can find some fresh, cheap,and delicious options. If you're looking for something other than traditional food, there are great and affordable Chinese restaurants all over town.
Transportation
Panama City has a decent bus system and this is the cheapest option for exploring the city. The buses can get very crowded during rush hour, but their festive colors make for a fun experience. In recent years the colorful old buses have slowly been replaced by newer, air conditioned buses. The final destination of the bus is usually written on the top.
Alternatively, the easiest and most convenient way to travel around Panama City is by taxi. Taxis do not have a meter, but the driver should have a table available that will tell you the cost based on your starting and ending locations. Prices are set by the authorities and there will be an additional fee for every extra passenger.
In 2014 Panama City opened it's Metro system. It is a clean and affordable travel option. The Metro goes between the Albrook Mall/International Bus Station, through Panama City to the town of Los Andes. This covers about eight miles but does not go near many of the tourist destinations.
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We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.