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

Should you visit Bali 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 Bali and Panama City can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Bali or Panama City?

Bali

Known as the "Island of the Gods," it's not difficult to see why the Gods would want to set up shop in Bali. With a beautifully diverse landscape of hills, mountains, coastlines, beaches, vibrant rice fields and volcanic hillsides, you'll easily go into sensory overload.

Bali is home to 4 million people who all hold true to a deeply spiritual and unique culture. With champion surfing, world class resorts and challenging hiking trails, this Indonesian island accommodates travelers from every walk of life. It's often called, "paradise on earth, " and no one disagrees.

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 Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, The Best G Adventures Tours to Indonesia, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Panama City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Panama City.


Which place is cheaper, Panama City or Bali?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Bali is $85, 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 Bali and Panama City in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Bali $40
    Panama City $35
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Bali $80
    Panama City $70
Compare Hotels in Bali and Panama City

Looking for a hotel in Bali 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 Bali


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: Bali Hotel Prices and Panama City Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Bali $8.68
    Panama City $11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Bali

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Bali:


  • Motorbike Rental
    $2.98

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bali

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bali:

  • Paragliding In Bali With Private Hotel Transfer: $140
  • Bali Spiritual: Blessing Ceremony, Pristine Nature and Transfer: $115
  • BALI PARAGLIDING Fly, Swing and Soaring above the sea with private transfer: $114
  • Luxury Bali Private Airport Transfer Alphard: $113
  • Drive Your Own Jet Ski Without Instructor With Private Transfer: $95
  • Bali Parasailing, Banana, Jet Ski, and Sea Walker with Transfer: $80
  • Batur Volcano Jeep Tour Include Private Transfer: $80
  • Bali Quad and Buggy Discovery Tour, Including Round-Trip Transfer: $76
  • Horse Riding on the Black Sand Beach and Free Hotel Transfers: $74
  • Bali Water Sport : Sea Walker,Donut Boat and Banana Boat with Hotel Transfers: $72
  • Bali Parasailing Adventure,Banana Boat,Jet Ski and Donut Boat with Transfers: $69
  • Bali Sea Walker, Parasailing Adventure, Donut Boat with Transfer: $67

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Panama City

Also for Panama City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Departure Transfer to Panama City Airport (PTY): $13
  • Transfer to Panama Canal (Miraflores Locks): $14
  • Private transfer from airport to hotels in Panama City: $15
  • Private Transfer from Panama City Airport (PTY): $16
  • Private Transfer Airport PTY to/from Panama City: $17
  • Private One-way Airport Transfer from Panamá to Tocumen Airport : $19
  • Transfers from PTY Airport to Playa Bonita or Gamboa and Back: $20
  • Private transfer Panama City - Fort Amador Cruise Terminal: $20
  • Transfer Airport - City / Min 2 pax: $20
  • Panama: Private Transfer from Tocumen Airport: $23
  • Transfer from Panama City Hotel to Tocumen Airport: $23
  • Private Transfer from Tocumen Airport to Downtown Panama City, Panama: $23

Is it cheaper to fly into Bali or Panama City?

Prices for flights to both Panama City and Bali 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
    Bali $34
    Panama City $36
Typical Food Prices in Bali

Some typical examples of dining costs in Bali are as follows:


  • Coffee
    $1.19
  • Lunch for Two
    $13
  • Bali Cafe for Two
    $26
  • Lunch for Two
    $7.75
  • Lunch for 2
    $8.59
  • Dinner for 2
    $9.42

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bali

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bali.

  • Best Romantic Seafood Dinner at Jimbaran Beach Sunset : $29
  • Private Tour Rafting Uluwatu Kecak Dance Sunset and Dinner in Jimbaran Bay: $30
  • Bali Sunset and Dinner: Uluwatu, Tanah Lot and Jimbaran: $32
  • Amazing Private Tour-Uluwatu Kecak Dance and Romantic Seafood Dinner: $33
  • Romantic Seafood Dinner under sunset jimbaran Beach: $38
  • Romantic Seafood Dinner at Jimbaran: $40
  • Private Tour Uluwatu Sunset Kecak Dance and Dinner at Jimbaran: $41
  • South Bali Beach Tour, Uluwatu Sunset Kecak Fire Dance & Seafood Barbeque Dinner: $50
  • Kekeb Cooking Class at Nusa Dua: $55
  • Uluwatu Temple Sunset Tour & Dinner at Jimbaran Bay: $63
  • Highlights Padang - Padang, Melasti Beach & Jimbaran Dinner: $65
  • Exotic North Bedugul, Tanah Lot, and Jimbaran Seafood Dinner: $65

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 Evening Food Tour: $60
  • Street Food Tour in Panama City with 24 samples and secret drinks: $69
  • Afro-Panamanian Cooking Class with Meal: $75
  • Street Food Tour with 24 Tastings: $75
  • Cooking Class in Panama City with 10 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $95
  • 4-Hour Guided Panamanian Cooking Class and Markets Experience: $95
  • Panama: 10-Recipe Boozy Panamanian Cooking Class + Dinner: $95
  • Folkloric Dance & Typical Dinner at Sabroso Panamá: $110
  • Embera Village Cooking Class Experience in Chagres National Park: $125
  • The Real Panamanian Private Food Tour through Panama City: $205
  • Street Food Tour in Panama with a Local Guide: $263

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Bali $10
    Panama City $66
Typical Entertainment Prices in Bali

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Bali are as follows:


  • Spa for Two
    $52
  • Snorkelling Trip
    $12
  • Cooking School
    $27

Tours and Activities in Bali

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bali are as follows:

  • Bali Telaga Waja White Water Rafting Adventure : $55
  • Legendary Scenic Spots Of Nusa Penida Private Guided Day Tour: $48
  • Private Tours Tegenungan Waterfall Ubud Palace & Market: $80
  • Ubud Bali ATV Quad Bike Adventure: $45
  • White Water Rafting Adventure at Telaga Waja River : $54
  • 2 Day Tours Ubud Art Village, Dance And Other Tourist Attractions: $186
  • 3-Days Lombok,Gili island Tour Hopping around departure from Bali island: $300
  • 5 Hours Bali Blue Lagoon Snorkeling Tour Including Tanjung Jepun: $59
  • 6-Hour White Water Rafting and Kanto Lampo Waterfall Private Tour: $79
  • ATV Tour Through Fun Zone and Scenic Trek: $35
  • Adventure Rafting Journey With Us! And Ubud Tours : $123
  • All Inclusive Tour to Tanah Lot Temple and Monkey Forest: $56

Tours and Activities in Panama City

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

  • The Hull Experience Colonial Tour: $14
  • Archaeological Site. Admission ticket to Panama La Vieja: $15
  • Experience of Salsa in Panama: $25
  • Panama Casco Viejo: Walking Tour Must See Treasures!!!: $25
  • Panama: Highlights Bike Tour in Casco Viejo & Cinta Costera: $26
  • Panama : Must-See Sites Walking Tour With A Guide: $27
  • Get to know the city aboard CitySightseeing Panama: $29
  • Panama City Tour and Panama Canal – Miraflores Locks Experience: $30
  • Causeway and Old Town Night Tour: $30
  • City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $30
  • Sunset Walking Tour at Casco Viejo El Chorrillo and the fish market: $30
  • City Sightseeing Panama City Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $30

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Bali $3.07
    Panama City $18


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bali and Panama City, we can see that Panama City is more expensive. And not only is Bali much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bali is in Asia 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 Bali would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bali 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 Panama City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Panama City than you might in Bali.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bali Expensive? and Is Panama City Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Bali or Panama City?

Panama City has a larger population, and is about 1% larger than the population of Bali. When comparing the sizes of Bali 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.