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

Should you visit Kyoto 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 Kyoto 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: Kyoto or Panama City?

Kyoto

Kyoto is a larger city of Japan, though it is very much set in the old ways. With quiet temples, sublime gardens, colorful shrines, and geisha walking amidst a city surrounded by stunning mountains, Kyoto feels like a world of another time and place. True to ancient Japanese tradition, most aspects of daily life are tied closely with the changing of the seasons.

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 10-Day Tours from Tokyo, The Best 2-Week Tours from Tokyo, 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 Kyoto?

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

  • Kyoto Prices
    Japan Prices
    Panama City Prices
    Panama Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Kyoto $118
    Panama City $101

The average daily cost (per person) in Kyoto is $118, 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 Kyoto and Panama City in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Kyoto $66
    Panama City $35
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Kyoto $132
    Panama City $70
Compare Hotels in Kyoto and Panama City

Looking for a hotel in Kyoto 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 Kyoto


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: Kyoto Hotel Prices and Panama City Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Kyoto $7.82
    Panama City $11

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kyoto

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kyoto:

  • Minivan Departure Transfer from Kyoto City to Kansai Airport KIX: $260
  • Private Transfer from Maizuru Port to Osaka Kansai Airport (KIX): $226
  • Private Transfer from Maizuru Cruise Port to Osaka Airport (ITM): $155
  • Kyoto Gion & Fushimi E-Bike Tour with Hotel Transfer: $132
  • Private departure transfer from Kyoto city to Kansai International airport: $115
  • Shared Departure Transfer: Kyoto City to Osaka Itami Airport: $108
  • Private departure transfer from Kyoto city to Osaka Itami International airport: $83
  • Naruto & Boruto at Nijigen no Mori Entry & Transfer: $47

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Panama City

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

  • 2 Days 1 Night Tour in Panama : Hotel and Transfers: $278
  • Airport To City Hotel transfer: $50
  • Arrival Private Transfer Panama PTY Airport to City by Luxury SUV: $84
  • Arrival Private Transfer Panama PTY Airport to Panama City by SUV: $75
  • Arrival Transfer Panama Tocumen Airport PTY to Panama by Sprinter: $152
  • Luxury SUV Private Transfer Panama City to Panama PTY Airport: $84
  • One Way Private transfer Panama City PTY Airport to City: $19
  • Panamá Tocumen Airport Hotel or airbnb Transfer: $25
  • Panama Airport (PTY) to Decameron - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $213
  • Panama Airport (PTY) to Playa Bonita/Gamboa - Private Transfer: $34
  • Panama Airport (PTY) to Playa Bonita/Gamboa - Round-Trip Transfer: $67
  • Guided Panama Canal & City Tour with Transfers: $70

Is it cheaper to fly into Kyoto or Panama City?

Prices for flights to both Panama City and Kyoto 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
    Kyoto $43
    Panama City $36

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kyoto

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

  • Kyoto Nishiki Market & Depachika: 2-hours Food Tour with a Local: $48
  • Private Cooking Class Udon in Kyoto Japan: $55
  • 1 hour Takoyaki and Okonomiyaki cooking class in Kyoto: $61
  • Izakaya Style Cooking Class: $75
  • Bento Box Cooking Class: $75
  • Ramen Bowl Painting & Cooking in Gion, Kyoto: $76
  • Japanese Cuisine Cooking Class in Kyoto: $76
  • Kyoto Ramen Bowl Painting and Michelin Cooking Class: $76
  • Nishiki Market Walking Food Tour with Local guide: $83
  • Private Japanese Home Cooking Class in Kyoto with Michiyo: $86
  • Japanese 'Bento' cooking class in Kyoto: $89
  • Experience 'IZAKAYA' food cooking class in Kyoto: $89

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:

  • Panamanian Dinner and Folkloric Show Ticket with Pickup: $60
  • Panama Evening Food Tour: $60
  • Panama City FOOD Tour: $65
  • E-Tickets Emotions Dinner Theater Live Show Admission: $75
  • 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
  • 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.
    Kyoto $13
    Panama City $66

Tours and Activities in Kyoto

Here are a few actual costs in Kyoto for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Kyoto Private Full-day Walking Tour from Kyoto Station: $160
  • Kyoto Private Tour with National Licensed Guide : $240
  • Kyoto Sake Tasting Shared Tour Experience: $59
  • Osaka Kyoto Experience Japanese Homogi: $139
  • Quick Kyoto Tour for the First-Timers by Local Tour Guide: $60
  • 1 Day Kyoto Tour with a Local Guide: $153
  • 10 Hrs Full day Kyoto Tour w/Hotel Pick-up: $629
  • 10 Must-see Spots in Kyoto One Day Private Tour (up to 7 people): $188
  • 160 Years Authentic Seated Archery Experience in Kyoto: $103
  • 2 Hour Night Walking Tour Throughout Gion with snack: $35
  • 3 Hour Vegan Walking Tour with Lunch: $139
  • 3 Hours Kyoto Insider Sake Experience: $89

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
  • Spanish Experience in Panama City: $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 Panama City Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $30
  • walking tour in Casco Antiguo !: $30
  • City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $30
  • Guided Walking Tour in Panama City: $32

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Kyoto $13
    Panama City $18

Sample the Local Flavors in Kyoto

Also in Kyoto, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Kyoto Local Bar Crawl in Kawaramachi Area: $42
  • Kyoto Bar Crawl with Local Guide: $65
  • Kyoto Kyo-Yuzen Craft Workshop Day Tour and Sake Brewery Visit : $141


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kyoto and Panama City, we can see that Kyoto is more expensive. And not only is Panama City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Kyoto 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 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 Kyoto would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kyoto 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 Kyoto Expensive? and Is Panama City Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Kyoto or Panama City?

Kyoto has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Panama City. When comparing the sizes of Kyoto 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.