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

Should you visit Mandeville or Panama City?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Mandeville or Panama City? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Mandeville or Panama City?

Mandeville

Mandeville is a small, quiet town in the mountains of Jamaica with a population of about 50,000. The town is situated on a plateau west of Kingston. It is the largest town in the parish of Manchester and the fifth largest urban center in the country.

Panama City

As the tropical breeze kisses your face amidst the never-ending rows of palm trees and high-rise beach condos, you find both pleasure and peace in this popular beach vacation spot. Such a city could be no place else than Panama City, Florida, located on the Florida Panhandle on the Gulf Coast. The entire region is known for it's calm beach with white sand, blue water, and spring break and summer vacation fun. Panama City offers a multitude of hotels, parks, beaches, and restaurants to make it a prime destination to both party and relax. However, as you explore the city, you will find that Panama City acquires its own diverse, vibrant character unique to other beach towns. Bring out the fishing rods and boogie boards and take advantage of one of Florida's most popular destinations! It's a great destination for families, kids, younger travelers, singles, couples, and retirees alike.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America.


Which place is cheaper, Panama City or Mandeville?

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

  • Mandeville Prices
    Jamaica Prices
    Panama City Prices
    USA Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Mandeville $95
    Panama City $272

The average daily cost (per person) in Mandeville is $95, while the average daily cost in Panama City is $272. 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 Mandeville and Panama City in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Mandeville $37
    Panama City $128
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Mandeville $74
    Panama City $256
Compare Hotels in Mandeville and Panama City

Looking for a hotel in Mandeville 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 Mandeville


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: Panama City Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Mandeville $30
    Panama City $48

Is it cheaper to fly into Mandeville or Panama City?

Prices for flights to both Panama City and Mandeville 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
    Mandeville $41
    Panama City $115

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Mandeville $8.01
    Panama City $19

Tours and Activities in Panama City

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

  • Big Kahuna Sunset Dolphin Cruise Experience: $55
  • 2 Hour Private Dolphin and Sightseeing Tour Shell Island: $70
  • 2 Hour Shell Island Jet Ski Dolphin Tour: $149
  • 2 Hours Shell Island Jet Ski Tour: $159
  • 3 Hour Tiki Boat Adventure: $55
  • 90 Minute Sunset Tiki Boat Tour: $45
  • Adventure Tour to Shell Island on the Privateer Catamaran: $65
  • Cruisin Tikis Shell Island Big Kahuna Beach and Snorkel Cruise: $70
  • Cypress Springs Eco Adventure: $120
  • Discover Snorkeling Tour in Panama City: $65
  • Dolphin Sightseeing Tour on The Footloose Catamaran from Panama City Beach: $40
  • Footloose Catamaran Snorkel and Dolphin Watch Tour: $50

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Mandeville $6.27
    Panama City $56


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mandeville and Panama City, we can see that Panama City is more expensive. And not only is Mandeville much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Mandeville is in Caribbean Islands and Panama City is in North 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 Mandeville would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mandeville 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 Mandeville.

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


Which is Bigger, Mandeville or Panama City?

Mandeville has a larger population, and is about 25% larger than the population of Panama City. When comparing the sizes of Mandeville 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.


When is the best time to visit Mandeville or Panama City?

Panama City has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Mandeville experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Mandeville or Panama City in the Summer?

Both Panama City and Mandeville during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Mandeville because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, many visitors come to Panama City in the summer for the beaches, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

Mandeville is around the same temperature as Panama City in the summer. The daily temperature in Mandeville averages around 29°C (83°F) in July, and Panama City fluctuates around 82°F (28°C).

In Panama City, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Mandeville. In the summer, Mandeville often gets less sunshine than Panama City. Mandeville gets 257 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Panama City receives 283 hours of full sun.

Panama City gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Mandeville usually gets less rain in July than Panama City. Mandeville gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Panama City receives 7.3 inches (184 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Mandeville 29°C (83°F) 
    Panama City 82°F (28°C)

Should I visit Mandeville or Panama City in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Mandeville and Panama City. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Mandeville year-round. Furthermore, most visitors come to Panama City for the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In the autumn, Mandeville is a little warmer than Panama City. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Mandeville in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Panama City averages at about 71°F (22°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Panama City this time of the year. In Mandeville, it's very sunny this time of the year. Mandeville usually receives less sunshine than Panama City during autumn. Mandeville gets 233 hours of sunny skies, while Panama City receives 256 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Mandeville gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Mandeville usually receives more rain than Panama City. Mandeville gets 160 mm (6.3 in) of rain, while Panama City receives 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Mandeville 28°C (82°F) 
    Panama City 71°F (22°C)

Should I visit Mandeville or Panama City in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Mandeville as well as Panama City. Mandeville attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the winter months attract visitors to Panama City because of the shopping scene and the cuisine.

In January, Mandeville is generally much warmer than Panama City. Daily temperatures in Mandeville average around 26°C (79°F), and Panama City fluctuates around 52°F (11°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Mandeville this time of the year. In the winter, Mandeville often gets more sunshine than Panama City. Mandeville gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Panama City receives 185 hours of full sun.

Mandeville usually gets less rain in January than Panama City. Mandeville gets 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Panama City receives 3.9 inches (99 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Mandeville 26°C (79°F) 
    Panama City 52°F (11°C)

Should I visit Mandeville or Panama City in the Spring?

Both Panama City and Mandeville are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Mandeville throughout the year. Also, the beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Panama City this time of year.

Mandeville is a little warmer than Panama City in the spring. The daily temperature in Mandeville averages around 26°C (80°F) in April, and Panama City fluctuates around 68°F (20°C).

It's quite sunny in Panama City. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mandeville. Mandeville usually receives less sunshine than Panama City during spring. Mandeville gets 225 hours of sunny skies, while Panama City receives 295 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Mandeville usually receives less rain than Panama City. Mandeville gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Panama City receives 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Mandeville 26°C (80°F) 
    Panama City 68°F (20°C)

Typical Weather for Panama City and Mandeville

Mandeville Panama City
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 26°C (79°F) 86 mm (3.4 in) 52°F (11°C) 3.9 inches (99 mm)
Feb 26°C (79°F) 64 mm (2.5 in) 55°F (13°C) 3.8 inches (96 mm)
Mar 26°C (80°F) 41 mm (1.6 in) 61°F (16°C) 4.3 inches (108 mm)
Apr 26°C (80°F) 54 mm (2.1 in) 68°F (20°C) 2.7 inches (69 mm)
May 28°C (82°F) 101 mm (4 in) 74°F (24°C) 2.7 inches (68 mm)
Jun 27°C (81°F) 122 mm (4.8 in) 80°F (27°C) 4.6 inches (116 mm)
Jul 29°C (83°F) 64 mm (2.5 in) 82°F (28°C) 7.3 inches (184 mm)
Aug 29°C (83°F) 96 mm (3.8 in) 82°F (28°C) 7.5 inches (191 mm)
Sep 29°C (83°F) 129 mm (5.1 in) 79°F (26°C) 7.5 inches (192 mm)
Oct 28°C (82°F) 160 mm (6.3 in) 71°F (22°C) 3.4 inches (86 mm)
Nov 28°C (82°F) 115 mm (4.5 in) 63°F (17°C) 3.2 inches (81 mm)
Dec 27°C (80°F) 104 mm (4.1 in) 56°F (13°C) 4.1 inches (104 mm)