Which place is cheaper, Panama City or Ocho Rios?
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 Ocho Rios or Panama City?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Ocho Rios or Panama City, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Ocho Rios or Panama City?
Ocho Rios
Ocho Rios, or "Ochi" is a town located on the northeastern shore of Jamaica and is a popular hub for cruise ships. It is a great destination for tourists as it has many resorts and beautiful beaches.
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.
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Ocho Rios Prices
Jamaica PricesPanama City Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayOcho Rios $85Panama City $272
The average daily cost (per person) in Ocho Rios is $85, 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 Ocho Rios and Panama City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personOcho Rios $51Panama City $128
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomOcho Rios $102Panama City $256
Compare Hotels in Ocho Rios and Panama City
Looking for a hotel in Ocho Rios 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: Ocho Rios Hotel Prices and Panama City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ocho Rios $7.32Panama City $48
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ocho Rios
Also for Ocho Rios, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Ocho Rios Private Airport Transfer [VIP LUXURY Vehicles]: $158
- Private Airport Transfer to Bahia Principe Grand Hotel : $100
- A "Private" Airport Transfer to any Resort in Ocho Rios: $90
- Airport Transfer - From MBJ to Ocho Rios Hotels: $80
- Airport Transfer To Kingston, Ocho Rios, Montego Bay & Negril: $140
- Bahia Principe Grand Jamaica Private Airport transfer : $61
- Bahia Principe Grand and Luxury Airport Transfer: $80
- Blue Hole Waterfall & Bamboo Rafting Tour Ocho Rios-Transfer Only: $100
- Bob Marley & Nine Mile Heritage Tour with Bus Transfer/Ocho Rios: $117
- Dunn's River Falls And Shopping Tour From Ocho Rios-Transfer Only: $60
- Grand Bahia Jamaica Airport Transfers Montego Bay MBJ (Private Rountrip): $300
- Grand Bahia Principe Hotel Airport Transfer: $53
Is it cheaper to fly into Ocho Rios or Panama City?
Prices for flights to both Panama City and Ocho Rios 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 dayOcho Rios $28Panama City $115
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ocho Rios $15Panama City $19
Typical Entertainment Prices in Ocho Rios
For Ocho Rios, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Tour of Brimmer Hall Estate$11
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Admission to Coyaba Gardens$5.27
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Tour of Prospect Plantation$17
Tours and Activities in Ocho Rios
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ocho Rios.
- Ocho Rios Shopping Tour : $21
- Blue Hole Admission Fee Ticket: $25
- Original Blue Hole St. Ann Ocho Rios Jamaica Admission Fee Ticket: $25
- Ocho Rios City Bus Tour (Beach, Sightseeing & Shopping): $40
- Skip-The-Line: Dunn's River Falls Adventure Tour from Ocho Rios: $40
- Transportation to Horse Back Ride & Swim Adventure from Ocho Rios: $45
- Luminous lagoon Private & Group tour from Runaway Bay: $45
- Dunn's River Falls and Blue Hole Private Tour from Ocho Rios: $50
- Shopping and Sightseeing Tour in Ocho Rios: $50
- Jamaican Escapade Experience Dunn's River's Natural Majesty: $50
- Blue hole waterfalls tour from Ocho Rios : $51
- Private Ocho Rios highlights and beach day tour: $51
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
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayOcho Rios $7.43Panama City $56
Sample the Local Flavors in Ocho Rios
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Ocho Rios:
- Bar Hopping, Pub Crawl, Shopping and Sightseeing Tour Ocho Rios: $100
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ocho Rios and Panama City, we can see that Panama City is more expensive. And not only is Ocho Rios much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Ocho Rios 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 Ocho Rios would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ocho Rios 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 Ocho Rios.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ocho Rios Expensive? and Is Panama City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ocho Rios or Panama City?
Panama City has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Ocho Rios. When comparing the sizes of Ocho Rios 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 Ocho Rios or Panama City?
Panama City has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Ocho Rios experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Ocho Rios or Panama City in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Ocho Rios as well as Panama City. Ocho Rios attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the beaches, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Panama City this time of year.
In July, Ocho Rios is generally around the same temperature as Panama City. Daily temperatures in Ocho Rios average around 29°C (83°F), and Panama City fluctuates around 82°F (28°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Panama City. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ocho Rios this time of the year. In the summer, Ocho Rios often gets less sunshine than Panama City. Ocho Rios gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Panama City receives 283 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Panama City. Ocho Rios usually gets less rain in July than Panama City. Ocho Rios gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Panama City receives 7.3 inches (184 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyOcho Rios 29°C (83°F)Panama City 82°F (28°C)
Should I visit Ocho Rios or Panama City in the Autumn?
Both Panama City and Ocho Rios are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ocho Rios throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Panama City for the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Ocho Rios is a little warmer than Panama City in the autumn. The daily temperature in Ocho Rios averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Panama City fluctuates around 71°F (22°C).
It's quite sunny in Panama City. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ocho Rios. Ocho Rios usually receives less sunshine than Panama City during autumn. Ocho Rios gets 229 hours of sunny skies, while Panama City receives 256 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It's quite rainy in Ocho Rios. In October, Ocho Rios usually receives more rain than Panama City. Ocho Rios gets 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain, while Panama City receives 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberOcho Rios 28°C (82°F)Panama City 71°F (22°C)
Should I visit Ocho Rios or Panama City in the Winter?
Both Panama City and Ocho Rios during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Ocho Rios because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Panama City in the winter for the shopping scene and the cuisine.
In the winter, Ocho Rios is much warmer than Panama City. Typically, the winter temperatures in Ocho Rios in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Panama City averages at about 52°F (11°C).
It's quite sunny in Ocho Rios. In the winter, Ocho Rios often gets more sunshine than Panama City. Ocho Rios gets 257 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Panama City receives 185 hours of full sun.
Ocho Rios usually gets less rain in January than Panama City. Ocho Rios gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Panama City receives 3.9 inches (99 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryOcho Rios 26°C (79°F)Panama City 52°F (11°C)
Should I visit Ocho Rios or Panama City in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Ocho Rios and Panama City. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ocho Rios year-round. Also, most visitors come to Panama City for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months.
In April, Ocho Rios is generally a little warmer than Panama City. Daily temperatures in Ocho Rios average around 26°C (80°F), and Panama City fluctuates around 68°F (20°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Panama City this time of the year. In Ocho Rios, it's very sunny this time of the year. Ocho Rios usually receives less sunshine than Panama City during spring. Ocho Rios gets 251 hours of sunny skies, while Panama City receives 295 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Ocho Rios usually receives less rain than Panama City. Ocho Rios gets 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Panama City receives 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilOcho Rios 26°C (80°F)Panama City 68°F (20°C)
Typical Weather for Panama City and Ocho Rios
| Ocho Rios | Panama City | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 52°F (11°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 55°F (13°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 61°F (16°C) | 4.3 inches (108 mm) |
| Apr | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 68°F (20°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 74°F (24°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 80°F (27°C) | 4.6 inches (116 mm) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 82°F (28°C) | 7.3 inches (184 mm) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 82°F (28°C) | 7.5 inches (191 mm) |
| Sep | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 79°F (26°C) | 7.5 inches (192 mm) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 71°F (22°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 3.2 inches (81 mm) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 56°F (13°C) | 4.1 inches (104 mm) |
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.