Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Panama City?
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 Panama City or San Juan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Panama City or San Juan, 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: Panama City or San Juan?
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.
San Juan
If you've ever set foot on a Caribbean cruise, you've probably spent a bit of time in San Juan, Puerto Rico. However, maybe you should consider spending more than just a port day in this beautiful and historically rich city.
As the capital and largest city in all of Puerto Rico, San Juan is home to approximately 400,000 people. Established in 1521, it is also the second oldest European-founded settlement in the Americas.
As this city fuses a historic paradise with modern day energy, it has absolutely everything to offer. Intellectual wanderers, beach bums, rainforest adventurers and radical surfers will all find plenty to do in San Juan.
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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Panama City Prices
USA PricesSan Juan Prices
Puerto Rico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPanama City $272San Juan $218
The average daily cost (per person) in Panama City is $272, while the average daily cost in San Juan is $218. 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 Panama City and San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPanama City $128San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPanama City $256San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Panama City and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Panama City or San Juan? 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: Panama City Hotel Prices and San Juan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Panama City $48San Juan $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer to Cruise Ships, Hotels, Airbnb in San Juan: $76
- Arrival Private Transfer SJU Airport to Old San Juan by Sedan: $120
- Carabali Rain Forest Round Trip Private Taxi Transfer: $200
- Departure Transfer from Old San Juan to to SJU Airport by Car: $86
- Double ATV Adventure: Private Hacienda Experience with Transfer: $289
- Premium Transfer in Airport, Hotel, Airbnb, Cruise: $25
- Private Airport Transfers to Ceiba Ferry Terminal and Airport: $155
- Private Departure Transfer - Hotel / Accommodation to San Juan Airport: $22
- Private Transfer Puerto Rico:To or From Airports, Hotels &Cruises: $33
- Private Transfer from SJU Airport to Cruise Port Roundtrip Servic: $109
- Private Transfer from SJU Airport to San Juan / Rio Grande: $115
- Private Transfer from or to San Juan and Ceiba Ferry: $93
Is it cheaper to fly into Panama City or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan and Panama City 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 dayPanama City $115San Juan $62
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Juan
For San Juan, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Authentic Flavors of San Juan Food Tour: $165
- FlyDining: Sunset & City Lights Dinner Over Old San Juan: $165
- Morning Old San Juan Food Tour: $169
- Cooking and Connecting with a Local in Puerto Rico: $173
- Savor the Sunset: Old San Juan Walking Food Tour: $179
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Panama City $19San Juan $49
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: $130
- Dolphin Sightseeing Tour on The Footloose Catamaran from Panama City Beach: $40
- Footloose Catamaran Snorkel and Dolphin Watch Tour: $50
- Original CRUISIN TIKIS 3 Hour Cruise, Snorkel, Swim/float Sandbar: $80
Typical Entertainment Prices in San Juan
For San Juan, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Horseback Riding Tour$40
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Full Day Snorkeling Trip$100
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1 Hr Windsurfing Lesson$75
Tours and Activities in San Juan
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for San Juan.
- Transportation in San Juan, Isla verde, Condado, Hotels, Cruises & Airbnb's SJU: $14
- San Juan Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $17
- Eco Friendly Farming Tour to Explore Dorado's Most Beautiful Farm: $20
- Discover Superb Self-Guided Audio Tour: $20
- Group Transportation in airport, cruise ships, hotels, bnb's in San Juan, PR: $23
- Old San Juan Walking Tour with a Local Certified Guide: $25
- San Juan Ghost Tour: Shrieks in the Sugarcane: $32
- Old San Juan Walking Tour: $39
- Old San Juan City Walking Tour: $39
- Historic Old San Juan Sunset Walking Tour: $39
- Top Rated El Yunque Rainforest & Waterslide – VIP SmallGroup Tour: $45
- Ron del Barrilito Heritage Skip-the-Line Tour: $46
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPanama City $56San Juan $12
Sample the Local Flavors in San Juan
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Juan:
- Old San Juan Bar Crawl: Experience Local Hotspots: $65
- The Pinones Pub crawl Bar crawl : $70
- Local Puerto Rican Rum Distillery Tour - Ron Pepon: $90
- Puerto Rico's First and Only Craft Beer Brewery Tour! : $99
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Panama City and San Juan, we can see that Panama City is more expensive. And not only is San Juan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Panama City is in North America and San Juan is in Caribbean Islands, 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 San Juan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Juan 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 San Juan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Panama City Expensive? and Is San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Panama City or San Juan?
San Juan has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Panama City. When comparing the sizes of Panama City and San Juan, 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 Panama City or San Juan?
Panama City has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but San Juan experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Panama City or San Juan in the Summer?
Both San Juan and Panama City during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Panama City in the summer for the beaches, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round.
In July, Panama City is generally around the same temperature as San Juan. Daily temperatures in Panama City average around 82°F (28°C), and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
In San Juan, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Panama City. In the summer, Panama City often gets around the same amount of sunshine as San Juan. Panama City gets 283 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 287 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Panama City. Panama City usually gets more rain in July than San Juan. Panama City gets 7.3 inches (184 mm) of rain, while San Juan receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPanama City 82°F (28°C)San Juan 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Panama City or San Juan in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Panama City and San Juan. Most visitors come to Panama City for the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Panama City is cooler than San Juan in the autumn. The daily temperature in Panama City averages around 71°F (22°C) in October, and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan this time of the year. In Panama City, it's very sunny this time of the year. Panama City usually receives more sunshine than San Juan during autumn. Panama City gets 256 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 235 hours of full sun in the autumn.
San Juan receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Panama City usually receives less rain than San Juan. Panama City gets 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain, while San Juan receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPanama City 71°F (22°C)San Juan 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Panama City or San Juan in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Panama City as well as San Juan. The winter months attract visitors to Panama City because of the shopping scene and the cuisine. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.
In the winter, Panama City is much colder than San Juan. Typically, the winter temperatures in Panama City in January average around 52°F (11°C), and San Juan averages at about 25°C (77°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan. In the winter, Panama City often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Panama City gets 185 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 240 hours of full sun.
Panama City usually gets more rain in January than San Juan. Panama City gets 3.9 inches (99 mm) of rain, while San Juan receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPanama City 52°F (11°C)San Juan 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Panama City or San Juan in the Spring?
Both San Juan and Panama City are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Panama City this time of year. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Panama City is generally cooler than San Juan. Daily temperatures in Panama City average around 68°F (20°C), and San Juan fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
It's quite sunny in San Juan. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Panama City. Panama City usually receives more sunshine than San Juan during spring. Panama City gets 295 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 272 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Panama City usually receives around the same amount of rain as San Juan. Panama City gets 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain, while San Juan receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPanama City 68°F (20°C)San Juan 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan and Panama City
| Panama City | San Juan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 52°F (11°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 55°F (13°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 61°F (16°C) | 4.3 inches (108 mm) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 68°F (20°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 74°F (24°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 80°F (27°C) | 4.6 inches (116 mm) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 82°F (28°C) | 7.3 inches (184 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 82°F (28°C) | 7.5 inches (191 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 79°F (26°C) | 7.5 inches (192 mm) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 71°F (22°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 63°F (17°C) | 3.2 inches (81 mm) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 56°F (13°C) | 4.1 inches (104 mm) | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
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.