How much does a trip to Panama cost?
A structured breakdown of flights, lodging, transport and food for a 12-day trip to Panama at three budget levels.
6 min read · Updated 2026-08-01
Panama sits in the affordable band on the ground. These are planning estimates, not quotes.
Daily spend per person
- Budget — about $55 a day
- Mid-range — about $125 a day
- Comfortable — about $300 a day
A 12-day trip, excluding flights
Multiply the daily figures out and a 12-day trip lands near these totals per person.
- Budget — around $660
- Mid-range — around $1,500
- Comfortable — around $3,600
Flights
Flights are not included in these estimates. Fares move far more than on-the-ground costs, so check live prices from your departure city before you commit.
Where the money actually goes
Transport between places is the line item most people underestimate. In Panama that usually means domestic flights from albrook reach bocas del toro and the far west quickly
Easy savings
Travel in December, January rather than the busiest weeks, base yourself in fewer towns to cut transfer days, and book accommodation just outside the headline neighbourhoods.
Recommended destinations
Where to go in Panama
Panama City
Glass skyline, the canal locks and the restored colonial quarter of Casco Viejo.
Explore Panama City
Bocas del Toro
Caribbean archipelago of stilt guesthouses, boat trips, surf and easy island hopping.
Explore Bocas del Toro
Guna Yala (San Blas)
Autonomous Guna territory of hundreds of tiny palm islands on the Caribbean side.
Explore Guna Yala (San Blas)
Boquete
Cool coffee highlands under Volcán Barú, with cloud-forest trails and hot springs.
Explore BoqueteRelated guides
Find the destination that fits your trip
Compare every destination against your own budget, dates and travel style.