Central America · 1 city covered
We track one city in Panama. Its mid-range shoulder-season day comes to $300, which is 8% above the median across all 68 cities in the index.
Panama City is the anchor — glass towers above a colonial seafront. Accommodation is 51% of the mid-range day there, so where you sleep decides most of the budget.
Season coefficients are calibrated per city, not shared. Across Panama the peak-to-low swing runs 23%–23%, widest in Panama City (23%, year-round business hub pattern: low Jan–Feb, Aug at ×0.92, peak May–Jun, Sep–Oct at ×1.13). Corporate and convention demand fills the calendar, so leisure seasonality is shallow. The cheapest weeks are mid-summer and January, when business travel drops.
Mid-range, shoulder season, same five line items. Difference is relative to Panama ($300/day).
| Country | Mid · shoulder | vs Panama |
|---|---|---|
| Costa Rica | $236/day | -21% |
| Mexico | $289/day | -4% |
On average, a mid-range traveller spends $300 per day in Panama during shoulder season. Budget travellers can get by on around $121/day, while a luxury trip averages $949/day.
The most affordable destination in Panama is Panama City, where a budget trip costs about $121 per day in low season.
At the top end, Panama City reaches around $949 per day during peak season.
The best windows vary by city, but many destinations in Panama are ideal during Dec–Apr or shoulder season for a balance of weather and price.