Panama
A skyline, a canal and two oceans, all in US dollars.
Slightly cheaper. The currency is your own; local prices rose +1.5%.
- Lean
- $46
- Comfort
- $223
Ranked 33 of 65.
The short answerIn US dollars, as of November 12, 2026
Panama is 1.9% cheaper for US-dollar travelers than a year ago, after adjusting for inflation. A mid-range day costs about $101 per person, excluding international flights. The US State Department advisory is Level 2 (increased caution), and it ranks 33 of 65 on the Trip Arbitrage Index with a score of 62 out of 100.
What your money buys there
30 monthsThe dashed line is what a currency converter shows. The solid line is the same thing after prices in both countries are taken into account. When they part, the solid one is telling the truth.
How the score is built
- Dislocation ×0.36
- 59
- Price floor ×0.30
- 49
- Safety ×0.20
- 75
- Ease ×0.14
- 75
Real price drop vs last year and vs the five-year norm
How low the daily cost is in absolute terms
From the current travel advisory
How well set up the country is for visitors
The full reading
| Real change, 3 months | +0.4% | Is the move still going, or already reversing? |
|---|---|---|
| Real change, 12 months | +1.9% | The headline: what your money buys versus a year ago. |
| Exchange rate alone, 12 months | 0.0% | What a currency converter would tell you. |
| Local inflation, 12 months | +1.5% | How much of that the destination's own prices took back. |
| Versus five-year average | +8.9% | Cheap or dear against its own recent history. |
| Advisory | Level 2 | Increased caution |
| Ease of travel | 4.0 / 5 | Well set up |
- Bocas del Toro and San Blas
- A modern capital with good flights
- Boquete's highlands
Dollarized, with capital-city prices close to US levels.
Uses the US dollar.
When to go
November is off season- Janpeak
- Febpeak
- Marpeak
- Aprpeak
- Mayshoulder
- Junoff
- Juloff
- Augoff
- Sepoff
- Octoff
- Novoff
- Decshoulder
Safety and ease
- US State Department
- Level 2: Increased caution · updated August 18, 2026
- Read the full advisory ↗
- Advisories are often regional. A country-wide level can hide both safe areas and no-go zones, and other governments may judge differently.
- Tourism infrastructure
- Well set up · 4.0 / 5
Panama, in five questions
Answers are generated from the index reading of November 12, 2026, in US dollars. To cite: “Trip Arbitrage (triparbitrage.com), reading of November 12, 2026.”
- How much does it cost per day to travel in Panama?
- As of November 12, 2026, a day in Panama costs about $46 on a lean budget, $101 mid-range and $223 in comfort, per person, excluding international flights. These are modeled estimates, updated daily for local inflation and the exchange rate.
- Is Panama cheaper to visit than a year ago?
- Yes. Over the past 12 months the exchange rate moved 0.0% for US-dollar holders while prices in Panama rose +1.5%, a net real change of +1.9% in purchasing power. Against its own five-year average, Panama is 8.9% cheaper.
- Is Panama safe to travel to right now?
- The US State Department rates Panama at Level 2: Increased caution. Dollarized, with capital-city prices close to US levels. Advisories are often regional and other governments may differ, so read the full advisory before booking.
- When is the cheapest time to visit Panama?
- The shoulder months, when the weather is workable and prices ease, are May, December. The best conditions, and the highest prices, come in January, February, March, April. November is off season.
- How easy is Panama to travel around?
- Panama scores 4.0 out of 5 for ease of travel (well set up), a measure of transport, lodging, payments, wayfinding and access to healthcare. A skyline, a canal and two oceans, all in US dollars.
Elsewhere in Latin America
Reading of November 12, 2026. In US dollars, Panama reads +1.9% over twelve months in real terms with a mid-range day near $101. Costs are modeled, not quoted: see the method.