Panama City vs San Juan
Panama City and San Juan are level on the TRAIL Index at 58. Panama City grades better on 8 measures, San Juan on 7; the same 37 measures from public sources for both.
Scores by each organisation's criteria
- TRAIL Index: Panama City 58, San Juan 58
- OECD: Panama City 55, San Juan 56
- UN Tourism: Panama City 61, San Juan 55
- UNDRR: Panama City 56, San Juan 66
Theme by theme
- Demand and seasonality: Panama City 67, San Juan 60
- Economy and jobs: Panama City 50, San Juan 69
- Climate and hazards: Panama City 40, San Juan 44
- Water and environment: Panama City 58, San Juan 44
- Community and housing: Panama City 42, San Juan 50
- Access and continuity: Panama City 67, San Juan 71
Where Panama City is stronger
- Domestic share of nights: 19.5 % of nights by residents of the same country (country figure) (World Economic Forum, TTDI 2026 (data: Travel & Tourism Economic Impact Research by World Travel & Tourism Council; Travel & Tourism by World Travel & Tourism Council), 2026). Between 15 and 25: grade 1/4.
- Largest foreign market: 23.6 % of international arrivals or nights (country figure) (Autoridad de Turismo de Panamá (ATP), Jan–Jun 2025). Between 20 and 30: grade 2/4.
- Water scarcity: very low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 4/4.
- Wastewater safely treated: 52.4 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (country figure) (United Nations SDG Country Profiles / WHO & UN-Habitat SDG 6.3.1 Database, 2024). Between 50 and 70: grade 1/4.
- Municipal waste per resident: 500.1 kg per resident per year (EcoIncinera / Alcaldía de Panamá, Challenges for Panama's Sustainable Development, 2016). Between 450 and 550: grade 2/4.
- Short-let density: 1.1 short-term rental listings per 100 dwellings (Global Property Guide / AirDNA and INEC Panama, Q1 2026). Between 1 and 2: grade 2/4.
- Access redundancy: 4 independent ways in: international airport, intercity rail, port, motorway (GLP International Sales / Panama Canal Authority & Metro de Panamá, 2024). At or above 4: grade 4/4.
- Government effectiveness: 57.1 World Bank WGI percentile rank, 0–100 (country figure) (World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, 2025). Between 40 and 60: grade 2/4.
Where San Juan is stronger
- Hotel bed or room occupancy: 78.5 % average annual occupancy (region figure) (Puerto Rico Tourism Company (PRTC), 2024 Registration and Occupancy Report, 2024). At or above 75: grade 4/4.
- Unemployment rate: 5.7 % of the labour force (metro figure) (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, August 2026). Between 5 and 8: grade 3/4.
- Income per head: 52,196 GDP per capita, USD PPP (country figure) (World Bank WDI, 2025). Between 45,000 and 60,000: grade 3/4.
- Wildfire and storm hazard: medium (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 2/4.
- Rent growth: -12.9 % change in rents over the last 12 months (Trulia / Zillow Group, San Juan, PR Rental Market Trends, September 2025–September 2026). At or below 3: grade 4/4.
- Tourism crisis and recovery plan: A plan tested in an exercise or a real event, with lessons published (Travel Weekly / Destinations International, 2021). Grade 4/4.
- Travel advisory: 1 stricter of the US and Canadian government advisory for the country, 1 (normal precautions) to 4 (do not travel) (country figure) (US State Department and Government of Canada travel advisories, 2026-09-29). At or below 1: grade 4/4.
Country context (World Economic Forum)
- Panama: #65 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
Panama City in full · San Juan in full
The TRAIL Index ranking · City vs city · How the index works · TRAIL Studio · Put your city in the pilot