An Expat Talks about Moving to Boquete, Panama

What is the name of the city or town that you are reporting on?

Boquete

Name three things that you wish you had brought and three you wish you had left at home.

Things I wished or do not regret bringing: Towels in colors I like, Bed linens and Shoes. Things I wish I left at home: nothing

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Traveling Mailbox

Traveling Mailbox serves thousands of travelers, expats, digital nomads, businesses, individuals and others in over 47 Countries by scanning their postal mail so they can view it online anywhere in the world. They provide customer service 7 days a week so if you need assistance, it is just a phone call away. Traveling Mailbox works with Evernote, Bill.com and Dropbox. And, there are Traveling Mailbox apps available for iOS and Android devices.
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Click connect to have our partner contact you via e-mail and/or phone.

What advice would you give someone preparing to move to your area about the actual move, choosing a neighborhood and finding a home?

We visited here many times before moving and stayed in different areas each time. There are 13 micro-climates here and they vary greatly. Some roads are not good so that may play into housing decisions too. Temperatures vary, even 5 minutes away can make a big difference. There are also areas that get extremely windy in Jan-Feb. Rent before buying.

What type of housing do you live in? Is this typical for most expats in your area?

We have a 2 bedroom rental house up the hill from Boquete town. It is our preferred area. We were lucky and planned well in advance of moving here.

How did you choose your neighborhood and find your home or apartment?

Most good rentals are found through people you know. Ours was never advertised, only word of mouth. Good rentals are difficult to find.

Are your housing costs higher or lower than they were in your home country? What is the average cost of housing there?

Our rent (including electric, gas and high-speed internet) is less than half of just our mortgage in S. Florida. Tip: if internet is important to you, don't ask, "do you have internet" since everyone can get it. Ask, "what speed internet can I get and how much does it cost?" We pay about $50 for 5G megs mo. Five minutes away it is $150 for 1meg.