bobisnext
3/21/2013 10:49 EST
Hi to All:
Since I will only receive Social Security when I retire (I only have a small IRA), I am gathering information on various areas. (I just started looking at Kathleen Petticord's 2010 retirement book, and she indicates Las tablas, Panama as a lower cost city to retire in Panama.
I will receive about 1700/month if i retire at 62.
Would appreciate any information that could be provided.
1. What is the cost of rentals in Las Tablas?
2. What is the cost of bringing a car into Panama, or is it better to buy one there?
3. Or can a person do without a car and just use public transportation
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panamajames
3/21/2013 12:46 EST
Let me toss in a few things here. Don't bring a car into Panama. American types of Toyota vehicles as an example, are different than the Argentina ones we use here in Panama. Parts are different for most North American cars than what we have here. It's a huge cost to ship, and duty and storage.....I have seen them sit on the docks at $100 a day storage for months while they try and register them and they are in no hurry. Unless you have a 57 Chevy that you can't part with, don't bring a car. There are plenty here, and the parts are easily accessible.
The majority of Panamanians use public transit or walk. A car is a huge expense. If you are by yourself $1700 a month is luxury living. Panamanians are lucky to get $700 a month.
If Las Tablas is a lower cost to live in Panama, they would be talking about from El Valle, Coronado, Altos Del Maria, into Panama City costs. it is not much lower in price than living in the bread basket of Panama, Chiriqui Province. Food is cheap if you know where to shop. We have great fruit and vegetable markets here.
Of course you can buy a 2 million dollar castle here if you like, but you can rent a place for $350 a month in Chiriqui, and I have seen lower, but I like my creature comforts.
It's beach community in Las Tablas and like a small city. It's hot and sweaty. Stay there for awhile and do some travelling before you really settle in. It depends what you want in life. Do some shopping comparisons.....in person.
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Alpineprince
3/21/2013 22:57 EST
If you wait till 66 you will get about $400.00 a month more and will be able to sock away 4 more years into the IRA. That extra 400 would pay for your apartment.
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bobisnext
3/22/2013 09:12 EST
Hi Alpine prince:
Thanks for the input. I would like to live near the ocean and be close to a beach. Can you recommend any other towns other than Las Tablas?
Thanks!
bob
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bobisnext
3/22/2013 09:15 EST
yes, but I dont want to wait. My health is good now. never know what it would be like in 4 years
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RBirdog
3/22/2013 10:52 EST
Loss Olas,Boca Chica & las Lajas are 1,1.5 & 2 hours away from Boquete. It depends on how far you want to be from the beach.
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olgadye
3/22/2013 10:55 EST
I have the perfect apartment by the Beach for you. Do you want me to schedule time to show it to you? I have several that you might like. Call me Mitzi 6678-9174 my cellphone or Olga 850-284-2053
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backstpub
3/22/2013 14:14 EST
You need to get boots on the ground and experience several places for yourself. I've been in Las Tablas for a year now. It's a friendly, welcoming community and it's much cooler than David ever thought of being! We rent a 3 BR /2BA fully furnished house for $400/month. That's pretty easy to find around here. I write pretty extensively about our adventures in Panama and Las Tablas at http://futureexpats.com. A couple months ago I published an actual budget. My husband and I and our 3 dogs live very comfortably on less than what you'll have available.
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ccotner
3/27/2013 14:34 EST
re: food in Panama. Someone stated the food in Panama is more or less bland. Are onions, cilantro, jalapenos, tomatos available? Pico de gallo. Avacados? Guacamole. If the soil in your area isn't conducive to growing, take a couple of 5 gallon buckets, get some "good" dirt from panamajames back yard, and grow your own stuff.
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Jckeel2
4/17/2013 11:00 EST
hello,
We live in a town name los ascientos we are about 15 minutes outside of Pedasi. We rent a home (2bedroom 1 bath) for 200 per month. It was totally a panamanian home when we rented it. We negotiated with our landlord that we would fix it up to our standards and pay only $100pm. We had to buy all the appliances including an AC unit (you have to have AC out here). our highest electric bill has been 140 per month. We run our AC in one room all day long and use a fan to circulate to the rest of the home. It is very hot here but it is a different hot. ever been to phoenix it is like that generally a dry heat with a breeze here. We are from St. Louis, where humidity in the summer is unbearable. There is not really any shopping around us and we go once a month to Rey in Chitre about an hour and half away, otherwise get things we need in pedasi. There is some shopping in Las Tablas also but Las Tablas is not really our fav place it is crowded and hotter than where we live you do not get any air movement there. Chitre is even more crowded. We prefer the small town and don't mind the drive in. We live on less than 900 per month easily, we are able to save the rest for other things we may want to do. We did not bring a car, we bought here which cars here are expensive but cheaper than bringing your car here. We only brought with us a few bags and shipped a small flat here with a few boxes and rubbermaid containers. we have the name of great guy that we used for shipping. Our biggest surprise here is healthcare. We currently do not have a PCP. but we go to Las Tablas to the ER to get medication refills my husband takes pain medicine for nerve damage in the neck. He uses oxycodone 40mg 4x per day, and BP meds..ER visit is 2.00..We then go to Rita moreno hospital to get meds filled that is near chitre. We pay nothing for the meds? Not sure why that is but we have got it now 4 months in a row.
Anyway..Email us if you have more [email protected]
jim and Tammy keel
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bluewind
4/17/2013 16:24 EST
I am curious to know what you do for entertainment where you live. I visited Chitre, Las Tablas and Pedasi a few years ago and found little to do. At my age, I'm not looking to do a lot of partying, but really couldn't find anything to do there except fishing and the beach.
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lmbarros
4/20/2013 19:25 EST
Hello, saw your reply here an would like to email you about that area. My friend Mary an I will be in Panama, arriving the city Apr 27. After some exploration we will be staying in the Las Tablas area from mid May to look for rental housing. 2 or 3 bedroom furnished. Would like to chat with you about the area and your experiences, have a great day, Leon.
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snyderman
4/21/2013 01:26 EST
I live in Coronado and have only been in Las Tables once.I can only tell you about the Coronado area.Find some ex-pats that have been there a couple of years and have a good grip on the area-plus and minus.Good Luck
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Ponchalo
7/1/2013 21:45 EST
las tablas has fully furnished homes for $400 a month, when in town we can help please visit our restaurant Ponchalos.com check us out on facebook.com/Ponchalos
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Lmarion
4/16/2014 14:36 EST
I would like to hear more about Coronado area. Any long term inexpensive rentals $300 - $400?
Looking to locate there in 2015.
Thanks
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glennbaxley
4/16/2014 16:40 EST
You are looking at one of the fastest growing and expensive area's of Panama. Good luck finding anything near a grand. Maybe in San Carlos
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panamajames
4/16/2014 18:19 EST
Glenn is right.........very expensive living in Coronado because it is little America. MacDonalds, KFC, Pizza Hut and near the ocean. You will pay big bucks to live there. The $300 to $400 places are in and around David. Same ocean too, by the way.
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tailfinn
4/16/2014 20:41 EST
I'm also interested in Las Tablas area,
tailfinn
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panamajames
4/16/2014 22:03 EST
I do like Las Tablas as a town because it has reasonable shopping and a new hospital being built in nearby Chitre. it's very hot and humid. Anything by the ocean is like that. The beaches are not wonderful beaches. Very few expats there and that might be what you like. It's a little too busy a town for me, as far as living there, but it's in between Chitre and Pedasi and there are many worse places to live.........
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pollokeeper
4/16/2014 22:19 EST
I have lived in the Las Tablas área for almost 5 years. I happen to like it myself but not many Xpats really like it. They seem to prefer Pedasi which is a matter of opinión. The cost of living in Pedasi is twice as high as Las Tablas. If I want to visit Pedasi it is only a short bus ride away. There isn't much to do here really but the área is safe and low key. Chitre is also a short bus ride away as well. Very few Xpats are moving to Las Tablas. They are here, but you will rarely see them in town. We are spread out. Social life is pretty much non existant here if you are single although the lady's here are very attractive. Its just a safe, low key, quiet place to live. Its not for everyone. Most folks I meet who are visiting for the first time, are quite unimpressed. To each his own I always say.
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panamajames
4/16/2014 23:03 EST
Various magazine articles try to make Las Tablas a destination. But it really is not. Nothing special to write home about. I would not take a bunch of people there to show it off. It's cheap living, in a hot beach type environment, enough stores to buy things, and very little in the way of activities or things to do for people. It's not impressive by any means, but it's a place to live, where lots of other people live. It's not a dreamy paradise vacation location. It is what it is. pollokeeper is very correct in his writings. Most expats who visit, are quite unimpressed. And for some reason, Pedasi seems to hold people's attention more, although it is not much more than a back packer type town. I have a place with a friend in Limon, just outside of Pedasi that I love to visit for a beach getaway from time to time. I do rent it out if you are coming to Pedasi.
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tjo50511
4/17/2014 07:10 EST
You really have to visit and decide for yourself. My wife and I have visited several towns in Panama to decide where to retire. We originally thought we would retire in Puerto Armuelles but after our visits we decided on Las Tablas.
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douglitas47
4/17/2014 11:56 EST
jckeel...if the heat is indeed the "dry heat" you say is like Phoenix, you can save a bundle with evaporative cooling vs. A/C.
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JonCates
4/17/2014 11:58 EST
Why. Did u look at David r bocas??
LT. Close to PC??
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JonCates
4/17/2014 11:59 EST
Good one. How far is D fm ocean?
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GenXpat2021
2/27/2017 14:00 EST
Great 'advice'. Reset, my viewpoint as well
Take little which you can't ultimately live without down to there
Re-invest in your LIFE's happiness. Mañana
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GenXpat2021
2/27/2017 19:28 EST
Much around the Chiriqui country-side seems appealing! Not far at all from everything more. I'd like to live, 'invest' between a Las Tablas and maybe...San Isidro de El General Costa...somehow/way.
Cheers!
MjC
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GenXpat2021
3/1/2017 00:14 EST
Thanks for your concise description of your Azuero vicinity! Helpful. Can you update
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GenXpat2021
3/1/2017 00:15 EST
Thanks for your concise description of your Azuero vicinity! Helpful. Can you update
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Hopscotch
3/3/2017 20:54 EST
Las Tablas is rather out of the way. Why not try Penonome This town is growing very rapidly has good shopping schools and a university is only 1 hour from coronado and is a dryer not so humid as that area.Spend some time having a look.
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GenXpat2021
3/4/2017 00:50 EST
Yes, Penenome. Alright Thanks!
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GenXpat2021
3/4/2017 01:15 EST
Is there A-particular place with obvious wet/dry seasons...or it's a countywide trait?
Regards!
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ranadelnorte
3/4/2017 08:40 EST
The wet and dry seasons are country-wide. Some areas are drier than others, some hotter than others, some more humid. For sure climate in Panama is extreme, and it will affect you in one way or another. That is why it is always suggested to come stay for a while before you commit to moving to see if the weather works for you.
Mr. Google has lots of info about climate in Panama.
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StanleySankey
3/4/2017 09:56 EST
Penonome, was the first place in the interior I checked out when I arrived in Panama years ago. Back then it was a agricultural town, nothing to really differentiate itself from any other town in the interior. Traffic was bad. Wasn't a lot of variery for shopping Machetazo, Super 99, Super Carne, Cochez and the usual collection of almacénes etc.
Then the development of the Cobre mine began and the place seemingly doubled in size in the last four years. There is now a Novey, they are building a PanaPhoto and El Rey. Traffic is even worse.
I really loved the area in the mountains about 15 -20 minutes out of Penonome towards La Pintada, very beautiful part of Panama and they grow the sweetest oranges I have ever had in that area.
Other claims to fame of Penonome is Panama's first obervatory and the local university has an astrophysics program.
http://www.perceptivetravel.com/issues/1212/panama.html
Also, home to the largest wind farm in Central America.
https://www.thevisitorpanama.com/2015/11/the-largest-wind-farm-in-central-america-is-inaugurated/
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llseldon
3/4/2017 10:19 EST
I knew a man who moved to Panamá to work for the old US PCC (he's still in PTY) who moved there from SFO. He told me he had heat rash for the first 2 years he lived in Panamá. In the old days there were only 3 places with AC, the Balboa movie theater, Admin Bldg & BHS ROTC Bldg.
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