Panama
Living in Panama
Last updated on Mar 01, 2024
Summary: People describe life in Panama as vibrant, diverse, and full of opportunity. Expats love the warm climate, the friendly people, the low cost of living, and the abundance of outdoor activities. The average cost of living for an expat is around $1,500 to $2,000 per month, depending on lifestyle. The population of Panama is estimated to be around 4.3 million people, and the largest cities are Panama City, San Miguelito, David, and Colón. The cons of living in Panama include the high cost of imported goods, the lack of public transportation, and the high crime rate in some areas. Additionally, the infrastructure is not as developed as in other countries, and the healthcare system is not as advanced.
What do I need to know about living in Panama?
When we asked people what advice they would give someone preparing to move to Panama, they said:
"So what is it about Panama that makes it such a retirement haven for retirees all over the world, especially American and Canadian retirees? Is it that Panama is one of the safest countries in Central America, or is it the all-year-round tropical climate? Is it the abundance of American expat retirees, or its lucrative senior citizen programs? The answer is, all of the above and more. Panama is one of the few countries that brings almost everything to the table when it comes to a comfortable life for retirees," wrote Business Panama from Business Panama Group.
The Business Panama Group (“BusinessPanama”) is a well-established group of companies, professionals and alliance partners promoting and facilitating business, investments, real estate, immigration and tourism in Panama by providing information, business, legal and investment services to individual and corporate investors.
Click connect to have our partner, Business, contact you via e-mail and/or phone.
The Business Panama Group (“BusinessPanama”) is a well-established group of companies, professionals and alliance partners promoting and facilitating business, investments, real estate, immigration and tourism in Panama by providing information, business, legal and investment services to individual and corporate investors.
Click connect to have our partner, Business, contact you via e-mail and/or phone.
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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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Traveling MailboxTraveling 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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About the Author
Joshua Wood, LPC joined Expat Exchange in 2000 and serves as one of its Co-Presidents. He is also one of the Founders of Digital Nomad Exchange. Prior to Expat Exchange, Joshua worked for NBC Cable (MSNBC and CNBC
Primetime). Joshua has a BA from Syracuse and a Master's in Clinical and Counseling Psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Mr. Wood is also a licensed counselor and psychotherapist.
Some of Joshua's articles include Pros and Cons of Living in Portugal, 10 Best Places to Live in Ireland and Pros and Cons of Living in Uruguay. Connect with Joshua on LinkedIn.
Other Questions:
- What should I pack when moving to Panama?
- Where should I setup a bank account in Panama?
- Will I be able to find a job in Panama?
- What is life like as an expat in your area?
- What do expats in Panama appreciate most about the local culture?
- What do expats find most challenging?
- Is there a lot of crime in Panama?
- Is there a lot of diversity? Are people in Panama accepting of differences?
- What are the schools in Panama like?
- How are healthcare services in Panama?
- What are medical services in Panama like?
- Are healthcare and health insurance expensive in Panama?
- What are emergency services like in Panama?
- Will I need to travel to see a specialist?
- Are common prescription medications available in Panama?
- How are local medical facilities in Panama?
- As a foreigner living in Panama, will I have access to public healthcare? What is it like?
- What have your experiences during the pandemic with the local healthcare system been like?
