Living in Panama

"Retiring in Panama can be a rewarding experience for expats, as it offers a wide range of activities both outdoors and indoors. It is important for expats to make sure that their financial situation is in order before making the move and to be aware of the cost of living in Panama. They should also research the local customs and regulations for navigating their way around the country. Additionally, expats should consider taking up Spanish lessons to better experience the culture and gain insight into local life. Health care is also something to consider, as most international health insurance plans are not accepted in Panama. Finally, expats should get in touch with like-minded fellow expats to ensure smooth integration into local life," commented one expat who made the move to Panama.

"It's important to come down here to Panama on multiple due dilligence trips, to spend enough time down here in different areas, and different times of the year, to make sure you are going to enjoy the Country. Research online is important, and will help narrow down areas for you. However, no substitute for on the ground discovery. Work up your budget prior, based on your research, and determine what you can afford in retirement. This will help you determine areas/communities you can afford. Establish a good mail forwarding company, so you can receive Amazon, and your regular mail. Talk to insurance agents in advance to review insurance options. If you are looking to go Pensiado route, you can start this when you come down, if you are firm on Panama already. Prepare yourself for some family and friends thinking you are crazy, or making a big mistake. It's natural, and a lot of "sheeple" don't get it, thinking their legacy brand Country is better, and why would you move to a 3rd World Country! Crazy people still think Panama in this light, and then I explain we have more secure banking, Starlink down here, fiber optic internet in many of the newer areas, expanding rail system in the city, that is being built out towards the beach area. Start working on your Spanish/brushing up on it. Yes, many people speak English, however it is important to work on becoming part of the culture down here. You will be respected more by locals, by trying to speak their native language. Don't just move to where all the Expats are. I guess you can, but you are missing out on the experience of living in a new Country and spending time around locals," wrote one member in Panama City.

"When I first developed an interest in moving to Panama the possibility of owning beachfront property was the big attraction. After spending a few years looking around I decided that I would rather not live in a beach community, although I love to be near the ocean and, in fact, have spent much of my life at sea. One of the best things about Panama is that you are never far from the sea. In my opinion the Coronado area is overdeveloped and excessively expensive. The area around Pedasi is much cheaper and less crowded. It appeals to surfers for obvious reasons. There are many islands on the Pacific coast, and they are fun to visit, although it would be quite inconvenient to live there. There are also hundreds of miles of unspoiled mainland coastline that are nearly inaccessible by land. You probably want to be somewhere that has a road to it, which further limits your options. Look at a good map and you will see what is accessible. If you don't see a road it's because there isn't one. There probably won't be any utilities either. I found that there are some significant drawbacks to living close to the beach and few native Panamanians choose to do so unless they are in the fishing business. You should look for yourself, though, and after visiting Coronado and Pedasi you might look at Las Lajas, Boca Chica, Puerto Armuelles, and the Boca del Toros archipiélago on the Caribbean coast. They're all beautiful in their own way but don't forget to look at the negative aspects including weather, services, access, and increased maintenance requirements. If you find a place you love you should rent for at least a year before you consider buying anything," remarked one expat who made the move to Panama.

"At first I shunned the gringo/expat organized weekly meeting, the Tuesday Morning Informational and Networking Meeting. All the people were of retired age, I'm not. Then I started going, I found I had things to say and others had things to teach. they soon published a small book of the meetings minutes with recaps of many speakers. I learned many valuable things and shared opinions and even changed some opinions. We bonded, we drank local coffee, we bitched and moaned and rejoyced together. seek out such groups and see what you can learn or contribute to them," wrote one member in Boquete.

"Living in Panama for expats and digital nomads can be an exciting and rewarding experience. Panama is known for its tropical climate, vibrant culture, gorgeous beaches and national parks, and its thriving expat community. With excellent infrastructure, a modern banking system, and a low cost of living, Panama is an attractive option for people looking to live and work abroad. The government also welcomes expat entrepreneurs, providing incentives to help them start and run businesses. Expats in Panama can look forward to making friends in the local international activities, making the most of their new home by exploring the many outdoor activities and attractions Panama has to offer. Finally, safety ranks among the highest in Latin America, making life in Panama even more attractive for expats and digital nomads," wrote a member in Panama.

"There are a lot of retirees in Boquete, but not everyone is retired. You can have as active a social life as you want. There are many restaurants, and different interest groups, as well as classes in a variety of topics. The Panamanian culture is very family oriented," commented one expat who made the move to Boquete.

"The locals work hard and have lots of festivals. They honor the old folks, thier heritage, and way of life. They take time for coffee, for conversation. They are more then willing to show you and teach you and help you to find your place in their society. If you even try to speak spanish they admire you for that and even try thier hand at English or apologize for their lack of. Everyone says hello, waves, nods, gives recognition, an old fashioned thing that I missed in the U.S," remarked one expat living in Boquete, Panama.

"Priorities start with family, extended family, family friends, other friends, socializing, sports, all other non-work related activities, and finally: work," wrote one member in Panama City.

"Definitely life revolves around family and work here. The Panamanians are very friendly and family oriented. They have many festivals and celebrate life in many ways many times a year," remarked one expat who made the move to Bocas del Toro.

"Panama has a moderate level of crime. While most visitors pass through without incident, it is important to remain aware of one's surroundings in all areas, and especially in less populated areas or on the outskirts of cities. Petty crime such as pickpocketing and mugging is not uncommon in certain areas, and certain areas should be avoided altogether. The areas surrounding the Panama Canal and downtown Panama City tend to have a higher incidence of crime than other parts of the country. Tourists should take extra precautions when using public transportation," wrote one member in Panama.

"Occasionally however most is of a petty nature based on lax security on the part of the victim however there is a new threat slowly emerging with home invasion but still quite rare," remarked one expat who made the move to Potrerillos, Chiriqui.

"Predominantly non practicing Catholics, multi/mixed racial component, with distinctly cultural diversity, but easily assimilating into a common citizen," explained one expat living in Panama City, Panama.

"Boquete has some diversity and I have found it to be a very open and welcoming culture. A variety of religions and also non religious people. There is a vast economic diversity in Panama in general," said one expat in Boquete.

"This is a coffee town. The labor is provided by the Indians - the Nogobe Bugle. Women and girls wear traditional dresses and men wear rubber knee boots. They have their own places to shop and gather as do the gringos and its all good. Nobody minds or is wary of other social groups. Most gringos are well aware that we are just visitors, its thier country and the best we can do is learn, adapt, and be good members of the community. Contributing to the community is a good thing, trying to change someones way of life is a bad thing. Know the difference," said one expat who made the move to Boquete.

"This is a good option for a foreigner who wants their children to learn Spanish and the Latin culture versus being in an international school that is mostly in English," commented one expat when asked about AIP (Academie Interamericana de Panamá) in Costa del Este.

"I would look into it if you want a Christian school OR a school that is high in moral teaching. Many of the parents and students are not Christian so it is not forced upon the students/families. Great school that I am very pleased with," explained one expat in Panama City, Panama with kids at Crossroads Christian Academy.

"The Balboa Academy is an excellent English-language international school in Panama, founded in 1959. It educates students from pre-school up to 12th grade and offers the North American curriculum, including AP courses. The school also has a comprehensive extracurricular program with a variety of sports, clubs, and activities. The International School Nido de Aguilas is an accredited international school in Panama City. It is a part of the Nord Anglia Education Group, with a curriculum based on college-preparatory education. The school offers a wide range of extracurricular opportunities, including sports and music. The Oxford International School of Panama is a bilingual institution offering education in Spanish and English. The school focuses on teaching its students both academic excellence and life skills and offers a variety of extracurricular activities. The Bilingual International School of Panama is a private bilingual institution, which was founded in 1991. The school provides an English- and Spanish-language international curriculum for children from preschool to high school and offers a variety of extracurricular activities, such as sports and arts," wrote an expat living in with children attending .

"Our situation on isla Solarte in Bocas is such that we can live comfortable spending $1500 a month. Renting an apartment in town and riding a bicycle can produce a similar situation. I have older, single friends who live in town who spend much less than we do," commented one expat who made the move to Bocas del Toro.

"Cost of living depend on what you buy at the grocery store. If you buy locally, it is cheaper but very limited products so you need to buy grocery products from the USA that are much more expensive here than in the USA. Again, it depends on how you feed yourself, we eat healthy with product variety that are missing locally. Pricesmart (same as Costco) is a good choice to buy at lower price. Buying other type of products (TV, computer, furniture, etc) is expensive in Panama as it's always full price (full MSRP) and rarely on sale. If you can find your product at Pricesmart, it will be your best place to buy as they have the lowest price. ," mentioned one expat inPanama City.

"Cost of living entirely depends on your personal habits. A single person could survive on their US Social Security check if they don't insist on luxury. For most Americans, if they want to continue the profligate lifestyle to which they are accustomed, the cost will be comparable," commented one expat who moved to Panama.

"Panama’s cost of living is considered to be average by Latin American standards. Generally, the larger cities such as Panama City, David and Colon tend to be more expensive to live in compared to exciting places such as the Panama Canal or the sprawling tropical jungles of Panama’s East Coast. The rental price for a nice 1 bedroom apartment in Panama is between $500-700 USD a month and a nice 2 bedroom apartment is between $700-900 USD a month. Eating dinner at a moderately priced restaurant would generally cost around $10-30 USD depending on the type of restaurant or food ordered," remarked one expat living in Panama.

"Cost of groceries is good, especially when buying local produce. Some meats, sugars, and grains are price controlled and can be very inexpensive. Compared to my home area of rural Ohio, food expense is about the same. Cost of electricity at our house is less than $25.00 per month, and we use the air conditioner some mid-days. Usually ceiling fans provide more than enough comfort. Gas tanks are used for cooking, and the one tank we purchased for $25.00 has yet to run out after 7 months of use. ," commented one expat.

"Residents of Panama enjoy a variety of recreational facilities, including beaches, parks, and outdoor activities. Popular beaches include Playa Blanca, Santa Clara, and Coronado, which offer a variety of activities such as swimming, snorkeling, and sunbathing. There are also numerous parks throughout the country, such as Parque Natural Metropolitano, which offers a variety of activities such as hiking, biking, and bird watching. Other outdoor activities include fishing, kayaking, and horseback riding. Additionally, Panama City is home to a variety of cultural attractions, such as the Panama Canal, the Panama Viejo ruins, and the Biomuseo," mentioned one expat inPanama.

"The beaches in Pedasi are a big draw for surfers, boogie boarders or just swimmers. One of the developments (Andromeda) has a restaurant and pool oceanside. People also do kite sailing. Fishing is a big draw as well. There are offerings of yoga classes and other activities of that sort," commented one expat who moved to Pedasi, Panama.

"It is hot here. You do not want to be wandering about in the mid-day sun. Save your outdoor activities for the mornings and evenings. We do not get much rain compared to other parts of Panama. During the rainy season (typically April through December - the best time of year in the opinion of most residents) we typically get one or two short showers every day and then it clears up. This is unlike other parts of Panama where it can rain for days on end," commented one expat living in Panama City, Panama.

"The temps go from 29 C on the hot days to 20 C for lows. The temps are very even from day to day. Dry from Dec. through April, rainy the rest of the year," remarked one expat living in Pedasi.

"There is a Pricesmart like Costcos and the local chain Romeros has most anything you would need," mentioned an expat living in Panama.

"People living in Panama typically buy groceries and do other shopping at local supermarkets, convenience stores, and open-air markets. Many people also shop at larger chain stores, such as Walmart and PriceSmart, which offer a wide variety of products. Additionally, there are many small, independent stores and vendors throughout the country that offer unique items," said an expat in Panama.

"The Albrook Mall is the largest mall in Latin America, so there is plenty of shopping for when you need it. Albrook is also the hub for bus and plane service to travel throughout Panama, and there is a Metro station next to the bus terminal as well," remarked one expat in Panama City.

"The process of applying for a visa in Panama depends on the type of visa and the duration of stay. To apply for a tourist visa, you must provide a valid passport, a completed application form, a processing fee, and adequate evidence of financial means to cover the costs of your stay. A work visa requires an employment offer from a Panamanian company with an approved government business license, a valid passport and a completed application form, processing fees, and adequate financial means to cover the proposed length of stay. The process of applying for residency in Panama includes submitting an application for residency, providing supporting documents such as a valid passport, proof of financial means to cover living expenses, evidence of health insurance, a police certificate from the country of residence, and a valid work permit, depending on the type of residency being applied for. The applicant may also be required to wait for a period of 6 months to a year before a decision is made, and may even need to attend an interview in Panama. Once granted, the residency will remain valid for two years and can be renewed as long as certain requirements are fulfilled," wrote one expat living in Panama.

"Health insurance is not accepted by providers of care. Have Tricare which is military insurance world wide and is part of the Hopkins network so we thought the private hospital that says they are part of Hopkins would accept it. We were sadly mistaken and had the worst experience of our life. If you compare US costs and Panama cost, yes, it is less expensive. But, it is still expensive if you have to pay for surgery before any care is rendered. ," said one expat.

"Healthcare and health insurance in Panama can be expensive, depending on the type of coverage and services needed. Private health insurance plans are available, but they can be costly and may not cover all medical expenses. Public health insurance is available, but it is limited and may not cover all medical expenses. Additionally, the cost of medical care in Panama can be higher than in other countries, so it is important to research the cost of medical care before making any decisions," remarked one expat living in Panama.

"If you can get health insurance before you have issues, the private insurance is affordable compared to the US. I'd say about 25 percent of the cost," said one expat living in Bocas del Toro.