Moving to Panama from Bhutan

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Bhutan to Panama — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Bhutan to Panama, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Panama City averages 93°F vs 72°F in Thimphu, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Bhutan to Panama.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

BT
2.5
PA
11.3
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BT
12.2
PA
7.3

Bhutan generally does better on safety, though Panama leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

BT
$677
PA
$3,318
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

BT
5.5
PA
17.3

Panama generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Bhutan leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

BT
57.0
PA
17.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BT
2.0t
PA
2.7t

Bhutan generally does better on environment, though Panama leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

BT
0.4
PA
15.5
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BT
1.4%
PA
0.9%

Panama performs significantly better than Bhutan across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

BT
5.7%
PA
6.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

BT
$14,000
PA
$35,800

Bhutan generally does better on employment & economy, though Panama leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

BT
72.3 yrs
PA
77.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BT
27.0
PA
16.4

Panama generally does better on family life, though Bhutan leads in education spending.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Thimphu Rain: 23.3 in/yr (591 mm)
72° / 46°F

Avg. annual high / low

Panama City Rain: 75.1 in/yr (1907 mm)
93° / 68°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Thimphu Panama City
Jan–Mar 63°/33°F (17°/1°C) 94°/65°F (34°/18°C)
Apr–Jun 76°/53°F (25°/12°C) 94°/69°F (35°/21°C)
Jul–Sep 80°/60°F (27°/16°C) 92°/70°F (34°/21°C)
Oct–Dec 68°/39°F (20°/4°C) 91°/68°F (33°/20°C)
View all months
Month Thimphu Panama City
Jan 59°/28°F (15.1°/-2.1°C) 92°/65°F (33.4°/18.5°C)
Feb 62°/33°F (16.7°/0.5°C) 94°/65°F (34.2°/18.4°C)
Mar 67°/39°F (19.4°/4.0°C) 95°/65°F (34.8°/18.4°C)
Apr 72°/46°F (22.4°/7.8°C) 96°/67°F (35.4°/19.5°C)
May 76°/53°F (24.7°/11.5°C) 94°/70°F (34.5°/21.1°C)
Jun 80°/59°F (26.7°/15.2°C) 93°/70°F (33.8°/21.3°C)
Jul 81°/61°F (27.1°/16.4°C) 93°/70°F (33.9°/21.0°C)
Aug 81°/61°F (27.2°/16.1°C) 93°/70°F (33.9°/20.9°C)
Sep 79°/58°F (26.1°/14.6°C) 91°/70°F (32.9°/21.0°C)
Oct 74°/48°F (23.4°/9.0°C) 91°/69°F (32.6°/20.8°C)
Nov 67°/38°F (19.7°/3.2°C) 91°/69°F (32.9°/20.3°C)
Dec 62°/31°F (16.5°/-0.8°C) 92°/67°F (33.3°/19.2°C)

Data: National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM) National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM), IMHPA - Instituto de Meteorología e Hidrología de Panamá IMHPA - Instituto de Meteorología e Hidrología de Panamá

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Bhutan and Panama. To live, work, or study long-term in Panama, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Panama's immigration authority.

Bhutan passport

Bhutan passport holder visiting Panama

Visa Free
Bhutan passport holders can enter Panama without a visa.
Panama passport

Panama passport holder visiting Bhutan

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Panama passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Bhutan.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Panama?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Panama has 15.5 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Panama safe for expats?

Bhutan generally does better on safety, though Panama leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Panama is 11.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 2.5 in Bhutan.

How is healthcare in Panama compared to Bhutan?

Panama generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Bhutan leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 17.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Panama, compared to 5.5 in Bhutan. Panama scores 78 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Bhutan: 60).

What's the weather like in Panama compared to Bhutan?

The average high temperature in Panama City is 93°F, compared to 72°F in Thimphu. Panama City receives around 75.1 in of rainfall per year, while Thimphu gets 23.3 in.

What language do they speak in Panama?

The official language in Panama is Spanish. In Bhutan, the official language is Dzongkha.

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At a Glance

BT PA
Population 867,775 4,337,768
Currency Bhutanese Ngultrum (BTN) Panamanian Balboa (PAB)
Languages Dzongkha Spanish
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +975 +507
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 911