Moving to Panama from Cabo Verde

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Cabo Verde to Panama — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Cabo Verde to Panama, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Panama City averages 93°F vs 79°F in Praia, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

How Cabo Verde and Panama stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

CV
6.2
PA
11.3
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2016

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

CV
52%
PA
33%

Cabo Verde 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

CV
$616
PA
$3,318
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

CV
44.6
PA
17.3

Cabo Verde generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Panama leads in health coverage index.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

CV
59.0
PA
17.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

CV
1.3t
PA
2.7t

Cabo Verde 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

CV
5.8
PA
15.5
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

CV
57.2%
PA
0.9%

Panama performs significantly better than Cabo Verde across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

CV
12.0%
PA
6.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

CV
$8,200
PA
$35,800

Panama performs significantly better than Cabo Verde across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

CV
73.8 yrs
PA
77.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

CV
23.5
PA
16.4

Panama generally does better on family life, though Cabo Verde 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.

Praia Rain: 2.8 in/yr (70 mm)
79° / None°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Praia Panama City
Jan–Mar 76°/None°F (24°/None°C) 94°/65°F (34°/18°C)
Apr–Jun 78°/None°F (25°/None°C) 94°/69°F (35°/21°C)
Jul–Sep 83°/None°F (28°/None°C) 92°/70°F (34°/21°C)
Oct–Dec 80°/None°F (27°/None°C) 91°/68°F (33°/20°C)
View all months
Month Praia Panama City
Jan 75°/None°F (24.0°/None°C) 92°/65°F (33.4°/18.5°C)
Feb 75°/None°F (24.1°/None°C) 94°/65°F (34.2°/18.4°C)
Mar 77°/None°F (24.8°/None°C) 95°/65°F (34.8°/18.4°C)
Apr 77°/None°F (24.8°/None°C) 96°/67°F (35.4°/19.5°C)
May 78°/None°F (25.3°/None°C) 94°/70°F (34.5°/21.1°C)
Jun 79°/None°F (26.0°/None°C) 93°/70°F (33.8°/21.3°C)
Jul 81°/None°F (27.2°/None°C) 93°/70°F (33.9°/21.0°C)
Aug 84°/None°F (28.8°/None°C) 93°/70°F (33.9°/20.9°C)
Sep 85°/None°F (29.3°/None°C) 91°/70°F (32.9°/21.0°C)
Oct 83°/None°F (28.6°/None°C) 91°/69°F (32.6°/20.8°C)
Nov 81°/None°F (27.3°/None°C) 91°/69°F (32.9°/20.3°C)
Dec 77°/None°F (25.2°/None°C) 92°/67°F (33.3°/19.2°C)

Data: 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 Cabo Verde 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.

Cabo Verde passport

Cabo Verde passport holder visiting Panama

Visa Required
Cabo Verde passport holders need a visa to enter Panama.
Panama passport

Panama passport holder visiting Cabo Verde

Visa on Arrival
Panama passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Cabo Verde.

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?

With 15.5 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Panama can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Cabo Verde and Panama.

Is Panama safe for expats?

Cabo Verde 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 6.2 in Cabo Verde. About 33% of people in Panama feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in Panama compared to Cabo Verde?

Cabo Verde generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Panama leads in health coverage index. There are 17.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Panama, compared to 44.6 in Cabo Verde. Panama scores 78 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Cabo Verde: 71).

What's the weather like in Panama compared to Cabo Verde?

The average high temperature in Panama City is 93°F, compared to 79°F in Praia. Panama City receives around 75.1 in of rainfall per year, while Praia gets 2.8 in.

What language do they speak in Panama?

The official language in Panama is Spanish. In Cabo Verde, the official language is Portuguese.

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At a Glance

CV PA
Population 596,707 4,337,768
Currency Cape Verdean Escudo (CVE) Panamanian Balboa (PAB)
Languages Portuguese Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +238 +507
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 911