Moving to Panama from Greece

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Greece to Panama, you would find that Panama is 1.0% cheaper than Greece overall. A €64,304 salary in Greece would need to be roughly PAB71,101 in Panama to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Panama City averages 93°F vs 72°F in Athens, making it significantly warmer.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Greece to Panama.

What does your salary buy?

€64,304 PAB71,101

To maintain the same standard of living in Panama

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 7.6% less

Groceries

pay 35.0% more

Transportation

pay 21.5% less

Housing

pay 16.4% more

Childcare

pay 12.1% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 21.4% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 EUR = 1.17 PAB (June 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Greece to Panama, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
389 ↑ 20% vs 2015

people born in Greece live in Panama · UN DESA

Who's moving to Panama?

Top countries of origin for Panama's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

GR
1.1
PA
11.3
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

GR
7.3
PA
7.3

Greece performs better than Panama across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

GR
$3,454
PA
$3,318
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

GR
63.7
PA
17.3

Panama generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Greece leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

GR
23.0
PA
17.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

GR
5.0t
PA
2.7t

Panama performs significantly better than Greece across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

GR
43.0
PA
15.5
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

GR
20.7%
PA
0.9%

Greece generally does better on infrastructure, though Panama leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

GR
11.0%
PA
6.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

GR
$36,300
PA
$35,800

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

GR
81.5 yrs
PA
77.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

GR
3.5
PA
16.4

Greece performs better than Panama across all family life metrics.

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

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Athens Rain: 16.3 in/yr (414 mm)
72° / 54°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Athens Panama City
Jan–Mar 57°/42°F (14°/6°C) 94°/65°F (34°/18°C)
Apr–Jun 78°/57°F (26°/14°C) 94°/69°F (35°/21°C)
Jul–Sep 90°/67°F (32°/20°C) 92°/70°F (34°/21°C)
Oct–Dec 65°/50°F (18°/10°C) 91°/68°F (33°/20°C)
View all months
Month Athens Panama City
Jan 54°/41°F (12.5°/5.2°C) 92°/65°F (33.4°/18.5°C)
Feb 56°/42°F (13.5°/5.4°C) 94°/65°F (34.2°/18.4°C)
Mar 60°/44°F (15.7°/6.7°C) 95°/65°F (34.8°/18.4°C)
Apr 68°/49°F (20.2°/9.6°C) 96°/67°F (35.4°/19.5°C)
May 79°/57°F (26.0°/13.9°C) 94°/70°F (34.5°/21.1°C)
Jun 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.2°C) 93°/70°F (33.8°/21.3°C)
Jul 92°/69°F (33.5°/20.8°C) 93°/70°F (33.9°/21.0°C)
Aug 92°/69°F (33.2°/20.7°C) 93°/70°F (33.9°/20.9°C)
Sep 85°/63°F (29.2°/17.3°C) 91°/70°F (32.9°/21.0°C)
Oct 74°/56°F (23.3°/13.4°C) 91°/69°F (32.6°/20.8°C)
Nov 65°/50°F (18.1°/9.8°C) 91°/69°F (32.9°/20.3°C)
Dec 57°/44°F (14.1°/6.8°C) 92°/67°F (33.3°/19.2°C)

Data: Hellenic National Meteorological Service Hellenic National Meteorological Service, 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 Greece 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.

Greece passport

Greece passport holder visiting Panama

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

Panama passport holder visiting Greece

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Panama than Greece?

Yes — Panama is on average about 5% cheaper than Greece. City-level variation can be significant.

How much money do I need to move to Panama?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly PAB17,775 in Panama on a €64,304 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, deposits, visa fees).

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?

Greece performs better than Panama across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Panama is 11.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in Greece.

How is healthcare in Panama compared to Greece?

Panama generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Greece leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 17.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Panama, compared to 63.7 in Greece. Panama scores 78 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Greece: 77).

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

The average high temperature in Panama City is 93°F, compared to 72°F in Athens. Panama City receives around 75.1 in of rainfall per year, while Athens gets 16.3 in.

What language do they speak in Panama?

The official language in Panama is Spanish. In Greece, the official language is Greek.

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At a Glance

GR PA
Population 10,533,871 4,337,768
Currency Euro (€) Panamanian Balboa (PAB)
Languages Greek Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +30 +507
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 911