Moving to Panama from Hong Kong
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Hong Kong to Panama — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Hong Kong to Panama, you would find that Panama is 27.5% cheaper than Hong Kong overall. A HK$587,771 salary in Hong Kong would need to be roughly PAB41,787 in Panama to maintain the same lifestyle, 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 79°F in Hong Kong, making it significantly warmer.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Hong Kong to Panama.
What does your salary buy?
HK$587,771 → PAB41,787
To maintain the same standard of living in Panama
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 8.4% more
Groceries
pay 16.4% less
Transportation
pay 33.1% less
Housing
pay 15.4% less
Childcare
pay 61.4% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 49.8% less
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 Hong Kong to Panama, based on official data.
Who's moving to Panama?
Top countries of origin for Panama's foreign-born residents.
- 119,553
- 50,702
- 22,427
- 16,867
- 15,517
- 9,711
- · · ·
-
40.337
Hong Kong
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Hong Kong to Panama.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
Hong Kong performs better than Panama across all safety metrics.
What about the environment?
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Panama performs significantly better than Hong Kong across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
Hong Kong performs better than Panama across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
Hong Kong performs better than Panama across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
Hong Kong performs better than Panama across all family life metrics.
Data: Inland Revenue Department, Hong Kong, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Hong Kong | Panama City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 68°/61°F (20°/16°C) | 94°/65°F (34°/18°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 83°/75°F (28°/24°C) | 94°/69°F (35°/21°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 88°/80°F (31°/27°C) | 92°/70°F (34°/21°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 76°/68°F (24°/20°C) | 91°/68°F (33°/20°C) |
View all months
| Month | Hong Kong | Panama City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 66°/58°F (18.7°/14.6°C) | 92°/65°F (33.4°/18.5°C) |
| Feb | 67°/60°F (19.4°/15.3°C) | 94°/65°F (34.2°/18.4°C) |
| Mar | 71°/64°F (21.9°/17.6°C) | 95°/65°F (34.8°/18.4°C) |
| Apr | 78°/70°F (25.6°/21.1°C) | 96°/67°F (35.4°/19.5°C) |
| May | 84°/76°F (28.8°/24.5°C) | 94°/70°F (34.5°/21.1°C) |
| Jun | 87°/80°F (30.7°/26.5°C) | 93°/70°F (33.8°/21.3°C) |
| Jul | 89°/80°F (31.6°/26.9°C) | 93°/70°F (33.9°/21.0°C) |
| Aug | 88°/80°F (31.3°/26.7°C) | 93°/70°F (33.9°/20.9°C) |
| Sep | 87°/79°F (30.5°/26.1°C) | 91°/70°F (32.9°/21.0°C) |
| Oct | 83°/75°F (28.1°/23.9°C) | 91°/69°F (32.6°/20.8°C) |
| Nov | 76°/69°F (24.5°/20.3°C) | 91°/69°F (32.9°/20.3°C) |
| Dec | 69°/61°F (20.4°/16.2°C) | 92°/67°F (33.3°/19.2°C) |
Data:
Hong Kong Observatory,
IMHPA - Instituto de Meteorología e Hidrología de Panamá
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Hong Kong 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.
Hong Kong passport holder visiting Panama
Visa Free
Panama passport holder visiting Hong Kong
Visa FreeData: 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 Hong Kong?
Yes — Panama is on average about 44% cheaper than Hong Kong. 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 PAB10,447 in Panama on a HK$587,771 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?
Hong Kong performs better than Panama across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Panama is 11.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.4 in Hong Kong.
What's the weather like in Panama compared to Hong Kong?
The average high temperature in Panama City is 93°F, compared to 79°F in Hong Kong. Panama City receives around 75.1 in of rainfall per year, while Hong Kong gets 95.7 in.
What language do they speak in Panama?
The official language in Panama is Spanish. In Hong Kong, the official languages are Chinese and English.
