Moving to Panama from Israel

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Israel to Panama? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Israel to Panama, you would find that Panama is 38.3% cheaper than Israel overall. A ₪227,786 salary in Israel would need to be roughly PAB47,118 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 Jerusalem, making it significantly warmer.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Israel and Panama.

What does your salary buy?

₪227,786 PAB47,118

To maintain the same standard of living in Panama

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 54.0% less

Transportation

pay 29.8% less

Housing

pay 16.2% less

Childcare

pay 44.0% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 45.5% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 ILS = 0.3293 PAB (July 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?

What the data shows about people moving from Israel to Panama.

Living there in 2020
1,338 ↑ 20% vs 2015

people born in Israel 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

The numbers behind daily life in Panama compared to Israel.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

IL
1.6
PA
11.3
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

IL
80%
PA
33%

Israel 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

IL
$4,033
PA
$3,318
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

IL
37.1
PA
17.3

Panama generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Israel 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

IL
15.0
PA
17.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

IL
5.8t
PA
2.7t

Israel generally does better on environment, though Panama leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

IL
29.4
PA
15.5
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

IL
132.0%
PA
0.9%

Israel 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

IL
3.4%
PA
6.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

IL
$48,300
PA
$35,800

Israel generally does better on employment & economy, though Panama leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

IL
83.3 yrs
PA
77.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

IL
3.6
PA
16.4

Israel performs better than Panama across all family life metrics.

Data: Israel Ministry of Finance Tax Authority, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Jerusalem Rain: 21.1 in/yr (537 mm)
72° / 57°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Jerusalem Panama City
Jan–Mar 58°/46°F (15°/8°C) 94°/65°F (34°/18°C)
Apr–Jun 78°/60°F (25°/15°C) 94°/69°F (35°/21°C)
Jul–Sep 85°/67°F (29°/20°C) 92°/70°F (34°/21°C)
Oct–Dec 68°/55°F (20°/13°C) 91°/68°F (33°/20°C)
View all months
Month Jerusalem Panama City
Jan 55°/44°F (12.8°/6.9°C) 92°/65°F (33.4°/18.5°C)
Feb 57°/45°F (13.8°/7.1°C) 94°/65°F (34.2°/18.4°C)
Mar 63°/49°F (17.0°/9.2°C) 95°/65°F (34.8°/18.4°C)
Apr 71°/54°F (21.5°/12.1°C) 96°/67°F (35.4°/19.5°C)
May 79°/61°F (25.9°/16.0°C) 94°/70°F (34.5°/21.1°C)
Jun 83°/65°F (28.4°/18.2°C) 93°/70°F (33.8°/21.3°C)
Jul 86°/68°F (30.0°/20.2°C) 93°/70°F (33.9°/21.0°C)
Aug 86°/68°F (29.9°/20.0°C) 93°/70°F (33.9°/20.9°C)
Sep 83°/66°F (28.4°/18.7°C) 91°/70°F (32.9°/21.0°C)
Oct 78°/62°F (25.3°/16.8°C) 91°/69°F (32.6°/20.8°C)
Nov 68°/55°F (19.9°/12.8°C) 91°/69°F (32.9°/20.3°C)
Dec 59°/48°F (15.2°/9.0°C) 92°/67°F (33.3°/19.2°C)

Data: Israel Meteorological Service Israel 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 Israel 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.

Israel passport

Israel passport holder visiting Panama

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

Panama passport holder visiting Israel

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Panama passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter Israel.

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 Israel?

On average Panama is about 37% less expensive than Israel, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Panama?

Budget about PAB11,780 for 3 months in Panama (based on a ₪227,786 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Panama?

Connectivity is usually fine (Panama: 15.5 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Panama offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Panama safe for expats?

Israel performs better than Panama across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Panama is 11.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.6 in Israel. About 33% of people in Panama feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in Panama compared to Israel?

Panama generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Israel leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 17.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Panama, compared to 37.1 in Israel. Panama scores 78 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Israel: 85).

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

The average high temperature in Panama City is 93°F, compared to 72°F in Jerusalem. Panama City receives around 75.1 in of rainfall per year, while Jerusalem gets 21.1 in.

What language do they speak in Panama?

The official language in Panama is Spanish. In Israel, the official languages are Arabic and Hebrew.

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At a Glance

IL PA
Population 8,914,885 4,337,768
Currency Israeli New Sheqel (₪) Panamanian Balboa (PAB)
Languages Arabic, Hebrew Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +972 +507
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 100 911