Moving to Panama from Japan
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Japan to Panama — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from Japan to Panama, you would find that Panama is 10.1% more expensive than Japan overall. A ¥11,948,175 salary in Japan would need to be roughly PAB82,884 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 69°F in Tokyo, making it significantly warmer.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
How your spending power changes when you relocate from Japan to Panama.
What does your salary buy?
¥11,948,175 → PAB82,884
To maintain the same standard of living in Panama
Calculate with your salary →The biggest cost differences at a glance
Restaurants
pay 41.5% more
Transportation
pay 22.1% less
Housing
pay 34.3% more
Childcare
pay 3.1% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 6.5% 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?
Real numbers on people moving from Japan to Panama, and how the trend has changed.
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
- · · ·
-
37.446
Japan
Key Indicator Comparison
How Japan and Panama stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
Japan performs better than Panama across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Japan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Panama leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Japan generally does better on environment, though Panama leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
Japan generally does better on infrastructure, though Panama leads in water stress level.
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
Japan generally does better on employment & economy, though Panama leads in top income tax rate.
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
Japan generally does better on family life, though Panama leads in education spending.
Data: National Tax Agency Japan, 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 | Tokyo | Panama City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) | 94°/65°F (34°/18°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) | 94°/69°F (35°/21°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) | 92°/70°F (34°/21°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) | 91°/68°F (33°/20°C) |
View all months
| Month | Tokyo | Panama City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) | 92°/65°F (33.4°/18.5°C) |
| Feb | 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) | 94°/65°F (34.2°/18.4°C) |
| Mar | 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) | 95°/65°F (34.8°/18.4°C) |
| Apr | 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) | 96°/67°F (35.4°/19.5°C) |
| May | 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) | 94°/70°F (34.5°/21.1°C) |
| Jun | 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) | 93°/70°F (33.8°/21.3°C) |
| Jul | 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) | 93°/70°F (33.9°/21.0°C) |
| Aug | 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) | 93°/70°F (33.9°/20.9°C) |
| Sep | 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) | 91°/70°F (32.9°/21.0°C) |
| Oct | 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) | 91°/69°F (32.6°/20.8°C) |
| Nov | 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) | 91°/69°F (32.9°/20.3°C) |
| Dec | 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) | 92°/67°F (33.3°/19.2°C) |
Data:
Japan Meteorological Agency,
IMHPA - Instituto de Meteorología e Hidrología de Panamá
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Japan 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.
Japan passport holder visiting Panama
Visa Free
Panama passport holder visiting Japan
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 Japan?
Day-to-day costs in Panama run about 11% higher than Japan on average; specific cities can swing further.
How much money do I need to move to Panama?
A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a ¥11,948,175 comparable salary, that's around PAB20,721 in Panama for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, deposits, and visa fees.
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 Japan and Panama.
Is Panama safe for expats?
Japan performs better than Panama across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Panama is 11.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.2 in Japan. About 33% of people in Panama feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Panama compared to Japan?
Japan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Panama leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 17.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Panama, compared to 26.1 in Japan. Panama scores 78 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Japan: 83).
What's the weather like in Panama compared to Japan?
The average high temperature in Panama City is 93°F, compared to 69°F in Tokyo. Panama City receives around 75.1 in of rainfall per year, while Tokyo gets 62.9 in.
What language do they speak in Panama?
The official language in Panama is Spanish. In Japan, the official language is Japanese.
