Moving to Panama from Kuwait

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Kuwait to Panama, you would find that Panama is 46.0% more expensive than Kuwait overall. A KWD23,156 salary in Kuwait would need to be roughly PAB81,792 in Panama to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

KWD23,156 PAB81,792

To maintain the same standard of living in Panama

Calculate with your salary →

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

Restaurants

pay 2.0 times more

Groceries

pay 89.5% more

Transportation

pay 37.0% more

Housing

pay 39.5% more

Childcare

pay 53.5% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 14.2% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 KWD = 3.24 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.

Get free moving quotes to Panama

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

KW
0.2
PA
11.3
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

KW
9.2
PA
7.3

Kuwait 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

KW
$2,567
PA
$3,318
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

KW
22.9
PA
17.3

Kuwait generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Panama leads in adult obesity rate.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

KW
45.0
PA
17.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

KW
23.7t
PA
2.7t

Panama performs significantly better than Kuwait 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

KW
1.5
PA
15.5
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

KW
3850.5%
PA
0.9%

Kuwait generally does better on infrastructure, though Panama leads in broadband per 100 people.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

KW
2.1%
PA
6.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

KW
$50,800
PA
$35,800

Kuwait performs better than Panama across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

KW
79.1 yrs
PA
77.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

KW
7.4
PA
16.4

Kuwait performs better than Panama across all family life metrics.

Data: Ministry of Finance, Kuwait, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Kuwait City Rain: 4.6 in/yr (116 mm)
94° / 68°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Kuwait City Panama City
Jan–Mar 73°/51°F (23°/11°C) 94°/65°F (34°/18°C)
Apr–Jun 104°/76°F (40°/25°C) 94°/69°F (35°/21°C)
Jul–Sep 114°/84°F (46°/29°C) 92°/70°F (34°/21°C)
Oct–Dec 84°/60°F (29°/15°C) 91°/68°F (33°/20°C)
View all months
Month Kuwait City Panama City
Jan 67°/47°F (19.5°/8.5°C) 92°/65°F (33.4°/18.5°C)
Feb 71°/50°F (21.8°/10.0°C) 94°/65°F (34.2°/18.4°C)
Mar 80°/57°F (26.9°/14.0°C) 95°/65°F (34.8°/18.4°C)
Apr 93°/67°F (33.9°/19.5°C) 96°/67°F (35.4°/19.5°C)
May 106°/78°F (40.9°/25.4°C) 94°/70°F (34.5°/21.1°C)
Jun 114°/84°F (45.5°/28.9°C) 93°/70°F (33.8°/21.3°C)
Jul 116°/87°F (46.7°/30.7°C) 93°/70°F (33.9°/21.0°C)
Aug 116°/85°F (46.9°/29.5°C) 93°/70°F (33.9°/20.9°C)
Sep 111°/79°F (43.7°/26.2°C) 91°/70°F (32.9°/21.0°C)
Oct 98°/71°F (36.6°/21.5°C) 91°/69°F (32.6°/20.8°C)
Nov 82°/58°F (27.8°/14.5°C) 91°/69°F (32.9°/20.3°C)
Dec 71°/50°F (21.9°/9.9°C) 92°/67°F (33.3°/19.2°C)

Data: Meteorological Department Meteorological Department, 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 Kuwait 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.

Kuwait passport

Kuwait passport holder visiting Panama

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

Panama passport holder visiting Kuwait

Visa Required
Panama passport holders need a visa to enter Kuwait.

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 Kuwait?

No — Panama is on average about 9% more expensive than Kuwait. City-level variation matters.

How much money do I need to move to Panama?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly PAB20,448 in Panama on a KWD23,156 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and 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?

Kuwait 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 0.2 in Kuwait.

How is healthcare in Panama compared to Kuwait?

Kuwait generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Panama leads in adult obesity rate. There are 17.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Panama, compared to 22.9 in Kuwait. Panama scores 78 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Kuwait: 78).

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

The average high temperature in Panama City is 93°F, compared to 94°F in Kuwait City. Panama City receives around 75.1 in of rainfall per year, while Kuwait City gets 4.6 in.

What language do they speak in Panama?

The official language in Panama is Spanish. In Kuwait, the official language is Arabic.

Share this

At a Glance

KW PA
Population 3,068,155 4,337,768
Currency Kuwaiti Dinar (KWD) Panamanian Balboa (PAB)
Languages Arabic Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +965 +507
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 911