Moving to Panama from New Zealand
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from New Zealand to Panama — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from New Zealand to Panama, you would find that Panama is 20.9% cheaper than New Zealand overall. A NZ$130,152 salary in New Zealand would need to be roughly PAB63,699 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 62°F in Wellington, making it significantly warmer.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
How your spending power changes when you relocate from New Zealand to Panama.
What does your salary buy?
NZ$130,152 → PAB63,699
To maintain the same standard of living in Panama
Calculate with your salary →The biggest cost differences at a glance
Restaurants
pay 33.1% less
Groceries
pay 7.5% more
Transportation
pay 24.1% less
Housing
pay 13.5% less
Childcare
pay 36.5% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 29.2% 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 New Zealand 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
- · · ·
-
70.59
New Zealand
Key Indicator Comparison
How New Zealand and Panama stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
New Zealand 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
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Panama generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
New Zealand 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
share of households with internet
New Zealand 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
New Zealand 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
New Zealand performs better than Panama across all family life metrics.
Data: New Zealand Inland Revenue Department, 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 | Wellington | Panama City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 69°/58°F (21°/14°C) | 94°/65°F (34°/18°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 59°/49°F (15°/10°C) | 94°/69°F (35°/21°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 56°/46°F (13°/8°C) | 92°/70°F (34°/21°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 64°/53°F (18°/12°C) | 91°/68°F (33°/20°C) |
View all months
| Month | Wellington | Panama City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 70°/58°F (21.2°/14.7°C) | 92°/65°F (33.4°/18.5°C) |
| Feb | 70°/59°F (21.3°/14.8°C) | 94°/65°F (34.2°/18.4°C) |
| Mar | 68°/56°F (19.8°/13.5°C) | 95°/65°F (34.8°/18.4°C) |
| Apr | 63°/53°F (17.4°/11.5°C) | 96°/67°F (35.4°/19.5°C) |
| May | 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.7°C) | 94°/70°F (34.5°/21.1°C) |
| Jun | 56°/46°F (13.1°/7.9°C) | 93°/70°F (33.8°/21.3°C) |
| Jul | 54°/44°F (12.3°/6.9°C) | 93°/70°F (33.9°/21.0°C) |
| Aug | 55°/45°F (12.9°/7.4°C) | 93°/70°F (33.9°/20.9°C) |
| Sep | 58°/48°F (14.5°/8.8°C) | 91°/70°F (32.9°/21.0°C) |
| Oct | 60°/50°F (15.8°/10.0°C) | 91°/69°F (32.6°/20.8°C) |
| Nov | 64°/53°F (17.5°/11.4°C) | 91°/69°F (32.9°/20.3°C) |
| Dec | 67°/56°F (19.6°/13.5°C) | 92°/67°F (33.3°/19.2°C) |
Data:
New Zealand National Meteorological Service,
IMHPA - Instituto de Meteorología e Hidrología de Panamá
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between New Zealand 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.
New Zealand passport holder visiting Panama
Visa Free
Panama passport holder visiting New Zealand
Visa RequiredData: 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 New Zealand?
Generally yes: Panama runs about 15% cheaper than New Zealand on average, though it depends heavily on the city.
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 NZ$130,152 comparable salary, that's around PAB15,925 in Panama for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, 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 New Zealand and Panama.
Is Panama safe for expats?
New Zealand 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 New Zealand.
How is healthcare in Panama compared to New Zealand?
Panama generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 17.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Panama, compared to 35.7 in New Zealand. Panama scores 78 on the WHO universal health coverage index (New Zealand: 85).
What's the weather like in Panama compared to New Zealand?
The average high temperature in Panama City is 93°F, compared to 62°F in Wellington. Panama City receives around 75.1 in of rainfall per year, while Wellington gets 37.7 in.
What language do they speak in Panama?
The official language in Panama is Spanish. In New Zealand, the official languages are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language.
