Moving to Panama from Pakistan

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Pakistan to Panama, you would find that Panama is 4.4 times more expensive than Pakistan overall. A PKR20,891,250 salary in Pakistan would need to be roughly PAB193,912 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.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

PKR20,891,250 PAB193,912

To maintain the same standard of living in Panama

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 3.8 times more

Groceries

pay 3.9 times more

Transportation

pay 2.6 times more

Housing

pay 6.4 times more

Childcare

pay 9.4 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 2.4 times more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 PKR = 0.0036 PAB (June 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 Pakistan to Panama.

Living there in 2020
99 ↑ 18% vs 2015

people born in Pakistan 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 Pakistan.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

PK
4.2
PA
11.3
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

PK
11.9
PA
7.3

Pakistan 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

PK
$152
PA
$3,318
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

PK
10.8
PA
17.3

Panama generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Pakistan leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

PK
105.0
PA
17.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

PK
0.8t
PA
2.7t

Pakistan generally does better on environment, though Panama leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

PK
1.3
PA
15.5
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

PK
162.1%
PA
0.9%

Panama performs significantly better than Pakistan across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

PK
5.5%
PA
6.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

PK
$5,600
PA
$35,800

Pakistan generally does better on employment & economy, though Panama leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

PK
69.7 yrs
PA
77.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

PK
54.0
PA
16.4

Panama performs significantly better than Pakistan across all family life metrics.

Data: Federal Board of Revenue, Government of Pakistan, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Islamabad Rain: 49.1 in/yr (1247 mm)
84° / 58°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Islamabad Panama City
Jan–Mar 69°/44°F (21°/7°C) 94°/65°F (34°/18°C)
Apr–Jun 95°/68°F (35°/20°C) 94°/69°F (35°/21°C)
Jul–Sep 94°/74°F (34°/23°C) 92°/70°F (34°/21°C)
Oct–Dec 78°/48°F (26°/9°C) 91°/68°F (33°/20°C)
View all months
Month Islamabad Panama City
Jan 64°/38°F (17.9°/3.2°C) 92°/65°F (33.4°/18.5°C)
Feb 68°/43°F (19.8°/6.0°C) 94°/65°F (34.2°/18.4°C)
Mar 76°/51°F (24.5°/10.7°C) 95°/65°F (34.8°/18.4°C)
Apr 87°/60°F (30.5°/15.8°C) 96°/67°F (35.4°/19.5°C)
May 97°/69°F (36.0°/20.7°C) 94°/70°F (34.5°/21.1°C)
Jun 101°/75°F (38.4°/23.8°C) 93°/70°F (33.8°/21.3°C)
Jul 96°/76°F (35.3°/24.4°C) 93°/70°F (33.9°/21.0°C)
Aug 93°/75°F (33.7°/23.8°C) 93°/70°F (33.9°/20.9°C)
Sep 93°/70°F (33.7°/21.1°C) 91°/70°F (32.9°/21.0°C)
Oct 88°/58°F (30.9°/14.5°C) 91°/69°F (32.6°/20.8°C)
Nov 79°/47°F (25.9°/8.3°C) 91°/69°F (32.9°/20.3°C)
Dec 68°/40°F (20.2°/4.3°C) 92°/67°F (33.3°/19.2°C)

Data: 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 Pakistan 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.

Pakistan passport

Pakistan passport holder visiting Panama

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

Panama passport holder visiting Pakistan

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Panama passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Pakistan.

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 Pakistan?

On average Panama is around 159% pricier than Pakistan, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to Panama?

Budget about PAB48,478 for 3 months in Panama (based on a PKR20,891,250 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, 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?

Pakistan 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 4.2 in Pakistan.

How is healthcare in Panama compared to Pakistan?

Panama generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Pakistan leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 17.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Panama, compared to 10.8 in Pakistan. Panama scores 78 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Pakistan: 45).

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

The average high temperature in Panama City is 93°F, compared to 84°F in Islamabad. Panama City receives around 75.1 in of rainfall per year, while Islamabad gets 49.1 in.

What language do they speak in Panama?

The official language in Panama is Spanish. In Pakistan, the official languages are English and Urdu.

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At a Glance

PK PA
Population 242,923,845 4,337,768
Currency Pakistani Rupee (PKR) Panamanian Balboa (PAB)
Languages English, Urdu Spanish
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +92 +507
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 15 911