Moving to Panama from Pakistan

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Pakistan to Panama, you would find that Panama is 3.3 times more expensive than Pakistan overall. A PKR21,000,000 salary in Pakistan would need to be roughly PAB249,000 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.

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

Is Panama cheaper than Pakistan?

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 3.0 times more

Groceries

pay 3.6 times more

Transportation

pay 32.2% more

Housing

pay 5.3 times more

Childcare

pay 7.6 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 82.6% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 PKR = 0.0036 PAB (October 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.

What salary do you need in Panama?

What does your salary buy?

PKR21,000,000 → PAB249,000

To maintain the same standard of living in Panama

Calculate with your salary →

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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 World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

PK
4.3
PA
11.7
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 World Bank, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

PK
11.6
PA
16.2

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 World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

PK
1.5
PA
18.1
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

PK
110.0%
PA
0.9%

Panama performs significantly better than Pakistan across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

PK
5.4%
PA
8.4%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

PK
$1,596
PA
$19,790

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

PK
67.8 yrs
PA
79.8 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

PK
48.2
PA
12.0

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

Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), Federal Board of Revenue, Government of Pakistan (2016), General Directorate of Revenues, Panama (2016). How we calculate this

Weather in Panama vs Pakistan

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Karachi Rain: 6.9 in/yr (176 mm)
90° / 70°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Karachi Panama City
Jan–Mar 84°/58°F (29°/15°C) 94°/65°F (34°/18°C)
Apr–Jun 96°/79°F (35°/26°C) 94°/69°F (35°/21°C)
Jul–Sep 91°/80°F (33°/27°C) 92°/70°F (34°/21°C)
Oct–Dec 90°/63°F (32°/17°C) 91°/68°F (33°/20°C)
View all months
Month Karachi Panama City
Jan 79°/53°F (26.3°/11.5°C) 92°/65°F (33.4°/18.5°C)
Feb 83°/57°F (28.4°/14.0°C) 94°/65°F (34.2°/18.4°C)
Mar 90°/65°F (32.2°/18.6°C) 95°/65°F (34.8°/18.4°C)
Apr 95°/73°F (34.8°/23.0°C) 96°/67°F (35.4°/19.5°C)
May 96°/80°F (35.5°/26.6°C) 94°/70°F (34.5°/21.1°C)
Jun 96°/83°F (35.4°/28.3°C) 93°/70°F (33.8°/21.3°C)
Jul 92°/82°F (33.3°/27.6°C) 93°/70°F (33.9°/21.0°C)
Aug 90°/79°F (32.1°/26.3°C) 93°/70°F (33.9°/20.9°C)
Sep 92°/78°F (33.2°/25.7°C) 91°/70°F (32.9°/21.0°C)
Oct 96°/71°F (35.5°/21.9°C) 91°/69°F (32.6°/20.8°C)
Nov 90°/62°F (32.5°/16.8°C) 91°/69°F (32.9°/20.3°C)
Dec 83°/55°F (28.2°/12.7°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

Can you move from Pakistan to Panama?

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 229% pricier than Pakistan, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to Panama?

Budget about PAB62,250 for 3 months in Panama (based on a PKR21,000,000 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: 18.1 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 11.7 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.3 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 16.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Panama, compared to 11.6 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 90°F in Karachi. Panama City receives around 75.1 in of rainfall per year, while Karachi gets 6.9 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 255,219,554 4,571,189
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