Moving to Belize from Panama

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Panama to Belize — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Panama to Belize.

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

Get free moving quotes to Belize

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

How Panama and Belize stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

PA
11.7
BZ
28.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

PA
7.3
BZ
17.5

Panama performs better than Belize across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

PA
$3,318
BZ
$573
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

PA
16.2
BZ
10.9

Panama generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Belize 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

PA
17.0
BZ
21.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

PA
2.7t
BZ
0.9t

Panama generally does better on environment, though Belize leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2023

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

PA
18.1
BZ
9.8
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

PA
0.9%
BZ
1.3%

Panama generally does better on infrastructure, though Belize leads in internet access.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

PA
8.4%
BZ
8.9%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

PA
$19,790
BZ
$7,865

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

PA
79.8 yrs
BZ
73.7 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

PA
12.0
BZ
10.8

Panama generally does better on family life, though Belize leads in infant mortality.

Weather in Belize vs Panama

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

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

Avg. annual high / low

Belize City Rain: 79.3 in/yr (2014 mm)
86° / 72°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Panama City Belize City
Jan–Mar 94°/65°F (34°/18°C) 83°/69°F (28°/20°C)
Apr–Jun 94°/69°F (35°/21°C) 88°/75°F (31°/24°C)
Jul–Sep 92°/70°F (34°/21°C) 88°/76°F (31°/24°C)
Oct–Dec 91°/68°F (33°/20°C) 84°/71°F (29°/21°C)
View all months
Month Panama City Belize City
Jan 92°/65°F (33.4°/18.5°C) 82°/67°F (27.6°/19.5°C)
Feb 94°/65°F (34.2°/18.4°C) 83°/68°F (28.3°/20.1°C)
Mar 95°/65°F (34.8°/18.4°C) 85°/71°F (29.5°/21.8°C)
Apr 96°/67°F (35.4°/19.5°C) 87°/74°F (30.7°/23.1°C)
May 94°/70°F (34.5°/21.1°C) 89°/76°F (31.8°/24.2°C)
Jun 93°/70°F (33.8°/21.3°C) 88°/76°F (31.3°/24.7°C)
Jul 93°/70°F (33.9°/21.0°C) 88°/76°F (31.1°/24.3°C)
Aug 93°/70°F (33.9°/20.9°C) 88°/76°F (31.3°/24.2°C)
Sep 91°/70°F (32.9°/21.0°C) 88°/75°F (31.0°/23.9°C)
Oct 91°/69°F (32.6°/20.8°C) 86°/73°F (30.2°/22.7°C)
Nov 91°/69°F (32.9°/20.3°C) 84°/70°F (29.1°/21.3°C)
Dec 92°/67°F (33.3°/19.2°C) 82°/69°F (28.0°/20.4°C)

Data: IMHPA - Instituto de Meteorología e Hidrología de Panamá IMHPA - Instituto de Meteorología e Hidrología de Panamá, National Meteorological Service of Belize National Meteorological Service of Belize

Can you move from Panama to Belize?

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Panama and Belize. To live, work, or study long-term in Belize, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Belize's immigration authority.

Panama passport

Panama passport holder visiting Belize

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

Belize passport holder visiting Panama

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

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Belize?

With 9.8 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Belize can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Panama and Belize.

Is Belize safe for expats?

Panama performs better than Belize across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Belize is 28.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 11.7 in Panama.

How is healthcare in Belize compared to Panama?

Panama generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Belize leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 10.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Belize, compared to 16.2 in Panama. Belize scores 68 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Panama: 78).

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

The average high temperature in Belize City is 86°F, compared to 93°F in Panama City. Belize City receives around 79.3 in of rainfall per year, while Panama City gets 75.1 in.

What language do they speak in Belize?

The official languages in Belize are Belizean Creole, English and Spanish. In Panama, the official language is Spanish.

Share this

At a Glance

PA BZ
Population 4,571,189 422,924
Currency Panamanian Balboa (PAB) Belize Dollar (BZD)
Languages Spanish Belizean Creole, English, Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +507 +501
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 911 —