Moving to Bhutan from Panama

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Panama to Bhutan, and you’d need to navigate life in Dzongkha. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Thimphu averages 72°F vs 93°F in Panama City, making it significantly cooler.

Get free moving quotes to Bhutan

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 Bhutan stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

PA
11.3
BT
2.5
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

PA
7.3
BT
12.2

Panama generally does better on safety, though Bhutan leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

PA
$3,318
BT
$677
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

PA
17.3
BT
5.5

Panama generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Bhutan 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
BT
57.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

PA
2.7t
BT
2.0t

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

PA
15.5
BT
0.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

PA
0.9%
BT
1.4%

Panama performs better than Bhutan across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

PA
6.7%
BT
5.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

PA
$35,800
BT
$14,000

Panama generally does better on employment & economy, though Bhutan leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

PA
77.6 yrs
BT
72.3 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

PA
16.4
BT
27.0

Panama generally does better on family life, though Bhutan leads in education spending.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

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

Avg. annual high / low

Thimphu Rain: 23.3 in/yr (591 mm)
72° / 46°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Panama City Thimphu
Jan–Mar 94°/65°F (34°/18°C) 63°/33°F (17°/1°C)
Apr–Jun 94°/69°F (35°/21°C) 76°/53°F (25°/12°C)
Jul–Sep 92°/70°F (34°/21°C) 80°/60°F (27°/16°C)
Oct–Dec 91°/68°F (33°/20°C) 68°/39°F (20°/4°C)
View all months
Month Panama City Thimphu
Jan 92°/65°F (33.4°/18.5°C) 59°/28°F (15.1°/-2.1°C)
Feb 94°/65°F (34.2°/18.4°C) 62°/33°F (16.7°/0.5°C)
Mar 95°/65°F (34.8°/18.4°C) 67°/39°F (19.4°/4.0°C)
Apr 96°/67°F (35.4°/19.5°C) 72°/46°F (22.4°/7.8°C)
May 94°/70°F (34.5°/21.1°C) 76°/53°F (24.7°/11.5°C)
Jun 93°/70°F (33.8°/21.3°C) 80°/59°F (26.7°/15.2°C)
Jul 93°/70°F (33.9°/21.0°C) 81°/61°F (27.1°/16.4°C)
Aug 93°/70°F (33.9°/20.9°C) 81°/61°F (27.2°/16.1°C)
Sep 91°/70°F (32.9°/21.0°C) 79°/58°F (26.1°/14.6°C)
Oct 91°/69°F (32.6°/20.8°C) 74°/48°F (23.4°/9.0°C)
Nov 91°/69°F (32.9°/20.3°C) 67°/38°F (19.7°/3.2°C)
Dec 92°/67°F (33.3°/19.2°C) 62°/31°F (16.5°/-0.8°C)

Data: IMHPA - Instituto de Meteorología e Hidrología de Panamá IMHPA - Instituto de Meteorología e Hidrología de Panamá, National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM) National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM)

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Panama passport

Panama passport holder visiting Bhutan

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

Bhutan passport holder visiting Panama

Visa Free
Bhutan 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 Bhutan?

With 0.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Bhutan 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 Bhutan.

Is Bhutan safe for expats?

Panama generally does better on safety, though Bhutan leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Bhutan is 2.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 11.3 in Panama.

How is healthcare in Bhutan compared to Panama?

Panama generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Bhutan leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 5.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Bhutan, compared to 17.3 in Panama. Bhutan scores 60 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Panama: 78).

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

The average high temperature in Thimphu is 72°F, compared to 93°F in Panama City. Thimphu receives around 23.3 in of rainfall per year, while Panama City gets 75.1 in.

What language do they speak in Bhutan?

The official language in Bhutan is Dzongkha. In Panama, the official language is Spanish.

Share this

At a Glance

PA BT
Population 4,337,768 867,775
Currency Panamanian Balboa (PAB) Bhutanese Ngultrum (BTN)
Languages Spanish Dzongkha
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +507 +975
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 911