Moving to Jamaica from Panama
What to Expect
Considering a move from Panama to Jamaica? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Panama to Jamaica, you would find that Jamaica is 1.8% cheaper than Panama overall. A PAB75,000 salary in Panama would need to be roughly JMD12,072,177 in Jamaica to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English and Jamaican Patois. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Panama and Jamaica.
What does your salary buy?
PAB75,000 → JMD12,072,177
To maintain the same standard of living in Jamaica
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 15.9% less
Groceries
pay 24.8% more
Transportation
pay 54.7% more
Housing
pay 11.0% less
Childcare
pay 59.8% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 29.7% more
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 Panama to Jamaica.
Who's moving to Jamaica?
Top countries of origin for Jamaica's foreign-born residents.
- 6,349
- 4,832
- 2,343
- 1,825
- 1,338
- 1,148
- · · ·
-
20.74
Panama
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Jamaica compared to Panama.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
Panama generally does better on safety, though Jamaica leads in feel safe walking at night.
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
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Panama generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Jamaica leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Panama performs better than Jamaica across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
Panama performs better than Jamaica across all infrastructure metrics.
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
Panama generally does better on employment & economy, though Jamaica leads in unemployment 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
percentage of adults who can read and write
Panama generally does better on family life, though Jamaica leads in infant mortality.
Data: General Directorate of Revenues, Panama, 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 | Panama City | Kingston |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 94°/65°F (34°/18°C) | 87°/70°F (30°/21°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 94°/69°F (35°/21°C) | 89°/74°F (32°/23°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 92°/70°F (34°/21°C) | 91°/76°F (33°/24°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 91°/68°F (33°/20°C) | 88°/73°F (31°/23°C) |
View all months
| Month | Panama City | Kingston |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 92°/65°F (33.4°/18.5°C) | 87°/70°F (30.3°/21.1°C) |
| Feb | 94°/65°F (34.2°/18.4°C) | 86°/70°F (30.2°/21.0°C) |
| Mar | 95°/65°F (34.8°/18.4°C) | 87°/71°F (30.7°/21.6°C) |
| Apr | 96°/67°F (35.4°/19.5°C) | 88°/73°F (31.1°/22.6°C) |
| May | 94°/70°F (34.5°/21.1°C) | 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.6°C) |
| Jun | 93°/70°F (33.8°/21.3°C) | 90°/76°F (32.1°/24.2°C) |
| Jul | 93°/70°F (33.9°/21.0°C) | 91°/76°F (32.8°/24.3°C) |
| Aug | 93°/70°F (33.9°/20.9°C) | 91°/76°F (32.7°/24.2°C) |
| Sep | 91°/70°F (32.9°/21.0°C) | 90°/75°F (32.1°/24.0°C) |
| Oct | 91°/69°F (32.6°/20.8°C) | 89°/74°F (31.7°/23.4°C) |
| Nov | 91°/69°F (32.9°/20.3°C) | 88°/73°F (31.2°/22.8°C) |
| Dec | 92°/67°F (33.3°/19.2°C) | 87°/71°F (30.6°/21.8°C) |
Data:
IMHPA - Instituto de Meteorología e Hidrología de Panamá,
Meteorological Service, Jamaica
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Panama and Jamaica. To live, work, or study long-term in Jamaica, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Jamaica's immigration authority.
Panama passport holder visiting Jamaica
Visa Free
Jamaica passport holder visiting Panama
Visa FreeData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Jamaica than Panama?
Jamaica and Panama are within a few percent on overall cost, though specific items in specific cities can swing either way.
How much money do I need to move to Jamaica?
Budget about JMD3,018,044 for 3 months in Jamaica (based on a PAB75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Jamaica?
Connectivity is usually fine (Jamaica: 15.0 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Jamaica offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Jamaica safe for expats?
Panama generally does better on safety, though Jamaica leads in feel safe walking at night. The homicide rate in Jamaica is 53.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 11.3 in Panama. About 70% of people in Jamaica feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Jamaica compared to Panama?
Panama generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Jamaica leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 5.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Jamaica, compared to 17.3 in Panama. Jamaica scores 74 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Panama: 78).
What's the weather like in Jamaica compared to Panama?
The average high temperature in Kingston is 89°F, compared to 93°F in Panama City. Kingston receives around 32.0 in of rainfall per year, while Panama City gets 75.1 in.
What language do they speak in Jamaica?
The official languages in Jamaica are English and Jamaican Patois. In Panama, the official language is Spanish.
