Moving to Moldova from Panama

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Panama to Moldova, you would find that Moldova is 19.4% cheaper than Panama overall. A PAB75,000 salary in Panama would need to be roughly MDL1,061,550 in Moldova to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Romanian.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

PAB75,000 MDL1,061,550

To maintain the same standard of living in Moldova

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 20.7% less

Groceries

pay 38.8% less

Transportation

pay 9.8% less

Housing

pay 38.9% less

Childcare

pay 22.9% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 31.1% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 PAB = 17.25 MDL (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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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Moldova compared to Panama.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

PA
11.3
MD
2.3
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

PA
7.3
MD
9.1

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

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

PA
$3,318
MD
$1,181
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

PA
17.3
MD
32.5

Panama generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Moldova 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
MD
58.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

PA
2.7t
MD
3.4t

Panama performs better than Moldova across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

PA
15.5
MD
24.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

PA
0.9%
MD
12.6%

Panama generally does better on infrastructure, though Moldova leads in broadband per 100 people.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

PA
6.7%
MD
1.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

PA
$35,800
MD
$15,700

Moldova 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

PA
77.6 yrs
MD
72.4 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

PA
16.4
MD
11.6

Moldova generally does better on family life, though Panama leads in life expectancy.

Data: General Directorate of Revenues, Panama, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Panama passport

Panama passport holder visiting Moldova

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

Moldova passport holder visiting Panama

Visa Free
Moldova 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

Is it cheaper to live in Moldova than Panama?

On average Moldova is about 18% less expensive than Panama, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Moldova?

Budget about MDL265,388 for 3 months in Moldova (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 Moldova?

Connectivity is usually fine (Moldova: 24.4 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Moldova offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Moldova safe for expats?

Panama generally does better on safety, though Moldova leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Moldova is 2.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 11.3 in Panama.

How is healthcare in Moldova compared to Panama?

Panama generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Moldova leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 32.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Moldova, compared to 17.3 in Panama. Moldova scores 71 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Panama: 78).

What language do they speak in Moldova?

The official language in Moldova is Romanian. In Panama, the official language is Spanish.

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At a Glance

PA MD
Population 4,337,768 3,287,326
Currency Panamanian Balboa (PAB) Moldovan Leu (MDL)
Languages Spanish Romanian
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +507 +373
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 911 112