Moving to Russia from Panama

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Panama to Russia — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Panama to Russia, you would find that Russia is 27.0% cheaper than Panama overall. A PAB75,000 salary in Panama would need to be roughly RUB4,660,000 in Russia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Russian. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Moscow averages 48°F vs 93°F in Panama City, making it significantly cooler.

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

How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Panama to Russia.

What does your salary buy?

PAB75,000 → RUB4,660,000

To maintain the same standard of living in Russia

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 8.5% less

Groceries

pay 44.7% less

Transportation

pay 12.2% less

Housing

pay 40.7% less

Childcare

pay 1.2% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 18.9% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 PAB = 85.16 RUB (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.

Get free moving quotes to Russia

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

Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Panama to Russia, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
23 ↓ 8% vs 2015

people born in Panama live in Russia · UN DESA

Who's moving to Russia?

Top countries of origin for Russia's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Panama to Russia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

PA
11.7
RU
6.8
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

PA
33%
RU
90%

Russia 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

PA
$3,318
RU
$3,204
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

PA
16.2
RU
51.1

Russia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Panama leads in suicide rate.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

PA
17.0
RU
39.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

PA
2.7t
RU
14.0t

Panama performs better than Russia across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

PA
18.1
RU
27.1
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

PA
0.9%
RU
4.1%

Russia generally does better on infrastructure, though Panama leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

PA
8.4%
RU
2.1%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

PA
$19,790
RU
$17,547

Russia 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

PA
79.8 yrs
RU
73.4 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

PA
12.0
RU
4.1

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

Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2016–2021), World Health Organization (2024), General Directorate of Revenues, Panama (2016), Federal Tax Service of Russia (2016). How we calculate this

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

Moscow Rain: 27.2 in/yr (691 mm)
48° / 34°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Panama City Moscow
Jan–Mar 94°/65°F (34°/18°C) 27°/15°F (-3°/-10°C)
Apr–Jun 94°/69°F (35°/21°C) 62°/45°F (17°/7°C)
Jul–Sep 92°/70°F (34°/21°C) 68°/52°F (20°/11°C)
Oct–Dec 91°/68°F (33°/20°C) 36°/26°F (2°/-3°C)
View all months
Month Panama City Moscow
Jan 92°/65°F (33.4°/18.5°C) 21°/10°F (-6.3°/-12.3°C)
Feb 94°/65°F (34.2°/18.4°C) 24°/12°F (-4.2°/-11.1°C)
Mar 95°/65°F (34.8°/18.4°C) 35°/22°F (1.5°/-5.6°C)
Apr 96°/67°F (35.4°/19.5°C) 51°/35°F (10.4°/1.7°C)
May 94°/70°F (34.5°/21.1°C) 65°/46°F (18.4°/7.6°C)
Jun 93°/70°F (33.8°/21.3°C) 71°/53°F (21.7°/11.5°C)
Jul 93°/70°F (33.9°/21.0°C) 74°/56°F (23.1°/13.5°C)
Aug 93°/70°F (33.9°/20.9°C) 71°/54°F (21.5°/12.0°C)
Sep 91°/70°F (32.9°/21.0°C) 60°/45°F (15.4°/7.1°C)
Oct 91°/69°F (32.6°/20.8°C) 47°/36°F (8.2°/2.1°C)
Nov 91°/69°F (32.9°/20.3°C) 34°/26°F (1.1°/-3.3°C)
Dec 92°/67°F (33.3°/19.2°C) 26°/17°F (-3.5°/-8.6°C)

Data: IMHPA - Instituto de Meteorología e Hidrología de Panamá IMHPA - Instituto de Meteorología e Hidrología de Panamá, Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Panama passport

Panama passport holder visiting Russia

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Panama passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter Russia.
Russia passport

Russia passport holder visiting Panama

Visa Free
Russia 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 Russia than Panama?

Yes — Russia is on average about 27% cheaper than Panama. City-level variation can be significant.

How much money do I need to move to Russia?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly RUB1,165,000 in Russia on a PAB75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Russia?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Russia has 27.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Russia safe for expats?

Russia generally does better on safety, though Panama leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Russia is 6.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 11.7 in Panama. About 90% of people in Russia feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in Russia compared to Panama?

Russia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Panama leads in suicide rate. There are 51.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Russia, compared to 16.2 in Panama. Russia scores 79 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Panama: 78).

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

The average high temperature in Moscow is 48°F, compared to 93°F in Panama City. Moscow receives around 27.2 in of rainfall per year, while Panama City gets 75.1 in.

What language do they speak in Russia?

The official language in Russia is Russian. In Panama, the official language is Spanish.

Share this

At a Glance

PA RU
Population 4,571,189 143,513,328
Currency Panamanian Balboa (PAB) Russian Ruble (RUB)
Languages Spanish Russian
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +507 +7
Time zones 1 9
Emergency number 911 112