Moving to United Kingdom from Panama
What to Expect
Considering a move from Panama to United Kingdom? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Panama to United Kingdom, you would find that United Kingdom is 57.6% more expensive than Panama overall. A PAB75,000 salary in Panama would need to be roughly £89,300 in United Kingdom to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — London averages 60°F vs 93°F in Panama City, making it significantly cooler.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Panama and United Kingdom.
What does your salary buy?
PAB75,000 → £89,300
To maintain the same standard of living in United Kingdom
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 76.8% more
Groceries
pay 13.8% less
Transportation
pay 2.1 times more
Housing
pay 73.0% more
Childcare
pay 3.1 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 83.4% 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 United Kingdom.
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in United Kingdom compared to Panama.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
United Kingdom performs significantly better than Panama across all safety metrics.
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
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
United Kingdom generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Panama 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 generally does better on environment, though United Kingdom leads in air pollution deaths.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
United Kingdom generally does better on infrastructure, though Panama leads in water stress level.
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
share of people below the poverty line
United Kingdom generally does better on employment & economy, though Panama leads in top income tax 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
United Kingdom performs significantly better than Panama across all family life metrics.
Sources: World Bank (2017–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), General Directorate of Revenues, Panama (2016), HM Revenue & Customs (2016). How we calculate this
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Panama City | London |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 94°/65°F (34°/18°C) | 49°/38°F (9°/3°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 94°/69°F (35°/21°C) | 64°/48°F (18°/9°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 92°/70°F (34°/21°C) | 72°/56°F (22°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 91°/68°F (33°/20°C) | 53°/43°F (12°/6°C) |
View all months
| Month | Panama City | London |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 92°/65°F (33.4°/18.5°C) | 47°/38°F (8.1°/3.1°C) |
| Feb | 94°/65°F (34.2°/18.4°C) | 47°/37°F (8.6°/2.7°C) |
| Mar | 95°/65°F (34.8°/18.4°C) | 53°/40°F (11.6°/4.6°C) |
| Apr | 96°/67°F (35.4°/19.5°C) | 58°/43°F (14.6°/5.9°C) |
| May | 94°/70°F (34.5°/21.1°C) | 65°/48°F (18.1°/8.9°C) |
| Jun | 93°/70°F (33.8°/21.3°C) | 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) |
| Jul | 93°/70°F (33.9°/21.0°C) | 74°/57°F (23.4°/13.7°C) |
| Aug | 93°/70°F (33.9°/20.9°C) | 74°/57°F (23.1°/13.8°C) |
| Sep | 91°/70°F (32.9°/21.0°C) | 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.4°C) |
| Oct | 91°/69°F (32.6°/20.8°C) | 60°/48°F (15.5°/8.8°C) |
| Nov | 91°/69°F (32.9°/20.3°C) | 52°/42°F (11.3°/5.8°C) |
| Dec | 92°/67°F (33.3°/19.2°C) | 47°/38°F (8.4°/3.4°C) |
Data:
IMHPA - Instituto de Meteorología e Hidrología de Panamá,
Met Office
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Panama and United Kingdom. To live, work, or study long-term in United Kingdom, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check United Kingdom's immigration authority.
Panama passport holder visiting United Kingdom
Electronic Travel Authorisation
United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom than Panama?
On average United Kingdom is around 58% pricier than Panama, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to United Kingdom?
Budget about £22,325 for 3 months in United Kingdom (based on a PAB75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from United Kingdom?
Connectivity is usually fine (United Kingdom: 42.2 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does United Kingdom offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is United Kingdom safe for expats?
United Kingdom performs significantly better than Panama across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in United Kingdom is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 11.7 in Panama.
How is healthcare in United Kingdom compared to Panama?
United Kingdom generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Panama leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 33.0 doctors per 10,000 people in United Kingdom, compared to 16.2 in Panama. United Kingdom scores 88 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Panama: 78).
What's the weather like in United Kingdom compared to Panama?
The average high temperature in London is 60°F, compared to 93°F in Panama City. London receives around 22.0 in of rainfall per year, while Panama City gets 75.1 in.
What language do they speak in United Kingdom?
The official language in United Kingdom is English. In Panama, the official language is Spanish.
