Moving to United States from Panama
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Panama to United States — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Panama to United States, you would find that United States is 84.6% more expensive than Panama overall. A PAB75,000 salary in Panama would need to be roughly $120,787 in United States to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Washington averages 66°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 United States.
What does your salary buy?
PAB75,000 → $120,787
To maintain the same standard of living in United States
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 82.1% more
Groceries
pay 33.1% more
Transportation
pay 47.7% more
Housing
pay 88.2% more
Childcare
pay 3.1 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 2.1 times 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?
How many people actually move from Panama to United States, based on official data.
people moved from Panama to United States · OECD (latest data available)
Who's moving to United States?
Top countries of origin for United States's foreign-born residents.
- 10,853,105
- 2,723,764
- 2,184,110
- 2,061,178
- 1,829,251
- 1,410,659
- · · ·
-
65.99,764
Panama
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Panama to United States.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
United States generally does better on safety, though Panama leads in road traffic deaths.
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
Panama generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
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 States 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 States 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 States 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 States performs significantly better than Panama across all family life metrics.
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 | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 94°/65°F (34°/18°C) | 48°/28°F (9°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 94°/69°F (35°/21°C) | 75°/51°F (24°/11°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 92°/70°F (34°/21°C) | 85°/62°F (29°/17°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 91°/68°F (33°/20°C) | 57°/35°F (14°/2°C) |
View all months
| Month | Panama City | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 92°/65°F (33.4°/18.5°C) | 42°/24°F (5.8°/-4.5°C) |
| Feb | 94°/65°F (34.2°/18.4°C) | 46°/26°F (8.0°/-3.3°C) |
| Mar | 95°/65°F (34.8°/18.4°C) | 56°/33°F (13.1°/0.5°C) |
| Apr | 96°/67°F (35.4°/19.5°C) | 67°/42°F (19.3°/5.6°C) |
| May | 94°/70°F (34.5°/21.1°C) | 75°/51°F (23.9°/10.7°C) |
| Jun | 93°/70°F (33.8°/21.3°C) | 84°/61°F (28.8°/16.1°C) |
| Jul | 93°/70°F (33.9°/21.0°C) | 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.6°C) |
| Aug | 93°/70°F (33.9°/20.9°C) | 87°/64°F (30.3°/17.9°C) |
| Sep | 91°/70°F (32.9°/21.0°C) | 79°/56°F (26.3°/13.5°C) |
| Oct | 91°/69°F (32.6°/20.8°C) | 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.6°C) |
| Nov | 91°/69°F (32.9°/20.3°C) | 58°/35°F (14.2°/1.8°C) |
| Dec | 92°/67°F (33.3°/19.2°C) | 46°/27°F (7.8°/-2.7°C) |
Data:
IMHPA - Instituto de Meteorología e Hidrología de Panamá,
National Weather Service
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Panama and United States. To live, work, or study long-term in United States, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check United States's immigration authority.
Panama passport holder visiting United States
Visa Required
United States 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 States than Panama?
No — United States is on average about 61% more expensive than Panama. City-level variation matters.
How much money do I need to move to United States?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly $30,197 in United States on a PAB75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from United States?
Internet is rarely the blocker — United States has 37.8 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 United States safe for expats?
United States generally does better on safety, though Panama leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in United States is 6.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 11.3 in Panama. About 63% of people in United States feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in United States compared to Panama?
Panama generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 36.1 doctors per 10,000 people in United States, compared to 17.3 in Panama. United States scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Panama: 78).
What's the weather like in United States compared to Panama?
The average high temperature in Washington is 66°F, compared to 93°F in Panama City. Washington receives around 41.5 in of rainfall per year, while Panama City gets 75.1 in.
What language do they speak in United States?
The official language in United States is English. In Panama, the official language is Spanish.
