Moving to Panama from Philippines
What to Expect
Considering a move from Philippines to Panama? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Philippines to Panama, you would find that Panama is 2.0 times more expensive than Philippines overall. A ₱4,612,875 salary in Philippines would need to be roughly PAB116,765 in Panama to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Philippines and Panama.
What does your salary buy?
₱4,612,875 → PAB116,765
To maintain the same standard of living in Panama
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 2.4 times more
Groceries
pay 36.7% more
Transportation
pay 2.8 times more
Housing
pay 2.4 times more
Childcare
pay 2.2 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 60.0% 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 Philippines to Panama.
Who's moving to Panama?
Top countries of origin for Panama's foreign-born residents.
- 119,553
- 50,702
- 22,427
- 16,867
- 15,517
- 9,711
- · · ·
-
21.1,923
Philippines
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Panama compared to Philippines.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Philippines 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
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Philippines generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Panama 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
Philippines generally does better on environment, though Panama 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
Panama performs significantly better than Philippines 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 Philippines 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 Philippines leads in literacy rate.
Data: Bureau of Internal Revenue, 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 | Manila | Panama City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 87°/75°F (31°/24°C) | 94°/65°F (34°/18°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 91°/79°F (33°/26°C) | 94°/69°F (35°/21°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 88°/78°F (31°/26°C) | 92°/70°F (34°/21°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 87°/77°F (30°/25°C) | 91°/68°F (33°/20°C) |
View all months
| Month | Manila | Panama City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 85°/74°F (29.5°/23.5°C) | 92°/65°F (33.4°/18.5°C) |
| Feb | 87°/75°F (30.5°/23.8°C) | 94°/65°F (34.2°/18.4°C) |
| Mar | 90°/77°F (32.1°/24.9°C) | 95°/65°F (34.8°/18.4°C) |
| Apr | 92°/79°F (33.5°/26.2°C) | 96°/67°F (35.4°/19.5°C) |
| May | 92°/80°F (33.2°/26.7°C) | 94°/70°F (34.5°/21.1°C) |
| Jun | 90°/79°F (32.2°/26.2°C) | 93°/70°F (33.8°/21.3°C) |
| Jul | 88°/78°F (31.1°/25.8°C) | 93°/70°F (33.9°/21.0°C) |
| Aug | 87°/78°F (30.6°/25.5°C) | 93°/70°F (33.9°/20.9°C) |
| Sep | 88°/78°F (30.9°/25.5°C) | 91°/70°F (32.9°/21.0°C) |
| Oct | 88°/78°F (30.9°/25.5°C) | 91°/69°F (32.6°/20.8°C) |
| Nov | 87°/77°F (30.7°/24.9°C) | 91°/69°F (32.9°/20.3°C) |
| Dec | 85°/75°F (29.7°/23.9°C) | 92°/67°F (33.3°/19.2°C) |
Data:
Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration,
IMHPA - Instituto de Meteorología e Hidrología de Panamá
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Philippines and Panama. To live, work, or study long-term in Panama, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Panama's immigration authority.
Philippines passport holder visiting Panama
Visa Required
Panama passport holder visiting Philippines
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 Panama than Philippines?
On average Panama is around 56% pricier than Philippines, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Panama?
Budget about PAB29,191 for 3 months in Panama (based on a ₱4,612,875 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Panama?
Connectivity is usually fine (Panama: 15.5 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Panama offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Panama safe for expats?
Philippines generally does better on safety, though Panama leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Panama is 11.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.3 in Philippines.
How is healthcare in Panama compared to Philippines?
Philippines generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Panama leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 17.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Panama, compared to 7.9 in Philippines. Panama scores 78 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Philippines: 58).
What's the weather like in Panama compared to Philippines?
The average high temperature in Panama City is 93°F, compared to 88°F in Manila. Panama City receives around 75.1 in of rainfall per year, while Manila gets 86.7 in.
What language do they speak in Panama?
The official language in Panama is Spanish. In Philippines, the official languages are English and Filipino.
