Moving to Panama from Russia

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Russia to Panama, you would find that Panama is 66.2% more expensive than Russia overall. A RUB5,336,013 salary in Russia would need to be roughly PAB91,625 in Panama to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Panama City averages 93°F vs 48°F in Moscow, making it significantly warmer.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

RUB5,336,013 PAB91,625

To maintain the same standard of living in Panama

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 48.2% more

Groceries

pay 95.1% more

Transportation

pay 83.9% more

Housing

pay 2.8 times more

Childcare

pay 20.9% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 48.5% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 RUB = 0.0141 PAB (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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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Russia to Panama.

Living there in 2020
1,192 ↑ 20% vs 2015

people born in Russia live in Panama · UN DESA

Who's moving to Panama?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Panama compared to Russia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

RU
6.8
PA
11.3
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

RU
90%
PA
33%

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

RU
$3,204
PA
$3,318
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

RU
38.3
PA
17.3

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

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

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

RU
14.0t
PA
2.7t

Panama performs significantly better than Russia 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

RU
24.8
PA
15.5
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

RU
4.1%
PA
0.9%

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

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

RU
3.3%
PA
6.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

RU
$39,800
PA
$35,800

Russia performs better than Panama across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

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

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

RU
6.4
PA
16.4

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

Data: Federal Tax Service of Russia, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

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

Avg. annual high / low

Panama City Rain: 75.1 in/yr (1907 mm)
93° / 68°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

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

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Russia 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.

Russia passport

Russia passport holder visiting Panama

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

Panama passport holder visiting Russia

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

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 Panama than Russia?

On average Panama is around 22% pricier than Russia, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to Panama?

Budget about PAB22,906 for 3 months in Panama (based on a RUB5,336,013 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?

Russia 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 6.8 in Russia. About 33% of people in Panama feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in Panama compared to Russia?

Russia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Panama leads in suicide rate. There are 17.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Panama, compared to 38.3 in Russia. Panama scores 78 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Russia: 79).

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

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

What language do they speak in Panama?

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

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At a Glance

RU PA
Population 142,021,981 4,337,768
Currency Russian Ruble (RUB) Panamanian Balboa (PAB)
Languages Russian Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +7 +507
Time zones 9 1
Emergency number 112 911