Moving to Panama from Rwanda

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Rwanda to Panama — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Rwanda to Panama, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Panama City averages 93°F vs 80°F in Kigali, making it significantly warmer.

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

Get free moving quotes to Panama

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

Key Indicator Comparison

How Rwanda and Panama stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

RW
3.6
PA
11.3
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

RW
11.6
PA
7.3

Rwanda 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

RW
$177
PA
$3,318
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

RW
1.2
PA
17.3

Panama generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Rwanda leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

RW
62.0
PA
17.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

RW
0.2t
PA
2.7t

Rwanda generally does better on environment, though Panama leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

RW
0.3
PA
15.5
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

RW
20.2%
PA
0.9%

Panama performs significantly better than Rwanda across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

RW
14.9%
PA
6.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

RW
$3,000
PA
$35,800

Panama performs significantly better than Rwanda across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

RW
65.8 yrs
PA
77.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

RW
26.4
PA
16.4

Panama performs significantly better than Rwanda across all family life metrics.

Data: Rwanda Revenue Authority, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Kigali Rain: 37.4 in/yr (951 mm)
80° / 60°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Kigali Panama City
Jan–Mar 80°/60°F (27°/16°C) 94°/65°F (34°/18°C)
Apr–Jun 79°/61°F (26°/16°C) 94°/69°F (35°/21°C)
Jul–Sep 82°/60°F (28°/16°C) 92°/70°F (34°/21°C)
Oct–Dec 80°/60°F (27°/16°C) 91°/68°F (33°/20°C)
View all months
Month Kigali Panama City
Jan 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.6°C) 92°/65°F (33.4°/18.5°C)
Feb 81°/60°F (27.4°/15.8°C) 94°/65°F (34.2°/18.4°C)
Mar 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.7°C) 95°/65°F (34.8°/18.4°C)
Apr 79°/61°F (26.2°/16.1°C) 96°/67°F (35.4°/19.5°C)
May 79°/61°F (25.9°/16.2°C) 94°/70°F (34.5°/21.1°C)
Jun 80°/60°F (26.4°/15.3°C) 93°/70°F (33.8°/21.3°C)
Jul 81°/59°F (27.1°/15.0°C) 93°/70°F (33.9°/21.0°C)
Aug 82°/61°F (28.0°/16.0°C) 93°/70°F (33.9°/20.9°C)
Sep 83°/61°F (28.2°/16.0°C) 91°/70°F (32.9°/21.0°C)
Oct 81°/61°F (27.2°/15.9°C) 91°/69°F (32.6°/20.8°C)
Nov 79°/60°F (26.1°/15.5°C) 91°/69°F (32.9°/20.3°C)
Dec 80°/60°F (26.4°/15.6°C) 92°/67°F (33.3°/19.2°C)

Data: Rwanda Meteorology Agency Rwanda Meteorology Agency, 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 Rwanda 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.

Rwanda passport

Rwanda passport holder visiting Panama

Visa Required
Rwanda passport holders need a visa to enter Panama.
Panama passport

Panama passport holder visiting Rwanda

Visa on Arrival
Panama passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Rwanda.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Panama?

With 15.5 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Panama can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Rwanda and Panama.

Is Panama safe for expats?

Rwanda 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 3.6 in Rwanda.

How is healthcare in Panama compared to Rwanda?

Panama generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Rwanda leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 17.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Panama, compared to 1.2 in Rwanda. Panama scores 78 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Rwanda: 49).

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

The average high temperature in Panama City is 93°F, compared to 80°F in Kigali. Panama City receives around 75.1 in of rainfall per year, while Kigali gets 37.4 in.

What language do they speak in Panama?

The official language in Panama is Spanish. In Rwanda, the official languages are English, French and Kinyarwanda.

Share this

At a Glance

RW PA
Population 13,173,730 4,337,768
Currency Rwandan Franc (RWF) Panamanian Balboa (PAB)
Languages English, French, Kinyarwanda Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +250 +507
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 911