Moving to Panama from Saint Lucia

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Saint Lucia to Panama, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

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Key Indicator Comparison

How Saint Lucia 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

LC
36.7
PA
11.3
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2018

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

LC
86%
PA
33%

Panama generally does better on safety, though Saint Lucia leads in feel safe walking at night.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

LC
$1,228
PA
$3,318
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

LC
6.5
PA
17.3

Panama generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Saint Lucia 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

LC
20.0
PA
17.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

LC
1.7t
PA
2.7t

Saint Lucia 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

LC
10.8
PA
15.5
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

LC
14.3%
PA
0.9%

Panama generally does better on infrastructure, though Saint Lucia leads in internet access.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

LC
11.1%
PA
6.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

LC
$22,700
PA
$35,800

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

LC
79.0 yrs
PA
77.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

LC
12.0
PA
16.4

Saint Lucia generally does better on family life, though Panama leads in education spending.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Castries Rain: 0.0 in/yr (0 mm)
None° / None°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Castries Panama City
Jan–Mar 94°/65°F (34°/18°C)
Apr–Jun 94°/69°F (35°/21°C)
Jul–Sep 92°/70°F (34°/21°C)
Oct–Dec 91°/68°F (33°/20°C)
View all months
Month Castries Panama City
Jan 92°/65°F (33.4°/18.5°C)
Feb 94°/65°F (34.2°/18.4°C)
Mar 95°/65°F (34.8°/18.4°C)
Apr 96°/67°F (35.4°/19.5°C)
May 94°/70°F (34.5°/21.1°C)
Jun 93°/70°F (33.8°/21.3°C)
Jul 93°/70°F (33.9°/21.0°C)
Aug 93°/70°F (33.9°/20.9°C)
Sep 91°/70°F (32.9°/21.0°C)
Oct 91°/69°F (32.6°/20.8°C)
Nov 91°/69°F (32.9°/20.3°C)
Dec 92°/67°F (33.3°/19.2°C)

Data: Saint Lucia Meteorological Services Saint Lucia Meteorological Services, 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 Saint Lucia 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.

Saint Lucia passport

Saint Lucia passport holder visiting Panama

Visa Free
Saint Lucia passport holders can enter Panama without a visa.
Panama passport

Panama passport holder visiting Saint Lucia

Visa Free
Panama passport holders can enter Saint Lucia without a visa.

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 Saint Lucia and Panama.

Is Panama safe for expats?

Panama generally does better on safety, though Saint Lucia leads in feel safe walking at night. The homicide rate in Panama is 11.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 36.7 in Saint Lucia. About 33% of people in Panama feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in Panama compared to Saint Lucia?

Panama generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Saint Lucia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 17.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Panama, compared to 6.5 in Saint Lucia. Panama scores 78 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Saint Lucia: 77).

What's the weather like in Panama compared to Saint Lucia?

The average high temperature in Panama City is 93°F, compared to None°F in Castries. Panama City receives around 75.1 in of rainfall per year.

What language do they speak in Panama?

The official language in Panama is Spanish. In Saint Lucia, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

LC PA
Population 167,122 4,337,768
Currency East Caribbean Dollar (EC$) Panamanian Balboa (PAB)
Languages English Spanish
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +1758 +507
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 911