Moving to Panama from Sao Tome and Principe
What to Expect
Considering a move from Sao Tome and Principe to Panama? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Sao Tome and Principe to Panama, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish.
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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Panama compared to Sao Tome and Principe.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Sao Tome and Principe 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
Sao Tome and Principe 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
Sao Tome and Principe 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
share of households with internet
Panama performs significantly better than Sao Tome and Principe across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
Panama performs significantly better than Sao Tome and Principe across all employment & economy metrics.
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 Sao Tome and Principe leads in education spending.
Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Sao Tome and Principe 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.
Sao Tome and Principe passport holder visiting Panama
Visa Free
Panama passport holder visiting Sao Tome and Principe
Visa Online (e-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?
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?
Sao Tome and Principe 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 3.2 in Sao Tome and Principe.
How is healthcare in Panama compared to Sao Tome and Principe?
Sao Tome and Principe 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 4.9 in Sao Tome and Principe. Panama scores 78 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Sao Tome and Principe: 59).
What language do they speak in Panama?
The official language in Panama is Spanish. In Sao Tome and Principe, the official language is Portuguese.
