Moving to Panama from Serbia

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Serbia to Panama — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Serbia to Panama, you would find that Panama is 39.8% more expensive than Serbia overall. A RSD7,900,000 salary in Serbia would need to be roughly PAB106,000 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 62°F in Belgrade, making it significantly warmer.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Serbia to Panama.

What does your salary buy?

RSD7,900,000 → PAB106,000

To maintain the same standard of living in Panama

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 10.5% less

Groceries

pay 82.7% more

Transportation

pay 18.0% less

Housing

pay 98.4% more

Childcare

pay 45.5% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 33.3% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 RSD = 0.0096 PAB (October 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?

How many people actually move from Serbia to Panama, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
31 ↑ 15% vs 2015

people born in Serbia 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

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Serbia to Panama.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

RS
1.3
PA
11.7
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

RS
7.4
PA
7.3

Serbia 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

RS
$2,303
PA
$3,318
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

RS
31.0
PA
16.2

Serbia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Panama leads in health coverage index.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

RS
45.0
PA
17.0

Panama performs significantly better than Serbia across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

RS
33.4
PA
18.1
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

RS
5.7%
PA
0.9%

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

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

RS
7.1%
PA
8.4%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

RS
$15,262
PA
$19,790

Serbia generally does better on employment & economy, though Panama leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

RS
76.0 yrs
PA
79.8 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

RS
4.6
PA
12.0

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

Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), Ministry of Finance, Republic of Serbia (2017), General Directorate of Revenues, Panama (2016). How we calculate this

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Belgrade Rain: 26.9 in/yr (683 mm)
62° / 46°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Belgrade Panama City
Jan–Mar 45°/33°F (7°/0°C) 94°/65°F (34°/18°C)
Apr–Jun 71°/53°F (22°/12°C) 94°/69°F (35°/21°C)
Jul–Sep 79°/59°F (26°/15°C) 92°/70°F (34°/21°C)
Oct–Dec 53°/39°F (11°/4°C) 91°/68°F (33°/20°C)
View all months
Month Belgrade Panama City
Jan 38°/28°F (3.5°/-2.3°C) 92°/65°F (33.4°/18.5°C)
Feb 44°/32°F (6.4°/-0.2°C) 94°/65°F (34.2°/18.4°C)
Mar 53°/38°F (11.9°/3.3°C) 95°/65°F (34.8°/18.4°C)
Apr 64°/46°F (17.5°/7.8°C) 96°/67°F (35.4°/19.5°C)
May 72°/54°F (22.5°/12.1°C) 94°/70°F (34.5°/21.1°C)
Jun 78°/59°F (25.3°/15.0°C) 93°/70°F (33.8°/21.3°C)
Jul 81°/61°F (27.3°/16.3°C) 93°/70°F (33.9°/21.0°C)
Aug 81°/61°F (27.3°/16.1°C) 93°/70°F (33.9°/20.9°C)
Sep 75°/55°F (23.7°/13.0°C) 91°/70°F (32.9°/21.0°C)
Oct 65°/47°F (18.1°/8.3°C) 91°/69°F (32.6°/20.8°C)
Nov 52°/39°F (11.0°/4.0°C) 91°/69°F (32.9°/20.3°C)
Dec 42°/32°F (5.3°/-0.2°C) 92°/67°F (33.3°/19.2°C)

Data: Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia, 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 Serbia 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.

Serbia passport

Serbia passport holder visiting Panama

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

Panama passport holder visiting Serbia

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

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 Serbia?

No — Panama is on average about 40% more expensive than Serbia. City-level variation matters.

How much money do I need to move to Panama?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly PAB26,500 in Panama on a RSD7,900,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Panama?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Panama has 18.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Panama safe for expats?

Serbia generally does better on safety, though Panama leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Panama is 11.7 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.3 in Serbia.

How is healthcare in Panama compared to Serbia?

Serbia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Panama leads in health coverage index. There are 16.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Panama, compared to 31.0 in Serbia. Panama scores 78 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Serbia: 72).

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

The average high temperature in Panama City is 93°F, compared to 62°F in Belgrade. Panama City receives around 75.1 in of rainfall per year, while Belgrade gets 26.9 in.

What language do they speak in Panama?

The official language in Panama is Spanish. In Serbia, the official language is Serbian.

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At a Glance

RS PA
Population 6,549,143 4,571,189
Currency Serbian Dinar (RSD) Panamanian Balboa (PAB)
Languages Serbian Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +381 +507
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 911