Moving to Panama from Sweden
What to Expect
Considering a move from Sweden to Panama? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Sweden to Panama, you would find that Panama is 3.7% cheaper than Sweden overall. A SEK693,101 salary in Sweden would need to be roughly PAB59,892 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 52°F in Stockholm, making it significantly warmer.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Sweden and Panama.
What does your salary buy?
SEK693,101 → PAB59,892
To maintain the same standard of living in Panama
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 41.0% less
Groceries
pay 6.2% less
Transportation
pay 40.5% less
Housing
pay 2.6% less
Childcare
pay 2.3 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 34.5% less
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 Sweden to Panama.
Who's moving to Panama?
Top countries of origin for Panama's foreign-born residents.
- 119,553
- 50,702
- 22,427
- 16,867
- 15,517
- 9,711
- · · ·
-
45.254
Sweden
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Panama compared to Sweden.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
Sweden performs better than Panama across all safety metrics.
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
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Sweden generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Panama leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Sweden generally does better on environment, though Panama leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
Sweden generally does better on infrastructure, though Panama leads in water stress level.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
Panama generally does better on employment & economy, though Sweden leads in gdp per capita.
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
Sweden performs better than Panama across all family life metrics.
Data: Skatteverket, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Stockholm | Panama City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 36°/28°F (2°/-2°C) | 94°/65°F (34°/18°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 61°/45°F (16°/7°C) | 94°/69°F (35°/21°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 69°/56°F (21°/13°C) | 92°/70°F (34°/21°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 43°/36°F (6°/2°C) | 91°/68°F (33°/20°C) |
View all months
| Month | Stockholm | Panama City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34°/27°F (1.0°/-2.9°C) | 92°/65°F (33.4°/18.5°C) |
| Feb | 34°/26°F (1.2°/-3.2°C) | 94°/65°F (34.2°/18.4°C) |
| Mar | 40°/30°F (4.7°/-1.1°C) | 95°/65°F (34.8°/18.4°C) |
| Apr | 51°/37°F (10.7°/2.6°C) | 96°/67°F (35.4°/19.5°C) |
| May | 62°/45°F (16.5°/7.1°C) | 94°/70°F (34.5°/21.1°C) |
| Jun | 69°/53°F (20.8°/11.6°C) | 93°/70°F (33.8°/21.3°C) |
| Jul | 74°/59°F (23.6°/14.8°C) | 93°/70°F (33.9°/21.0°C) |
| Aug | 72°/58°F (22.1°/14.2°C) | 93°/70°F (33.9°/20.9°C) |
| Sep | 62°/50°F (16.6°/10.2°C) | 91°/70°F (32.9°/21.0°C) |
| Oct | 50°/42°F (10.1°/5.5°C) | 91°/69°F (32.6°/20.8°C) |
| Nov | 42°/35°F (5.4°/1.9°C) | 91°/69°F (32.9°/20.3°C) |
| Dec | 36°/30°F (2.5°/-1.2°C) | 92°/67°F (33.3°/19.2°C) |
Data:
Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI),
IMHPA - Instituto de Meteorología e Hidrología de Panamá
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Sweden 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.
Sweden passport holder visiting Panama
Visa Free
Panama passport holder visiting Sweden
Visa FreeData: 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 Sweden?
On average Panama is about 20% less expensive than Sweden, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Panama?
Budget about PAB14,973 for 3 months in Panama (based on a SEK693,101 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?
Sweden performs better than Panama across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Panama is 11.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in Sweden. About 33% of people in Panama feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Panama compared to Sweden?
Sweden generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Panama leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 17.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Panama, compared to 71.5 in Sweden. Panama scores 78 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Sweden: 85).
What's the weather like in Panama compared to Sweden?
The average high temperature in Panama City is 93°F, compared to 52°F in Stockholm. Panama City receives around 75.1 in of rainfall per year, while Stockholm gets 21.5 in.
What language do they speak in Panama?
The official language in Panama is Spanish. In Sweden, the official language is Swedish.
