Moving to Panama from Texas
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Texas to Panama — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Texas to Panama, you would find that Panama is 32.5% cheaper than Texas. A $75,000 salary in Texas would need to be roughly PAB50,700 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 80°F in Houston, making it significantly warmer.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓Is Panama cheaper than Texas?
Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 41.4% less
Groceries
pay 6.8% less
Transportation
pay 25.8% less
Housing
pay 40.6% less
Childcare
pay 63.1% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 36.0% 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.
What salary do you need in Panama?
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → PAB50,700
To maintain the same standard of living in Panama
Calculate with your salary →Get free moving quotes to Panama
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from Texas to Panama, based on official data.
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Texas to Panama.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Texas performs better than Panama across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Texas performs better than Panama 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
Texas performs better than Panama across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Panama performs significantly better than Texas across all family life metrics.
Sources: World Bank (2023–2025), US Census Bureau (American Community Survey) (2023), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES) (2022), World Health Organization (2024), Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025), Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024), OECD Regional Demography (2020). How we calculate this
Weather in Panama vs Texas
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Houston | Panama City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 67°/48°F (20°/9°C) | 94°/65°F (34°/18°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 86°/67°F (30°/19°C) | 94°/69°F (35°/21°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 93°/73°F (34°/23°C) | 92°/70°F (34°/21°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 73°/53°F (23°/11°C) | 91°/68°F (33°/20°C) |
View all months
| Month | Houston | Panama City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 63°/43°F (17.2°/6.2°C) | 92°/65°F (33.4°/18.5°C) |
| Feb | 66°/47°F (19.1°/8.1°C) | 94°/65°F (34.2°/18.4°C) |
| Mar | 73°/53°F (22.8°/11.4°C) | 95°/65°F (34.8°/18.4°C) |
| Apr | 80°/59°F (26.4°/15.2°C) | 96°/67°F (35.4°/19.5°C) |
| May | 86°/68°F (30.2°/19.8°C) | 94°/70°F (34.5°/21.1°C) |
| Jun | 91°/73°F (33.0°/22.9°C) | 93°/70°F (33.8°/21.3°C) |
| Jul | 94°/75°F (34.3°/23.9°C) | 93°/70°F (33.9°/21.0°C) |
| Aug | 94°/75°F (34.7°/23.8°C) | 93°/70°F (33.9°/20.9°C) |
| Sep | 90°/70°F (32.1°/21.0°C) | 91°/70°F (32.9°/21.0°C) |
| Oct | 82°/61°F (27.8°/16.1°C) | 91°/69°F (32.6°/20.8°C) |
| Nov | 72°/52°F (22.5°/11.2°C) | 91°/69°F (32.9°/20.3°C) |
| Dec | 64°/45°F (17.9°/7.0°C) | 92°/67°F (33.3°/19.2°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
IMHPA - Instituto de Meteorología e Hidrología de Panamá
Can you move from Texas to Panama?
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States 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.
United States passport holder visiting Panama
Visa Free
Panama passport holder visiting United States
Visa RequiredData: 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 Texas?
Yes — Panama is on average about 32% cheaper than Texas. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to Panama?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly PAB12,675 in Panama on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Panama?
Usually fine from major cities in Panama. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
How is healthcare in Panama compared to Texas?
Texas performs better than Panama across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Panama compared to Texas?
The average high temperature in Panama City is 93°F, compared to 80°F in Houston. Panama City receives around 75.1 in of rainfall per year, while Houston gets 49.8 in.
What language do they speak in Panama?
The official language in Panama is Spanish. In Texas, the official language is English.
