Moving to Panama from United Kingdom
What to Expect
Considering a move from United Kingdom to Panama? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from United Kingdom to Panama, you would find that Panama is 31.9% cheaper than United Kingdom overall. A £55,766 salary in United Kingdom would need to be roughly PAB52,380 in Panama to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Panama City averages 93°F vs 60°F in London, making it significantly warmer.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between United Kingdom and Panama.
What does your salary buy?
£55,766 → PAB52,380
To maintain the same standard of living in Panama
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 37.1% less
Groceries
pay 14.6% more
Transportation
pay 41.6% less
Housing
pay 31.9% less
Childcare
pay 63.8% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 43.0% 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.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from United Kingdom 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
- · · ·
-
15.2,422
United Kingdom
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Panama compared to United Kingdom.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
United Kingdom 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
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Panama generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Kingdom 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
United Kingdom 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
share of households with internet
United Kingdom 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
share of people below the poverty line
United Kingdom generally does better on employment & economy, though Panama leads in top income tax rate.
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
United Kingdom performs better than Panama across all family life metrics.
Data: HM Revenue & Customs, 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 | London | Panama City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 49°/38°F (9°/3°C) | 94°/65°F (34°/18°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 64°/48°F (18°/9°C) | 94°/69°F (35°/21°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 72°/56°F (22°/13°C) | 92°/70°F (34°/21°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 53°/43°F (12°/6°C) | 91°/68°F (33°/20°C) |
View all months
| Month | London | Panama City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°/38°F (8.1°/3.1°C) | 92°/65°F (33.4°/18.5°C) |
| Feb | 47°/37°F (8.6°/2.7°C) | 94°/65°F (34.2°/18.4°C) |
| Mar | 53°/40°F (11.6°/4.6°C) | 95°/65°F (34.8°/18.4°C) |
| Apr | 58°/43°F (14.6°/5.9°C) | 96°/67°F (35.4°/19.5°C) |
| May | 65°/48°F (18.1°/8.9°C) | 94°/70°F (34.5°/21.1°C) |
| Jun | 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) | 93°/70°F (33.8°/21.3°C) |
| Jul | 74°/57°F (23.4°/13.7°C) | 93°/70°F (33.9°/21.0°C) |
| Aug | 74°/57°F (23.1°/13.8°C) | 93°/70°F (33.9°/20.9°C) |
| Sep | 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.4°C) | 91°/70°F (32.9°/21.0°C) |
| Oct | 60°/48°F (15.5°/8.8°C) | 91°/69°F (32.6°/20.8°C) |
| Nov | 52°/42°F (11.3°/5.8°C) | 91°/69°F (32.9°/20.3°C) |
| Dec | 47°/38°F (8.4°/3.4°C) | 92°/67°F (33.3°/19.2°C) |
Data:
Met Office,
IMHPA - Instituto de Meteorología e Hidrología de Panamá
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United Kingdom 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 Kingdom passport holder visiting Panama
Visa Free
Panama passport holder visiting United Kingdom
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: 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 United Kingdom?
On average Panama is about 30% less expensive than United Kingdom, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Panama?
Budget about PAB13,095 for 3 months in Panama (based on a £55,766 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and 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?
United Kingdom performs better than Panama across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Panama is 11.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.0 in United Kingdom.
How is healthcare in Panama compared to United Kingdom?
Panama generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Kingdom leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 17.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Panama, compared to 31.7 in United Kingdom. Panama scores 78 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United Kingdom: 88).
What's the weather like in Panama compared to United Kingdom?
The average high temperature in Panama City is 93°F, compared to 60°F in London. Panama City receives around 75.1 in of rainfall per year, while London gets 22.0 in.
What language do they speak in Panama?
The official language in Panama is Spanish. In United Kingdom, the official language is English.
