Moving to Panama from United States
What to Expect
Considering a move from United States to Panama? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from United States to Panama, you would find that Panama is 40.5% cheaper than United States overall. A $75,000 salary in United States would need to be roughly PAB44,600 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 66°F in Washington, making it significantly warmer.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between United States and Panama.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → PAB44,600
To maintain the same standard of living in Panama
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 44.8% less
Groceries
pay 18.5% less
Transportation
pay 29.8% less
Housing
pay 51.5% less
Childcare
pay 66.7% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 41.9% 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 States to Panama.
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Panama compared to United States.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
United States 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
Panama generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States 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 States 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 States 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 States 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 States generally does better on family life, though Panama leads in life expectancy.
Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2016–2021), World Health Organization (2024), Internal Revenue Service (2016), General Directorate of Revenues, Panama (2016), The World Factbook (2010). How we calculate this
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Washington | Panama City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 48°/28°F (9°/-2°C) | 94°/65°F (34°/18°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 75°/51°F (24°/11°C) | 94°/69°F (35°/21°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 85°/62°F (29°/17°C) | 92°/70°F (34°/21°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 57°/35°F (14°/2°C) | 91°/68°F (33°/20°C) |
View all months
| Month | Washington | Panama City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42°/24°F (5.8°/-4.5°C) | 92°/65°F (33.4°/18.5°C) |
| Feb | 46°/26°F (8.0°/-3.3°C) | 94°/65°F (34.2°/18.4°C) |
| Mar | 56°/33°F (13.1°/0.5°C) | 95°/65°F (34.8°/18.4°C) |
| Apr | 67°/42°F (19.3°/5.6°C) | 96°/67°F (35.4°/19.5°C) |
| May | 75°/51°F (23.9°/10.7°C) | 94°/70°F (34.5°/21.1°C) |
| Jun | 84°/61°F (28.8°/16.1°C) | 93°/70°F (33.8°/21.3°C) |
| Jul | 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.6°C) | 93°/70°F (33.9°/21.0°C) |
| Aug | 87°/64°F (30.3°/17.9°C) | 93°/70°F (33.9°/20.9°C) |
| Sep | 79°/56°F (26.3°/13.5°C) | 91°/70°F (32.9°/21.0°C) |
| Oct | 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.6°C) | 91°/69°F (32.6°/20.8°C) |
| Nov | 58°/35°F (14.2°/1.8°C) | 91°/69°F (32.9°/20.3°C) |
| Dec | 46°/27°F (7.8°/-2.7°C) | 92°/67°F (33.3°/19.2°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
IMHPA - Instituto de Meteorología e Hidrología de Panamá
Visitor Visa Requirements
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 United States?
On average Panama is about 40% less expensive than United States, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Panama?
Budget about PAB11,150 for 3 months in Panama (based on a $75,000 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: 18.1 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 States 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 5.8 in United States. About 33% of people in Panama feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Panama compared to United States?
Panama generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 16.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Panama, compared to 36.8 in United States. Panama scores 78 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United States: 86).
What's the weather like in Panama compared to United States?
The average high temperature in Panama City is 93°F, compared to 66°F in Washington. Panama City receives around 75.1 in of rainfall per year, while Washington gets 41.5 in.
What language do they speak in Panama?
The official language in Panama is Spanish. In United States, the official language is English.
