Moving to Panama from Zambia
What to Expect
Considering a move from Zambia to Panama? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Zambia to Panama, you would find that Panama is 71.1% more expensive than Zambia overall. A ZMW1,500,000 salary in Zambia would need to be roughly PAB129,000 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 80°F in Lusaka, making it significantly warmer.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Zambia and Panama.
What does your salary buy?
ZMW1,500,000 → PAB129,000
To maintain the same standard of living in Panama
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 79.7% more
Groceries
pay 26.5% more
Transportation
pay 8.7% more
Housing
pay 2.7 times more
Childcare
pay 30.5% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 23.5% more
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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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Panama compared to Zambia.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Zambia 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 Zambia 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
Zambia generally does better on environment, though Panama leads in air pollution deaths.
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
Panama performs significantly better than Zambia across all infrastructure metrics.
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
Panama generally does better on employment & economy, though Zambia leads in unemployment 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
percentage of adults who can read and write
Panama generally does better on family life, though Zambia leads in education spending.
Sources: World Bank (2015–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), Zambia Revenue Authority (2016), General Directorate of Revenues, Panama (2016). 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 | Lusaka | Panama City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 80°/62°F (27°/17°C) | 94°/65°F (34°/18°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 77°/55°F (25°/13°C) | 94°/69°F (35°/21°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 79°/55°F (26°/13°C) | 92°/70°F (34°/21°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 85°/64°F (29°/18°C) | 91°/68°F (33°/20°C) |
View all months
| Month | Lusaka | Panama City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 80°/63°F (26.6°/17.1°C) | 92°/65°F (33.4°/18.5°C) |
| Feb | 80°/62°F (26.5°/16.8°C) | 94°/65°F (34.2°/18.4°C) |
| Mar | 81°/62°F (27.0°/16.6°C) | 95°/65°F (34.8°/18.4°C) |
| Apr | 80°/59°F (26.5°/15.1°C) | 96°/67°F (35.4°/19.5°C) |
| May | 78°/55°F (25.3°/12.7°C) | 94°/70°F (34.5°/21.1°C) |
| Jun | 74°/51°F (23.4°/10.6°C) | 93°/70°F (33.8°/21.3°C) |
| Jul | 73°/50°F (23.0°/10.2°C) | 93°/70°F (33.9°/21.0°C) |
| Aug | 79°/54°F (25.9°/12.3°C) | 93°/70°F (33.9°/20.9°C) |
| Sep | 85°/60°F (29.4°/15.3°C) | 91°/70°F (32.9°/21.0°C) |
| Oct | 87°/64°F (30.8°/17.5°C) | 91°/69°F (32.6°/20.8°C) |
| Nov | 86°/64°F (29.9°/17.9°C) | 91°/69°F (32.9°/20.3°C) |
| Dec | 81°/63°F (27.2°/17.3°C) | 92°/67°F (33.3°/19.2°C) |
Data:
Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD),
IMHPA - Instituto de Meteorología e Hidrología de Panamá
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Zambia 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.
Zambia passport holder visiting Panama
Visa Required
Panama passport holder visiting Zambia
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 Zambia?
On average Panama is around 71% pricier than Zambia, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Panama?
Budget about PAB32,250 for 3 months in Panama (based on a ZMW1,500,000 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?
Zambia 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 5.2 in Zambia.
How is healthcare in Panama compared to Zambia?
Panama generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Zambia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 16.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Panama, compared to 3.2 in Zambia. Panama scores 78 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Zambia: 56).
What's the weather like in Panama compared to Zambia?
The average high temperature in Panama City is 93°F, compared to 80°F in Lusaka. Panama City receives around 75.1 in of rainfall per year, while Lusaka gets 31.4 in.
What language do they speak in Panama?
The official language in Panama is Spanish. In Zambia, the official language is English.
