Colombia Versus Panama—How These Two Heavy-Hitting Overseas Havens Stack Up Against Each Other
Before traveling to Panama for last week’s Live and Invest in Panama Conference, Lief and I spent two weeks in Medellín, Colombia.
It has been a chance to compare and contrast two of the world’s top retirement, lifestyle, and investment havens up close back-to-back.
While they both have so much to offer right now, Panama and Colombia couldn’t be more different.
We’ve been alerting you to the opportunities on offer in these countries for years. I first recommended Panama for retirement and investment 20 years ago, and we began heartily endorsing Colombia, specifically Medellín, a decade ago. Our recent experiences, though, enjoying extended back-to-back stays, have helped to remind me why we continue to be as bullish as we are in both cases.
Thinking specifically, how do these heavy-hitting overseas havens stack up against each other?
Panama Pros
- World’s top offshore haven
- Bona fide tax haven, taxing income on a jurisdictional basis
- Uses U.S. dollar
- Specific Countries visa program (which can mean a work permit)
- Best infrastructure in Central America
- Strong economy
- Quality, affordable health care
- Diverse lifestyle options, including Pacific and Caribbean coasts, islands, mountains, and Panama City
- Top choice for entrepreneurs
- Super accessible, with many direct flights daily to and from North America and Europe
Panama Cons
- Hot and humid in Panama City and on coasts
- Traffic congestion in Panama City
- Poor service standards
- Panama City not suitable for walking
- Mañana attitude
Colombia Pros
- Top investment haven with enormous upside
- Best health care in Latin America at a cost that can be 90% less than U.S. costs for comparable care
- Politically stable
- Strong economy
- Welcoming locals
- First World, even luxury lifestyles
- Working hard to compete for foreign attention
- Easiest and cheapest residency option in the world today; pensioner option requires income of only US$824 per month at today’s exchange rate… and, unlike in Panama, where an attorney is required by law, you can process the application yourself
- Many lifestyle options on offer, including sophisticated, Euro-chic city living, Caribbean beach, world-class colonial towns, rural landscapes, and the finca lifestyle
Colombia Cons
- Necessary to learn some Spanish
- Little existing expat infrastructure
- Not a low-tax jurisdiction
- Air pollution in Medellín and Bogotá
In the context of the issues most important to the would-be investor or retiree, here’s how these two countries stack up against each other…
Cost Of Living
Remember the exchange rate. Right now, Colombia can be the greater bargain by far.
Cost Of Real Estate
Again, thanks to the exchange rate, real estate in Colombia can be 60%+ cheaper, apples to apples.
Also note that, while it’s possible to own luxury in both Medellín and Panama City, Panama City luxury now comes at a much higher cost.
Climate
Way more comfortable in Medellín than Panama City, for example, but both countries offer many different climates.
Quality Of Life
What are you looking for? Both countries offer city, coastal, mountain, and rural choices.
Ease Of Residency
Again, Colombia today is perhaps the world’s easiest place to establish residency. No lawyer is required, and I’ve known people to go through the process in one hour.
On the other hand, Panama’s Specific Countries visa program is the best option in the world today if you want to work.
Banking And Doing Business
Panama is the clear winner, thanks to:
- Banking infrastructure
- Lack of exchange controls
- No currency risk
- Much more English spoken
- Available labor pool and possibility to acquire work permits for non-local labor
Infrastructure
A tie.
Taxes
Panama is the screaming champion on this score, a true tax haven, while Colombia qualifies as a high-tax jurisdiction, with, for example, a corporate tax rate as high as 34%.
However, if you’re a retiree making a move with retirement income, you probably don’t have to care about this.
Health Care
Top-quality, international-standard care is available in Panama City. Outside the capital, the standard of care in this country falls.
Five of the top 35 hospitals in all Latin America are in Medellín. Other cities in Colombia have similarly top-standard facilities.
Ease Of Settling In
Panama City is a kind of halfway house for expats, a very easy and comfortable first step overseas. Medellín is an emerging expat destination, though more discovered and therefore easier to navigate as an expat or foreign retiree all the time. Bottom line, though, Colombia is more challenging in this regard unless you speak Spanish.
Which Is Right For You?
Depends on your circumstances, personal preferences, and agendas…
I say: Why choose?
Spread your life around a little. Live or invest in both!
Kathleen Peddicord
