My wife and I live in a beach resort community, where our monthly rent and utilities are just under $1,100. We have beach and mountain views from our windows, and the beach is an eight-minute walk from our front door. We also enjoy shopping and dining a mere 10 minutes away by car.
Home for us is Coronado, a coastal resort city in the Panamá Oeste province, about a 90-minute drive from Panama City. It was among Panama’s first resort developments and remains popular with expats and vacationers. Here, you can rest assured you’ll find likeminded expats, all living out their dream retirement on the beach, ready to mingle and befriend new neighbors.
Ours is a quiet community during the week. Most owners here are weekenders. We’re among a handful of full-time residents. This is common among the many beach resorts in our area. Security at resorts like ours is 24 hours and very effective at preventing break-ins, which are not uncommon in single-family housing areas.
Coronado isn’t the cheapest spot in Panama for services and health care, but it is competitive. Plus, you can find plenty of affordable options and attractive price points for upscale living at beachfront resorts and in custom homes. Rental rates range from $400 to $1,500 per month, depending on what you’re looking for.
Variables that dictate this big range include location, size, age, construction type and style, etc. Our cost of housing is overall good, but other differentiators are cost of services and health care.
The areas in and around Coronado provide lots of retail, health clinic, veterinarian, restaurant, pharmacy, and professional service options. We also have a Clinica Hospital San Fernando 15 minutes from our apartment.
I can honestly say that almost everything you need for life by the beach is here. I say almost, because you may on occasion need something that can only be obtained in Panama City. For example, I see a chiropractor and ophthalmologist in Panama City.
The city is about a 90-minute drive from Coronado, and traffic can be hellish; but there’s good bus service from Coronado and surrounding areas. Once in the city, transportation options include bus, taxi, Uber, and the metro.
In terms of routine health care expenses and other services, we’ve paid $40 for a routine dental cleaning in Coronado, $35 in Panama City, and as little as $20 in nearby El Valle de Antón. Local clinics charge between $10 and $25 for general visits. My wife and I have paid a mere $50 to see specialists. Quality of health care is equivalent to, and in some cases better than, the States. Additionally, many clinicians speak English.
Important: If you’re retired, you may qualify for Panama’s pensionado program. If you do, you’ll benefit from a slew of discounts.
Groceries are priced the same, and in some cases, higher than in the States. Specialty and import items are more expensive than local and national brands. Good deals can be found at some street side veggie and fruit stands. We have tons of food choices, including organic options. Restaurants that specialize in typical Panamanian food are often very affordable. The same is true of Chinese food here. Higher priced dining options include Italian, Mexican, Peruvian, seafood, and fusion fare. You’ll also find well known fast food brands like McDonald’s, KFC, Domino’s, Papa John’s, Cinnabon, Burger King, and Subway.
Internet and cable pricing are comparable to the United States. Though we’re not cable subscribers, I can vouch for internet service in my area as being of similar quality to San Jose, California. Not all areas have quality internet and cable service, so do your homework if you need high speed internet.
Electricity can range from $50 to $150 monthly for a two-bedroom apartment depending on your usage and location. Electricity rates are tiered, so the less you use, the lower your rate per kilowatt. It’s also priced by where you live, so some areas will have higher rates than others.
Many homes have propane gas appliances. Unless you have a high-capacity storage tank, propane is very affordable, as the Panamanian government provides a subsidy that keeps the cost of propane down to about $8 a tank. It should last a month or more.
Social life here includes expat happy hours, church groups, volunteer groups, trivia nights, boot camp workout groups, movie nights, hiking, and more.
Sincerely,
Roberto R. Hernandez
Contributor, Panama Letter
