Lonely Planet says that Chitre, on the Azuero Peninsula, “is hardly geared toward travelers, but it’s an agreeable stop on the way to the peninsula.” Herein lies its very charm. Chitre is an honest, unpretentious regional capital town. Its preoccupations are based on agriculture and local provincial commerce.
Amenities And Accessibility
Located only 20 minutes south of the Pan-American Highway, Chitre is accessible to everything. A short trip down or across the Azuero Peninsula finds you at some of the best surf and fishing spots in Panama (and, therefore, the west coast of the Americas). After a comprehensive upgrade, Panama City can now be reached in around three-and-a-half hours by car and four hours by bus. David and the cool Boquete Highlands are equally accessible to Chitre, just over three hours to the west.
There is a small airport at Chitre, and the town is only 90 minutes from the new international airport at Rio Hato, which opened to commercial flights in 2014.
Apartment or House Ownership Budget (for a couple)
| Expenses | Costs | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| HOA Fees | $250 | |
| Transportation | $60 | To own a vehicle; occasional bus trips instead of driving to Panama City ($13 to $18 roundtrip). (If you opt to not own a car, this cost would be around $200 for 2 taxi rides/day, intercity bus trips, 1 bus trip to the city.) |
| Gas (cooking/heating) | $10 | For cooking. |
| Electricity | $125 | |
| Water | $5 | |
| Garbage collection | - | Included in HOA |
| Telephone | - | Bundled with internet. |
| Internet | $85 | Includes telephone and cable. |
| Cable TV | - | Bundled with Internet |
| Entertainment | $730 | Eating out twice at a nice, local restaurant; drinks twice a week at a nearby watering hole; movie theater trip twice a month. |
| Groceries | $425 | Basic items for a couple. |
| Gym membership | $22 | $275 for a year membership. |
| Medical appointment | $35 | For a specialist or a clinic visit; a basic checkup in a public hospital is just a few dollars. |
| Household Help | $80 | One day-long visit per week, $20 per visit. |
| TOTAL | $1,827 |
Apartment or House Rental Budget (for a couple)
| Expenses | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $00 | In a desirable area, furnished, two-bedroom, comfortable apartment. |
| Transportation (bus, taxi etc) | $60 | To own a vehicle; occasional bus trips instead of driving to Panama City ($13 to $18 roundtrip). (If you opt to not own a car, this cost would be around $200 for 2 taxi rides/day, intercity bus trips, 1 bus trip to the city.) |
| Gas (cooking/heating) | $5 | For cooking |
| Electricity | $125 | |
| Water | $5 | |
| Garbage Collection | - | Included with rent. |
| Telephone | - | Bundled with internet. |
| Internet | $85 | Includes telephone and cable. |
| Cable TV | - | Bundled with Internet |
| Household Help | $200 | Part-time |
| Entertainment | $730 | Eating out twice at a nice, local restaurant; drinks twice a week at a nearby watering hole; movie theater trip twice a month. |
| Groceries | $425 | Basic items for a couple. |
| Gym membership | $22 | $275 for a year membership. |
| Medical appointment | $35 | For a specialist or a clinic visit; a basic checkup in a public hospital is just a few dollars. |
| TOTAL | $2,492 |
Penny-Pincher’s Budget (for a couple, bare minimum costs for all)
| Expenses | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $100 | Cheapest part of town, most basic kind of rental. |
| Transportation (bus, taxi etc) | $75 | Minimal use of taxis and buses. |
| Gas (cooking/heating) | $5 | For cooking |
| Electricity | $12 | No use of air conditioning, fans only. |
| Water | - | Included with rent. |
| Garbage collection | - | Included with rent. |
| Telephone | $15 | For pre-paid cell service, minimal calling and data use. |
| Internet | - | Cell phone data use only. |
| Cable TV | $30 | Basic Plan (194 channels). |
| Entertainment | $250 | Eating out at fondas and drinking local beer. |
| Groceries | $50 | Fresh fruits and veggies, local brands only; supplemented by eating out cheaply. |
| TOTAL | $527 |