Chitré, Panama

Lonely Planet says that Chitré, 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.

Currently, Chitré, Panama, has seen a growing number of expats who are falling in love with this town: Americans, Canadians, Germans, Italians, and dual citizens. All are setting their sights on the capital city of the Herrera Province.

Are you seeking out excitement and cultural enrichment or do you prefer sticking to your familiar comforts, but with a lower price tag? Another draw for residing in Chitré, Panama is access to reasonably priced health insurance and top-notch medical care. Of course, the cost will vary depending on your age and overall health.

Quality of life and amazing weather seem to be the most popular combination for expats to choose Chitré as their new home. And it doesn’t hurt that is also a lively place.

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. Chitré is the commercial center for the Azuero Peninsula, so it has a regional bus terminal.

The bus fare to Panama City is US$6.50 per person.

David and the cool Boquete Highlands are equally accessible to Chitre, just over three hours to the west.

There is a small airport at Chitré open to small aircrafts, 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)

Apartment Or House Rental Budget (For A Couple)

Penny-Pincher’s Budget (Bare Minimum Costs, For A Couple)

La Ciudad Donde Nadie Es Forastero… The City Where No One Is A Stranger.La Ciudad Que Crece Sola… The City That Grows Itself.

There’s no better way to describe Chitré than with its endearing nicknames…

They capture the area’s appeal for expats and explain why locals are so proud of their chitreano heritage.

Two of Chitré’s biggest selling points are its rapid development and warm, inviting culture.

Living here, you’d never lack any necessity or convenience; you’d enjoy a laid-back lifestyle in a safe and peaceful community; and the locals would happily adopt you as one of their own.

The city of Chitré took first place in our 2023 Overseas Retirement Index. And, if you’re looking for a new home with the comforts of a city but a small-town feel, an opportunity to immerse yourself in Panamanian culture, and if you love the beach, it could be your perfect pick overseas too.

Finding Chitré, Panama

Chitré is a district in Herrera Province with five corregimientos (townships)—San Juan Bautista, Llano Bonito, Monagrillo, La Arena, and Chitré (the main town).

The town of Chitré is the capital of Herrera Province and its largest city, with a population of about 9,100. In total, the district has about 50,700 residents.

Like all of Panama, Chitré has two seasons: the rainy season (May to December) and the dry season (January to April).

The rainy season is shorter in Chitré, and while it occurs during that seven-month period, it usually only rains for two to three months.

The temperature varies little throughout the year, and ranges from 88°F to 91°F (31°C to 32°C) during the day.

If you dislike rain, there’s no better place to be in Panama.

Thanks to its limited tourism and small expat community, Chitré is one of Panama’s most affordable areas to live in— and the cost of living here is highly controllable.

Cost of Living In Chitré, Panama

A couple who owns their house should budget about US$1,600 a month, and a couple who rents will spend about US$2,000 monthly. Choose a minimalistic lifestyle and you’ll get by on about US$600 a month.

If you’re looking to cut your budget here, choose to live in a central part of town and get around on foot or bicycle, using your car only when necessary.

Eat out at fondas (small, usually open-air restaurants serving traditional Panamanian food at low prices) or food trucks. A domestic beer costs US$1 in Chitré… the cheapest you’ll find anywhere in the country.

I found that with US$10 I could eat well at a Panamanian restaurant (drink included), and for US$15 I could afford a large meal at an international eatery like Estambul, a restaurant serving Middle Eastern fare. You can enjoy a simple breakfast and coffee for US$5 or less.

Buy fresh produce and seafood at the open-air market, with infrequent runs to the supermarket, for a monthly grocery bill of less than US$100 for a couple.

If you shop primarily at supermarkets, your grocery bill will be about US$425 a month for a couple. If you’re looking for a low-cost supermarket, El Machetazo is your friend.

If you own a car and use it frequently, you’ll pay about US$60 a month for gas and maintenance.

Air conditioning is a must, and you’ll spend about US$125 on electricity monthly.

Household cleaners charge US$15 a day and about US$300 monthly—remember to tip at least US$5 each day. Ask for referrals for cleaners from fellow expats or your landlord.

The Hub Of The Azuero Peninsula: Chitré

Chitré is best described as a town with the services of a city.

Living in Chitré, you’ll know your neighbors, locals will stop and chat with you on the street and at the supermarket, and you’ll enjoy friendly and warm service while living a well-appointed lifestyle.

This is the Hub Of The Azuero Peninsula and people come from across the region to shop, bank, access health care, and to seek the services of lawyers, real estate agents, and other experts.

The district offers an excellent and affordable health care system with high-quality, free medical attention for all.

In fact, health care is one of Chitré’s biggest claims to fame. The two best private clinics are Clínica San Juan Bautista and Clínica Dr. Venancio Villareal. Two public hospitals offer exceptional care for free (or at a very minimal cost). Hospital General Cecilio A. Castillero is a general hospital providing cost-free care for all patients.

Meanwhile, Hospital Gustavo Nelson Collado provides free care to residents and citizens with Panamanian Social Security. Without Social Security, the cost is US$15 per day and US$1 for a consult. It also has an ICU.

Hospital Regional de Azuero, in La Villa de Los Santos, is a public hospital and has an agreement with Johns Hopkins. It specializes in heart attacks and heart disease, and all treatment is 100% free, with or without insurance. The doctors are excellent, and some speak English.

You have several options for dentistry and orthodontics, including Clínica DentiAzuero, Clínica de Odontologia José Villalaz, and Clínica Dental Cambara Calderon.

Optometrists, physical therapists, and massage therapists are also available.

You’ll also find bilingual schools, accountants, lawyers, real estate agents, churches, a mall, a movie theater, a baseball stadium, parks, museums, casinos, and diverse dining options.

For beach lovers, Playa Monagre and Playa El Rompío are only a few miles outside downtown Chitré.

Lifestyle In Chitré

For beach lovers, Playa Monagre and Playa El Rompío are only a few miles outside downtown Chitré.

A visit to Isla Iguana Wildlife Refuge is a 20-minute boat ride from Pedasí’s Playa El Arenal.

When it comes to the Herrera Province, one cannot overlook its famous handmade products, especially the clay pottery. These items are readily available in various areas along the way, but if you’re looking for the best, La Arena is the place to be: A mile away from Chitré, it has become a go-to spot for expats who want to add a pop of color to their homes, patios, and gardens with locally made goods.

A popular activity of Chitré is the celebration of San Juan Bautista, patron saint and resident cathedral, which highlights typical dances, horseback riding and parades.

The Expat Experience In Chitré

About 500 expats live in Chitré. They’re a mix of both retirement age and younger families with children and from the United States, Canada, and other Latin American countries like Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela.

The expat lifestyle here is in stark contrast to the one on offer in Panama’s biggest expat haven, Boquete, where foreigners make up a large percentage of the population and the town caters to English speakers.

Life in Chitré is more authentic. You’ll live side-by-side with locals and become immersed in Panamanian culture.

That’s not to say you’ll have trouble finding other expats or expat gatherings—in Chitré you can live wholly in both worlds. The expat community holds a meeting every Thursday around lunchtime at Hotel Azuero where you can chat, seek advice and recommendations, and learn about clubs and events.

You’ll need to speak Spanish proficiently to live well in Chitré. The locals will do their best to help you, but your quality of life will be better if you go the extra mile to learn Spanish.

Most locals speak a little English and will greet you with a “hello,” but English isn’t as widely spoken here as it is in Panama City. Many doctors speak English, but don’t be surprised if workers in the service industry don’t… this isn’t a tourist town, yet.

Bargain Real Estate For The Buyer Or Investor In Chitré

The real estate market here is moving upward with increased interest from buyers and more expats and tourists visiting Chitré on relocation tours. Most houses on the market are owned by locals, and buyers are predominately foreign… in certain beach neighborhoods, about 90% of residents are expats.

A real estate agent told me a two-story, beachfront home with a pool that was listed at US$600,000 before the pandemic sold last year for US$300,000.

If you’re in the market to buy, the quiet, suburban-style residential communities of Villas del Golf—right beside the golf club, and Paseo Los Guayacanes—which has a community pool—are good options for retirees.

Most properties up for rental in Chitré are homes, but you can also find condos and apartments. An unfurnished, two-bedroom house typically rents at about US$300 per month.

Furnished homes are less common but rent for slightly higher, about US$450 monthly.

Contracts run from six months to a year, and the lessee pays the first and last months and a security deposit upon signing.

You’ll likely want a car for getting around Chitré. Public transportation isn’t well-developed yet and is limited to yellow taxis and chivas (small buses).

Everyone I met describes Chitré as muy seguro (very safe) and tranquilo (calm). This is a town where neighbors know one another, people smile and greet one another on the street, and residents look out for one another.

The takeaway is if you want a small-town feel with big city conveniences, friendly locals, and laidback living, then Chitré is definitely worth a closer look…

Sincerely,

Gabrielle Wells
Managing Editor, Panama Letter