Living In Panama

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Reviewed by Kathleen Peddicord

Kathleen is the Live and Invest Overseas Founding Publisher. She has more than 30 years of hands-on experience traveling, living, and buying property around the world.


Reasons You Will Love Living In Panama

A Few Tips To Help You Adjust To Life In Panama

taxi in panama

1. Sidewalks

Beware the sidewalks can be hazardous and watch where you are going. There are uneven surfaces, tree roots, and the occasional uncovered manhole to contend with. Also, beware the patches of grass by the side of the road are littered with dog poop. Avoid stepping on the grass at all times.

2. Expensive American Food

You will need to get used to paying much more for your favorite American foods or learn to live without them. If your favorite produce is not benefiting your health, then use your relocation to Panama as a chance to start living more healthily.

3. Traveling To Panama City

At the weekend half of the population of Panama City leave and head to the countryside. The time they return is late afternoon and early evening on Sunday. Try to avoid traveling back to Panama City at this time as the roads will be busy.

4. Cars In Panama

Cars are expensive in Panama. If you are living in the countryside you might not be able to get by without one. Second-hand cars are more expensive than the U.S. and no guarantees to the quality of the vehicle. You are unlikely to find a full-service history buying a used car. Importing is also expensive.

Thankfully, once you have a car expenses are reasonable. Insurance is cheap and gas is around the same price as in the U.S. which may seem cheap if you are from Europe. The driving in Panama City is as wild and diverse as the rainforest. Expecting other motorists to always be on the verge of a crazy un-signaled maneuver will save you a lot of stress and likely a lot of money in car repairs.

5. The Daylight

Something which can take people by surprise living in Panama is the short days and long nights. Being near the equator, the sun sets around 6:30 every night. In many countries, hot weather is associated with longer nights and the early darkness must be taken into account. This means there are no winter nights where it is dark at 4:30 in the afternoon.

6. You’ll Find Entertainment In English

Living in Panama you may be pleased to find lots of English speaking media available to you. The radio station Cool FM has an English speaking breakfast DJ and a few other DJs who speak English. Lots of cable channels have English language films, sports, and TV shows. Going to the cinema is also in English with Spanish subtitles. There are also English language theatre productions and musicals as well as a number of tribute acts and live music events.

7. Alcohol In Panama

Panama has a lot of interesting alcohol to sample and enjoy. Seco is a Panamanian drink which is similar to rum. It can be bought in the supermarket for about $7 per liter. Rum is also cheap in Panama. The national rum is called Ron Abuelo and sells at around $8 per liter. Bacardi and other rums also retail at a similar price.

Panama has a growing beer industry and produces lots of craft beers. The national beers are well priced and ideal for the climate being low in ABV% and enjoyable served ice cold. Supermarkets also stock an array of imported beers and lagers.

A decent selection of wine is available in most supermarkets at a low price. Naturally enough, wines from Chile and Argentina are better value than European wines. Surprisingly a lot of wines from the U.S. are less expensive in Panama. Be warned though wine does not keep long in the heat of Panama!

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Reasons You May Love Living In Panama

panama city seafront panorama
Image Source: iStock/vladispas

There is a lot to love about living in Panama. Most people who have been living here for a while can reel off a long list of things they enjoy about life in this tropical country.

1. Health Care

One of the notable benefits of living in Panama is the excellent, affordable health care. The health-care in Panama is some of the best in the world and the prices are some of the most competitive. People now fly to Panama specifically to make use of the medical and dental treatments.

2. The Currency

Living in Panama has a particular benefit for U.S. citizen, the currency. U.S. dollars are legal tender here and the Panama Balboa is pegged to the dollar at a rate of 1:1. Having no currency exchange risk is a big factor in why many U.S. citizens choose to live in Panama.

3. Tax Incentives

Panama has generous tax incentives to encourage foreigners to live in Panama. Residents do not pay any tax on foreign earned income. This means your pension cannot be taxed and nor can any other funds set up outside of Panama.

4. You Can Own Property

Expats can buy and own property in Panama with the same rights and protections as Panamanian citizens. Be aware of a couple of location restrictions regarding beach property. Only Panamanians can own property which is within 25 meters of the high tide line at the beach.

5. Tax Incentives For Businesses

If you are looking to start a business in Panama you will be given tax breaks from the government. Tourism investments have exemptions from import duties, construction materials and equipment. Exemptions are also applied to income and real estate taxes. Panama is actively looking to improve its economy and will assist you in your efforts.

6. Safety

Panama is a safe country to live in. Most Panamanians are friendly especially in the rural areas. Generally, Panamanians are not money orientated and not resentful of expats who are perceived as being wealthier. Armed policemen are a common sight in Panama City and tourist areas in particular, are very safe. A dedicated tourist police patrol these areas and are able to converse in English with visitors. Muggings and burglaries are the most common crimes for expats to beware of. You can minimize your exposure to these crimes with care and attention.

7. Political Stability

Panama is politically stable. Panama has had its share of political problems in the past but nowadays things are more secure. Despite suffering its share of the corruption which exists through Latin America, Panama has a progressive outlook in many aspects of politics. Panama has had a Female President and also has a well-established democratic system.

8. Infrastructure

Panama has a modern communications network. Internet speeds in Panama City are fast and reliable and most expat areas also have stable connections.

9. Drinkable Tap Water

In Panama City, you can drink the tap water. As well as saving you money on bottled water you can also make your own ice. You can also get ice with your drinks at

bars and restaurants

without worrying about contaminated water. Tap water is not safe to drink in the countryside.

10. You Don’t Need A Car In Panama City

Panama City enables you to live here car-free. While you will probably need a car in most parts of the interior (countryside) in Panama City it is not necessary. This can provide a huge saving. Panama City has a cheap

public transport

for its residents. The metro system is the only one of its kind in Central America. It is modern, air-conditioned and journeys cost 35 cents (less for retirees). The buses are even cheaper and cover all areas of the city. Taxis are also cheap and plentiful. If you are looking to travel further afield buses from Albrook Mall can get you nearly anywhere in Panama.

11. The Weather

Living in Panama means warm weather year round. Some of the mountainous areas are cooler but if you are around sea level, chances are you will not need a jumper during the daytime and only occasionally at night. If you are looking for somewhere to live to escape from the worst of the winter weather in the U.S. then Panama is perfect. The Panamanian summer starts mid-December and runs through to April. You can spend summer in Panama and return to the U.S. in time for their spring and summer.

12. Lifestyle

The Panamanian lifestyle is far healthier than the U.S. lifestyle. People here eat morefresh fruit and vegetablesand less fast food. The food here also comes with fewer preservatives and e numbers. Panamanian fast food does exist but it is generally rice, meat, and lentils. You can buy U.S. chain fast food in the big cities if you ever fancy some though. Panama is not as car-oriented as the U.S. you will find yourself walking more, even if you decide to keep your car.

13. Established Expat Community

Living in Panama means you will be moving to a country with lots of fellow expats. You will find a number of areas with strong expat regions. Here you will find people to socialize with who will help you acclimatize to your new life. Living in an expat region also brings with it the benefit of having services aimed at expats. You can find restaurants, shops, and businesses all providing goods for expats.

Living in Panama you will either grow to love or hate the way of life. The culture is infinitely more relaxed than the U.S. and the people are noticeably less stressed. They don’t get annoyed about trivial things and love to party and celebrate when things go well. Living in Panama you will either embrace this attitude and reap the benefits, or be unable to and leave.

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We Love Panama, But It’s Not For Everybody…

1. The Rainy Season

The rainy season in Panama can be tough. During the rainy season, it will rain almost every day. The humidity on some days will be close to 100%. Combined with high temperatures it can make walking to the shops a sweat-laden ordeal. It can take at least 10 minutes in an air-conditioned room plus an ice cold drink to return your body temperature to normal. If you don’t like living in air-conditioned rooms you will also not like life in most of Panama (Chiriquí apart). Traffic in the rainy season is worse than usual. Flash floods can cause havoc on the roads and cause major traffic jams. On the plus side the rainy season a lush green to the grasses and plants.

2. The Traffic

Living in Panama City the traffic is relentless. Taxis are the worst culprits and it pays to always assume they are about to do something crazy. Although traffic in the countryside is generally better the roads into and out of Panama City are also prone to long traffic jams at peak times.

3. Panamanian Neighborhoods

Life in a Panamanian neighborhood might not be to everyone’s tastes. Panamanians like to sit outside at the weekends and play loud music until the very early hours. There are lots of stray dogs who roam the streets and are tolerated by everybody.

4. The Mañana Culture

Panama and Latin America have what is known as a mañana culture. Although literally mañana translates to tomorrow, what it means is not today. Service people will turn up when it suits them, if at all. Customer service is not a thing here. You will get served at the speed the worker wants to operate at, which is invariably slower than you are used to or hoping for. Complaining makes absolutely no difference and is of no help. This slow culture goes from supermarket checkouts to government paperwork, banking and into every aspect of Panamanian life.

5. Water And Power Outages

Water and power outages are not uncommon in Panama. Apartment buildings normally have backup water and a generator to protect you from the worst. The water companies will sometimes warn you before the water goes, but other times it will be unexpected. If you can’t live without hot water you may find

life in Panama

is not to your tastes. Hot water is not standard here, although the cold water is warm. Power outages also occur more than in the U.S. If you live in the countryside these faults can take longer to fix and a backup supply is recommended. You will need surge protectors for all electrical products in certain areas.

6. Work In Panama

Finding work in Panama can be difficult. This is not going to be a concern for everybody wanting to live in Panama, but it is worth mentioning. Panama has a catch-22 policy for foreigners wanting work. Most companies won’t employ you without a permit to work here, but you can’t get a permit to work here without a job. If you do have a job offer before you arrive, do your homework and make sure it is a reputable company before you arrive.

7. You Need To Know Spanish

If you don’t speak Spanish you will find living in Panama can be difficult. While it is possible to get by in Panama City and Boquete without speaking Spanish it is not recommended. If you live anywhere else then speaking Spanish is a must. Without it you will not be able to make friends and will find yourself getting more and more annoyed at everyday encounters. Taxi drivers for example, will often look to take advantage of you if you don’t speak Spanish.

The culture shock of living in Panama can be difficult. Culture shock can hit you in any country and you need to be prepared for it. If you don’t make the necessary adjustments and know what to expect when you move you might find yourself heading back sooner than you anticipated.

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Expat Life In Paitilla

Skyline of Panama City When we were planning for our move from Paris to Panama City three-and-a-half years ago, Lief and I had to make a choice:

Where In The City Should We Locate Ourselves?

We knew Panama City well enough to understand that, while it may be small, Panama’s capital is eclectic. Different neighborhoods offer very different ways of life.

I wanted Casco Viejo, the old quarter, where, centuries ago, the Spanish and then the French hung their hats when they were in town. I like old buildings the way some women like new shoes, and the Casco, as it’s known today, boasts one of the world’s finest collections of Spanish- and French-colonial structures, plus shaded plazas and parks and ocean views in every direction. It’s one of the few areas of this city made for walking. In most of the rest of Panama City, you have no choice but to brave the chaotic traffic. In Casco Viejo, you can wander from plaza to plaza, from café to café, at your own pace, as you might in a European city. That appeals to me.

Lief, on the other hand, wanted to be based in the center of new Panama City, in or near the banking district, where the infrastructure we knew we’d need to launch our new business would be most easily tapped into.

Living in the heart of the new Panama City, though, meant living in a high-rise apartment tower. The thought of that appealed to me not at all.

In the end, I acquiesced. Lief was right, at least for the short term. Better to be based where the infrastructure would be more developed and most reliable. Otherwise, we’d be creating, perhaps, unnecessary business challenges for ourselves during this getting-started phase.

What Living In Paitilla Was Like

We found and rented an apartment in a brand-new tower in Punta Paitilla, on Calle Winston Churchill, that became our home for our first year in Panama City.

It was a good first step. In Paitilla, you’re very nearby two of the city’s biggest malls, as well as two of its most expat-friendly grocery stores (Riba Smith and the kosher Deli K) and what has become my favorite furniture store in the country.

A few blocks from our apartment also was a pharmacy, a dry cleaner’s, a hardware store, a pet shop, and a small greengrocer, plus a movie theater, a bowling alley, a budget-level hotel where visiting friends and family could stay, a higher-end hotel, and the Hard Rock Café. All these nearby resources made our adjustment period (including, and importantly, furnishing our new digs) easier to navigate.

As Lief had predicted, life in Paitilla was comfortable and convenient. From this central base, during our year in residence, we were able to explore the city, get our bearings, and figure our next, longer-term move.

This first apartment was rented (rather than acquired), because, while we agreed that Paitilla made good sense as a first step, we were both pretty sure it wasn’t where we wanted to be based in Panama City long term. We were right.

The reasons, though, why we decided that Paitilla didn’t suit us long term, were less to do with Paitilla than to do with high-rise living. Paitilla we liked. This neighborhood is not only convenient and user-friendly, but it’s also one of the greener parts of Panama City, with a large park overlooking the Bay of Panama where Jack could play catch with his dad and ride his skateboard with his friends.

As well, Paitilla is a residential zone. You find the grocery stores and other shops I’ve mentioned, but no office towers or government buildings. While much of the rest of the heart of Panama City is clearly open for business, Paitilla remains an enclave reserved for families. You see children riding their bicycles and nannies pushing their charges around in strollers, not businessmen in suits rushing from meeting to meeting, as you do in Marbella, say.

Paitilla is one of Panama City’s most established neighborhoods, a place where the upper-middle class has been raising its children for generations. Today, 20- and 30-something Panamanians with the resources to afford it prefer Costa del Este. Still, Paitilla has a lot to offer a family with young children.

What it doesn’t have are houses. This peninsula is a jungle of high-rise apartment towers. They all have “Social Areas,” with swimming pools, party rooms, and, sometimes, playgrounds and gyms, but, living in a high-rise, you don’t have a patio or a back yard.

And, while some of Paitilla’s towers are brand-new and fully loaded (in terms of amenities), they couldn’t be described as charming. Built of concrete, glass, and steel, they’re hardly cozy.

Long term, we knew that we wanted both a garden area and a place that felt less like the big city and more like home. Since that first year in Paitilla, we’ve made two subsequent moves, trying other areas of this city on for size. We’re settled now in a house in Marbella with a big back patio bordered by gardens with mature trees and flowers. We even have room for a basketball hoop. Finally, we feel like we’ve found our place in this city.

But that’s us. Depending on your situation and your preferences, Paitilla…or some other neighborhood entirely…could be what you’re looking for in your new home in Panama City.

Here’s my real point: Wherever you’re considering launching your new life overseas, give yourself time to get to know your new city (or town or beach) before committing to long-term digs.

It takes time to peel back the layers of a place…to penetrate beneath the tourist level…to get a feel for what it’d be like to be a resident, rather than a visitor.

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Get Your Free Panama Report Today!


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