• About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms
  • Unsubscribe
No Result
View All Result
Live and Invest Overseas
FREE REPORT
BEST PLACES TO RETIRE
*No spam: We will NEVER give your email address to anyone else.
  • HOME
  • COUNTRIES
    • Top Destinations
      • Panama
      • Portugal
      • Colombia
      • Northern Cyprus
      • Belize
      • Spain
      • Mexico
      • France
      • Indonesia
      • Vietnam
    • Browse All Countries
    • Best For
      • Retire Overseas Index
      • Health Care
      • Cost of Living
      • Investing in Real Estate
      • Editor’s Picks For Retirement
      • Establishing Residency
      • Starting an Online Business
      • Single Women
      • Playing Golf
  • BUDGETS
    • Super Cheap ($)
      • Cuenca, Ecuador
      • Chiang Mai, Thailand
      • The Philippines
      • Las Tablas, Panama
      • Granada, Nicaragua
    • Cheap ($$)
      • Algarve, Portugal
      • Medellin, Colombia
      • Boquete, Panama
      • Carcassone, France
      • Buenos Aires, Argentina
    • Affordable ($$$)
      • Abruzzo, Italy
      • Barcelona, Spain
      • Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic
      • Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
      • Costa de Oro, Uruguay
    • Luxury On A Budget ($$$$)
      • Ambergris Caye, Belize
      • Paris, France
      • Panama City Beach Area
  • Real Estate
  • ARCHIVES
    • Living & Retiring Overseas
    • Raising A Family Abroad
    • Foreign Residency & Citizenship
    • Offshore Diversification
    • Our Latest On Coronavirus ⚠️
  • Making Money
    • International Real Estate
    • Banking
    • Employment
    • Investing
  • CONFERENCES
  • BOOKSTORE
Live and Invest Overseas
  • HOME
  • COUNTRIES
    • Top Destinations
      • Panama
      • Portugal
      • Colombia
      • Northern Cyprus
      • Belize
      • Spain
      • Mexico
      • France
      • Indonesia
      • Vietnam
    • Browse All Countries
    • Best For
      • Retire Overseas Index
      • Health Care
      • Cost of Living
      • Investing in Real Estate
      • Editor’s Picks For Retirement
      • Establishing Residency
      • Starting an Online Business
      • Single Women
      • Playing Golf
  • BUDGETS
    • Super Cheap ($)
      • Cuenca, Ecuador
      • Chiang Mai, Thailand
      • The Philippines
      • Las Tablas, Panama
      • Granada, Nicaragua
    • Cheap ($$)
      • Algarve, Portugal
      • Medellin, Colombia
      • Boquete, Panama
      • Carcassone, France
      • Buenos Aires, Argentina
    • Affordable ($$$)
      • Abruzzo, Italy
      • Barcelona, Spain
      • Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic
      • Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
      • Costa de Oro, Uruguay
    • Luxury On A Budget ($$$$)
      • Ambergris Caye, Belize
      • Paris, France
      • Panama City Beach Area
  • Real Estate
  • ARCHIVES
    • Living & Retiring Overseas
    • Raising A Family Abroad
    • Foreign Residency & Citizenship
    • Offshore Diversification
    • Our Latest On Coronavirus ⚠️
  • Making Money
    • International Real Estate
    • Banking
    • Employment
    • Investing
  • CONFERENCES
  • BOOKSTORE
No Result
View All Result
Live and Invest Overseas
No Result
View All Result
Home Countries Belize

Panama vs. Belize: Which is Best For You?

Find Out If You Should Move To Panama Or Belize

Live And Invest Overseas by Live And Invest Overseas
Dec 06, 2020
in Belize, Panama, Retirement/Living
0 0
0
Senior Couple Sitting On Wooden Jetty By Lake

iStock/monkeybusinessimages

251
SHARES
3.6k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Panama or Belize? When considering the best places to retire, many people dream about living abroad in a warm, tropical or highlands location where they have easy access to the States or Canada. Panama and Belize share these benefits, but they are also different in many ways.

So how can you decide which country may be your perfect fit? Here’s a quick comparison of these two locations that always score high on our list of the best countries for expats.

Retirement Benefits

Senior Couple Enjoying Meal At Outdoor Cafe
iStock/monkeybusinessimages

In Panama, you need to prove at least US$1,000 per month in regular retirement benefits to qualify for Pensionado visa status. You’ll enjoy discounts on travel, hotels, restaurants, hospital and medical expenses, and some services. The low threshold amount and discounts make Panama one of the cheapest places to retire.

To qualify under the Qualified Retiree Program (QRP) in Belize you must show US$2,000 per month and stay in the country for at least 30 days consecutively each year. This program offers duty exemptions for the first year if you bring personal belongings into the country and some tax incentives.

Currency Exchange

Background of different american dollars bills and coins
iStock/OlyaSolodenko

This category is basically a draw. Panama uses the U.S. dollar while Belize’s dollar is pegged to the U.S. dollar at a 2:1 ratio. You’ll experience no benefit or detriment of an exchange rate swing and always know how far your currency will go.

Proximity to the States and Canada

Commercial aircraft cabin with rows of seats down the aisle
iStock/Diy13

Both countries offer convenient flights to North America. From Panama, you can expect four hours to Texas and Florida, while a similar flight from Belize will take around three hours.

Language Barrier

Woman talking with alphabet letters coming out of her mouth.
iStock7SIphotography

When it comes to comparing languages in Panama vs Belize, English is the official language in Belize, although you’ll hear many different local dialects including a creole patois. Spanish is the official language of Panama, but in the larger cities you can get by with English and much of the country is bilingual.

Personal Safety

Close-up Of A Person Stealing Purse From Handbag
iStock/AndreyPopov

Panama boasts one of the lowest crime rates in Central America, especially outside of the capital, Panama City. Belize has a higher overall crime rate per capita because it’s much smaller than Panama, but most criminal activity is found in Belize City and we don’t recommend living there.

Weather and Lifestyle

Mercury thermometer marking 39 degrees Celsius 100 Fahrenheit in a sunny day.
iStock/Cylonphoto

Both countries have hot and humid locations, especially along the coasts and in the largest cities. Belize offers pleasant inland living around the Cayo region and Panama has lovely highlands with more moderate temperatures especially at elevation.

Panama City is known for its traffic, a frenetic pace, and questionable sidewalks that make getting around a challenge. Outside the capital, driving is easier and the towns more friendly. The overall vibe in Belize is laid-back and friendly, but the infrastructure may be less modern than you are used to.

The best way to answer the questions, “Panama vs Belize?” or “Where should I live?” is to do your research and then visit potential locations to truly get a feel for the place. For great weather and proximity to the States and Canada, you should keep Belize and Panama on your shortlist.

Get started today and uncover everything you want to know about the wonderful country of Belize.

Tags: 'Cayo''panama city'Belize vs. Panamalive overseasmove overseasMove to BelizeMove to Panamaretire in panamaRetire in Philippinesretire overseas
Share100Tweet63
Live And Invest Overseas

Live And Invest Overseas

Live and Invest Overseas is the world's savviest source for top opportunities to live better, retire in style, invest for profit, do business, and own real estate overseas. Established in 2008, the Live and Invest Overseas' editors and correspondents have more experience researching and reporting on top opportunities for living well, investing for profit, doing business, and owning real estate around the world than anyone else you'll find.

Related Posts

Is Cyprus A Good Country To Move To?
Retirement/Living

Is Cyprus A Good Country To Move To?

by Lief Simon
March 7, 2023
0

So the legend says… She was born in the waters of Cyprus—Venus, the Goddess of Love… Later immortalized in the...

Read more
Tobermory on the island of Mull

The First Step To Live Abroad

March 6, 2023
The most beautiful viewpoint of Pattaya Beach in Pattaya City, Thailand.

Cheap Places To Retire Like Royalty

March 5, 2023
Lisbon Pride, same sex friendly countries, gay friendly countries

Top 8 Gay Friendly Countries

March 5, 2023
Panama City, Panama

Why Panama City Continues To Be A Great Place To Invest

March 2, 2023
Retire To Cuenca, Ecuador

Retire To Cuenca, Ecuador

March 2, 2023
How To Make Sure You’ll Have A Happy Life Abroad

How To Make Sure You’ll Have A Happy Life Abroad

February 26, 2023

Start Your New Life Today, Overseas ...

A world full of fun, adventure, and profit awaits! Sign up for our free daily e-letter, Overseas Opportunity Letter, and we'll send you a FREE report on the 10 Best Places To Retire In Style Overseas Today.

Get ​Your Free ​Belize Report Today!
 

​Simply enter your email address below and we'll send you our ​FREE REPORT – ​​Discover Belize: Reef, Ruins, Rivers, And Rain Forest… Plus Easy Residency And Tax-Free Living
 

Get Your Free Panama Report Today!

​​Simply enter your email address below and we'll send you our FREE REPORT - 101 Things You'll Wish Someone Had Told You About Panama.
 

LIOS Resources


  • New To LIOS
  • Ask An Expert
  • Media Center
  • Contact Us
  • FAQs

Quick Links


  • Best Places To Live
  • Best Places To Retire
  • Finding A Job Overseas
  • Real Estate

Sign up for our free daily e-letter, Overseas Opportunity Letter, and get your FREE report: The 10 Best Places To Retire Overseas In 2023

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms
  • Unsubscribe

© 2008-2023 - Live and Invest Overseas - All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Countries
  • Budgets
  • Archives
  • News
  • Events
  • Bookstore
  • Newsletters
  • About Us
  • Members Area
  • Contact Us

© 2008-2023 - Live and Invest Overseas - All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Download your FREE report on

The Best Places To Retire In 2023

New Year, New You, New Life Overseas

Sign up for FREE and learn how to live the good life on a modest budget, find bargain property, and more. Plus, check out our free report on the 10 BEST PLACES TO RETIRE.

RETIRE OVERSEAS AND LIVE LIKE ROYALTY

Get Your Free ​​Belize Report Today!
 

​​Learn more about ​​BELIZE and other countries in our free, daily Overseas Opportunity Letter​​, as well as our ​In Focus: Belize ​newsletter​​​​​​. Simply enter your email address below and we’ll send you our FREE REPORT – ​​Discover Belize: Reef, Ruins, Rivers, And Rain Forest… Plus Easy Residency And Tax-Free Living
 

Get Your Free Panama Report Today!
 

​​Learn more about ​​​PANAMA and other countries in our free, daily Overseas Opportunity Letter​​, as well as our ​In Focus: ​Panama ​newsletter​​​​​​. Simply enter your email address below and we’ll send you our FREE REPORT – ​​​101 Things You'll Wish Someone Had Told You About Panama.