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Living in Panama:
the plusses and minuses
Living in Panama is not like living in the U.S. Canada or Britain.
However, when you first fly into and drive through Panama City, you will be pleasantly surprised. Most first time visitors are open-mouthed at the amount of modern high rises and skyscrapers they see. The wide four lane roads, the familiar fast food restuarants, the spacious air-conditioned shopping malls, a comment we here frequently from people is," Wow! This is definitely not what I thought a third world country would look like."
This is a young country and, like any other developing country, living in Panama can have its frustrations. To enjoy this amazing country to its fullest, you will need a little mental discipline. Avoid even the thought that "back home we do it in such-and-such a way." Not only will you become frustrated with some of the comparisons but if you voice them, you may offend Panamanians who are justifiably proud of their young country but also aware that they do not yet have the same standards that are enjoyed in some of the more developed countries.
Think of living in Panama, in part, as an adventure. Power may (and probably will) shut off unexpectedly more often than it does in your native land. (If you use a computer, get battery backup power that will allow you time to close all programs when the power goes off. The cost is just a few hundred dollars.)
Those living in Panama City are used to the water being shut off, often unexpectedly, sometimes for several hours. This is not Chicago or Houston or Toronto.
More compensations
For all of the occasional nuisances, living in Panama has more compensations than it has pitfalls.
There’s a fair bit of rain here but, unlike snow, it doesn’t have to be shoveled. And unlike some places, the sun shines almost every day. Only occasionally is there daylong rain. Humidity? Yes, it is more humid at or near sea level than in some places, but it is something you get used to. There are also communities that the American Association of Retired Persons and others list as having among the best climates in the world. In fact, the small community of Boquete is listed as the top retirement location in all of the Americas and one of the top five places in the world in which to retire. However if you travel slightly west of Boquete to the small mountain town of Volcan, you will find just about all that Boquete offers - but at a much more affordable price.
Volcan and Boquete, Panama, which we will explore elsewhere on this site, have elevations of 4,200 (Volcan) and 3,500 (Boquete). They are both in the shadow of Panama's highest (11,400 feet) peak, the Baru Volcano. This mountainous area known for its fruit, coffee, flowers and vegetables which are exported to many parts of the world. Cooler here and less humid, it is the choice for many expats living in Panama.
Sun kissed beaches.
For years I had a dream of waking early and going for a stroll on a sunny,windswept tropical beach. My wife would be arm in arm with me, I would have a fresh cup of coffee in my hand and the four legged love of my life, my miniature Schnauzer, Spencer would be scurrying to and fro and having the time of his life. As the dawn broke the sky the waves would be breaking at my feet, the air would be fresh and we would have the entire beach to ourselves. If you choose the western province of Chiriqui, this can be your reality. From the mountain towns of Volcan and Chiriqui, miles of deserted beaches are less than an hour's drive away.
All modern conveniences
Although a so-called developing country, Panama has all the modern conveniences, including high-speed Internet service. Panama City with its 800,000 people is ultra-modern and rivals any city of similar size in the U.S. Those living in Panama City and most places throughout the country have access to most of the things that are available in the U.S.
PriceSmart is here. The supermarkets are filled with products from the U.S., but some of the local products are just as good and less expensive. The two major telephone companies are familiar names: Cable & Wireless and Bell South. The currency is familiar, too: the U.S. dollar. Driving is on the right hand side of the road, and you will see the same range of cars here as you would find in the U.S. or Canada; SUVs abound. I am proof that you can get along living in Panama with just English, though it will be helpful to learn Spanish as soon as you can - especially for travel off the tourist path.
Other articles in this section
Cost of living
Cost of living
You can live in Panama quite comfortably on less than $1,200 a month, including rent. This page presents the largest Panamanian supermarket shopping list available on the Internet.
Some people have been critical of my estimate of what it
costs to live in Panama.
Living in Panama is not expensive (if you live in the highlands of Chiriqui) We live a fairly comfortable life on $1,200 per month. Some people live well on $800 or less. It all depends on your lifestyle. Follow this link for prices and information UPDATED in December 2009.
Panama weather
Live in Panama and everyone wants to know
what the weather is like
. In this amazing country, you can design your own.
Getting here
I depends on where you set off from, but it can require both careful planning and the right attitude. Here are
six tips
to help.
Air transport
There's a lot more to
air transport
in Panama than might be expected of a country of 3.2 million people. This isthmus connecting South America with the rest of the Americas is truly a transportation hub, and not merely because of the Canal.
Banking
U.S. pressure makes
opening a bank account
in Panama or anywhere else a far more difficult proposition than banking at home. Here’s what you need to know before coming.
Money
In Panama,
money
presents none of the customary foreign currency problems for Americans. The country uses U.S. paper currency, and has done so for more than 100 years.
Health insurance
Medical care and insurance: vital concerns for most retirees. Our resident expert provides
some answers
to questions you may have.
Taxation for U.S. citizens
How you and your spouse can
make $160,000
a year in Panama and pay no tax.
Best ex-pat bookstore
The best little ex-pat
bookstore
in Panama is on a secondary road outside the don't-blink-or-you'll-miss-it community of Dolega, between the city of David and Boquete.
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