How You Can Live BETTER for LESS in Panama

Updated February 2022

Every year I update this article about the many ways I live for less in Panama compared to what it cost to live in Dallas Texas.

These 2022 prices compare what I paid in Texas in 2010 to what I pay in Panama now.   There has not been much of an increase in prices in Panama in the last couple of years. Some restaurants have raised their prices but there is always a more affordable restaurant just down the road.

Can you really live for less in Panama? Well, it depends on how you live, where you live in Panama, and where you’re coming from. For most people, it is possible to live for less in Panama.

Some people reevaluate their priorities when they move to Panama. Instead of the 3000 Sf house with a big yard they had back home, they downsize to a comfortable 1200SF house in Panama. You can reduce your costs by moving into a smaller house in Panama

Other people go from a 1500SF house back home to a 5000SF house on an estate in Panama. Obviously, a bigger house will always cost more to maintain and take more time to manage.

I know a lady who lives in Panama for $800 a month which includes rent. She lives in a modest one-bedroom Panamanian-style house. She says she is completely comfortable and has everything she needs.

Another couple lives comfortably on $4000 a month in a 4500sf house and they eat out just about every day plus they travel internationally several times a year. They have a large property so they have additional expenses of a full-time groundskeeper.

Many expats are living WELL in Panama on a fixed income of less than $1500 per month total income.

So, Live Better and Live for Less are subjective. But as you can see from the information below, no matter where or how you live in Panama, there are many different ways you can live for less. If you forego the big house with the big property, you will certainly reduce your costs.

Sure some things will cost more. But there are many ways you can live better and live for less… much less.. in Panama. No matter what size home you live in, whether you rent or buy, there are many ways you can live for less in Panama. See details below…

UTILITY COSTS

electricity The cost per kilowatt hour in Panama is the same that I paid in Texas. But the big difference is that in Boquete I don’t need an air conditioner or heater running 24/7 like I did in Texas, my electricity bill went from $250 – $350 a month to less than $25 per month.

In Texas, I paid $70 per month for metered water. In Panama I pay $100 a year for unlimited water use which includes trash collection.

Plus I get an additional 25% discount off all utility costs because I’m over 55 and have a residency visa.

Just these two items alone save me over $3000 per year.

Soup Campbell lived in Fairbanks Alaska before moving to Panama. His annual heating and electric bill were $8500 and now it is less than $600 per year. That’s an $8000 a year savings.. and living for less in Panama

HOUSE PRICES

If you moved from New York, California, London or Dubai, you’ll think Panama prices are a bargain. But if you move from Texas, Oklahoma, Florida or Arizona, (areas most popular with retirees) the house prices in Panama could be about the same or even higher if you move into a gated community in Panama… unless you know where to go to find great bargains.

Not long ago, a guy from my tour bought a 1800sf house on an acre for $35,000 in Caldera. I got a call last week about a house for sale in Volcan for only $95,000. It’s a 1600sf house fully furnished with a detached two-car garage on 1 1/2 acre with a stream at the back of the property. So there are great “deals” out there but they are not usually advertised or listed with real estate agents.

The acquisition cost of the house is not the only thing you need to take into consideration. Buying a house is a one-time expense. You also have to take into consideration the monthly or annual expenses of Panama vs. where you live now.

Saving $3000 to $8000 a year on utility costs alone makes it possible to live for less in Panama. But there are many other savings.

I paid about $3500 a year for property taxes for my house in Texas. I pay ZERO property taxes because I bought my house for less than $120,000.  Houses built before 2012 got a 20-year tax exemption (no property taxes).

Even if I had to pay property taxes starting in 2022, I’d have a $45,500 savings compared to what I paid in Texas.

House insurance in Texas costs me $1500 a year. In Panama, I pay $205 per year.

According to http://www.valuepenguin.com homeowners, insurance rates continue to rise at a steady rate throughout the United States, up over 50% in the last 10 years. The Florida average for median-priced house insurance is $1933 per year which does not include Flood Insurance which is required in much of Florida.

Buying a house may not be the best way to go!

I recommend that you wait at least 6-12 months before making a buying decision. This will give you time to make sure you like living in Panama. And it will give you time to learn the market so you know what the right price is to pay if you do decide to buy.

Renting is a lot more affordable in Panama than it is in other countries, including the United States. In Texas, you’ll pay $1200 a month for a $125,000 house. That is unfurnished and does not include any utilities. A $125,000 house in Panama, fully furnished and all bills paid, will rent for $700 to $750 in 2022. The Panama house will probably include a weekly or bi-weekly gardener too. Plus you don’t have to deal with the upkeep and maintenance when you rent.

If you buy a house priced at over $250,000 in Panama it could take many years to sell it in Panama. You can’t move on with your life and other plans if you are stuck trying to sell a house.

Instead of investing in buying a house, you could put the money into a savings account in Panama and earn 1.5% to 2.5% interest. It’s hard to put a price on the FREEDOM to move when you want to!

It’s not just what you pay for rent or buying a house …. you have to take into consideration QUALITY of life too.

Read how Debbie explains how she lives better for less in Panama.

The home I purchased in Panama is probably at least half of what a similar home in an oceanfront community in the USA would have cost me. Not to mention, my utility bill last month was under $40 for everything – electric, water, trash included. I don’t need AC here, but in Arizona we were rarely under $200, even in the winter, and near $400/month in the summer – just for electric! Another plus to my monthly budget are the local Farmer’s Markets. Again, I pay about 1/2 the price I paid at Farmer’s Markets in the states for wonderful, fresh, and organic produce in Panama.

Veggies – Panama $2/large bag organic greens vs US $4-6/ bag of mixed organic greens

I also have about 30 Amazon Parrots, a couple of large iguanas, and a cute turtle that visit my yard regularly. I call them my free “wild pets” because they take care of themselves!

HEALTH CARE

Doctor Visit in Panama Healthcare costs are big savings in Panama. If I stayed in the United States, my husband and I would pay about $15,000 a year for insurance until we qualified for Medicare.  It would have a very high deductible, which would not be as good as the health insurance I have in Panama.

In Panama, I pay $102 per month for health insurance that covers me in Panama.

Our total health care costs will be $1224 a year compared to $12,000 a year for US insurance only. That’s a $10,000 a year savings!

Because it is so affordable to go to a doctor, many people decide to put that insurance money in savings then self-insure (pay out of pocket).

In Texas, you pay $150 – $185 for a general doctor visit.

In Panama, it is $15 to $20 for a doctor visit. A specialist will cost $40 to $60. These prices are without insurance!

And the doctors in Panama put the CARE back into Health Care. They will spend as much time as they need to evaluate your situation, carefully explain your options, and even give you their cell phone number so you can call them if you are not better quickly.

A few years ago I had to go to the emergency room at Hospital Chiriqui in Panama. I was in so much pain I forgot to give them my insurance card. After two IVs, pain medications, blood tests, and other lab work, and a great doctor who spoke perfect English, my emergency room visit was less than $50 without insurance.

Try getting that price at an emergency room in the USA!

Soup and Sue Campbell came on my tour a few years ago then moved to Volcan. Soup had a stroke a few months after moving to Panama. With no insurance, he paid $75 a day for a hospital stay. His total costs for the stroke with 3 doctors, CAT Scams, MRI’s, medications, and several days in the hospital was less than $4000.

A friend in Florida recently had a stent put in his heart for $125,000 out of pocket.  A friend in Panama had the same procedure done in Panama City a few years ago for less than $12,000. Plus her medical reimbursement plan (they do not have insurance) paid for half so their out-of-pocket expense was less than $6,000.

MISCELLANEOUS SAVINGS

In Texas, I paid $225 a month for my ATT cell phone use including data. In Panama, I pay $25 a month. But I could just buy minutes as I need them and have no monthly charge. That’s a $200 a month savings!

My internet in Texas was $80 a month.  In Panama, I pay $64 a month for 100mbps fiber options, cable tv, and a land line.

In Texas, I paid $35 to get someone to mow my lawn. They were finished in less than an hour. In Panama, I pay $30 for a gardener who is here from 8-4. The gardener comes to my property two times a week.

A 7-hour bus ride to Panama City $10.60 with pensionado discount. It’s a double-decker Mercedes bus with reclining seats. I don’t know what it would cost for 8-hour bus ride to anywhere in North America but I bet it would be more than $10.60!

Electronics and appliances cost about the same in Panama as they did in Texas.

Furniture prices are the same if you buy them in a store. But you can have high-quality furniture custom made for a fraction of what you’d pay in the store… and be giving work to a Panamanian too.

If you have a residency visa and you are a woman 55+ or a man 60+, you will get these pensionado discounts:

50% off entertainment (movies, theaters, concerts, sporting events)
30% off bus, boat, and train fares
25% off airline tickets
25% off monthly energy bills
30% to 50% off hotel stays
15% off hospital bills
10% off prescription medicines
20% off medical consultations
15% off dental and eye exams
20% off professional and technical services
50% off closing costs for home loans, and more…

Last year I flew to Mexico. I looked up the non-stop flight I wanted on Copa Airlines web site. It was $710. Then I sent the flight information to my travel agent in Boquete. She got the pensionado discount for me so I only paid $521. More savings!

GROCERIES

Farmer's Market in Panama
Fresh Produce

If you buy a lot of imported items at the grocery store in Panama, you will pay more for your groceries. But if you buy local produce and local brands, you will save money. There is a huge variety of fruits and vegetables readily available at farmer’s markets and at the grocery store.

Even produce which is not grown in Panama, like apples and pears are readily available.

An example, imported Del Monte can tomatoes are $1.69 a can at Romero. But a Panama brand of can tomatoes is only 69 cents. Or, buy fresh tomatoes at the farmer’s market to get much better quality for even less.

If you avoid anything that comes in a can, bag, or box you will save money.. and be much healthier too. You may be able to get off all those expensive medications!

In Texas, I paid $150 – $200 per week for groceries. In Panama, I pay right around $50 – $80 per week.

oranges Just like North America, you will save by buying produce when it is in season. In Panama, you can buy 100 Panama oranges in season for $5 a bag. Get 50 pounds of carrots for $6. In Panama, if you buy imported oranges, they are $1.45 a pound. I don’t know what they cost in the USA now.

The sweetest pineapple you have ever tasted is 75 cents to $1 each depending on the size. Pineapple is available year-round in Panama. I paid $5 for pineapple in Texas and they did not even have any flavor.

Cost of Living in Panama
$6 for a bag full of produce

If you buy locally grown produce from the farmer’s market (not the grocery store), you will get better quality food at cheaper prices. How about papaya, pineapple, a few mangos, lettuce, potatoes, tomatoes, and cayote for only $6… photo to the right.

EATING OUT

When you eat at Panamanian restaurants for $4-$5 you get a full plate of 1 meat, rice with beans, and a salad. There is almost always a sweet plantain too.

Or, you can eat at an upscale restaurant like Panamonte for $25 a meal. There are plenty of restaurants with prices everything in the middle too. One of my favorite restaurants in Panama City is a greek restaurant where it is about $10 a meal including beverages.

Panama Relocation Tours Coronado
Lunch in Coronado

In Coronado, the tour group sometimes eats at Coronado Cafe. We have delicious chicken kabobs and grilled vegetables for $9.95 (see photo on the left)

A few years ago, in Las Vegas, I paid $20 for 2 eggs, 1 piece of bacon, and a piece of cold toast, orange juice, and nasty tasting coffee. In Boquete, I can get that same breakfast, with great coffee, for less than $5.

I love Taco Tuesday at the various restaurants – $1.50 for a HUGE taco .. fish, chicken, beef, or vegetarian.

PERSONAL CARE

Hair cut in Panama A men’s haircut is $4-$5 in Boquete. My husband paid $20 in Texas

I get high lights, low lights, and a haircut for $60 in Panama. This cost me $200 plus a tip in Texas.

A manicure and pedicure are $20-$25 (for both) in Boquete. It was $65 in Texas

In Panama, I get a massage every week because it is only $35 for a really good 1-hour deep tissue massage. In Texas, I paid $65-75 per hour for a massage.

With these kinds of prices, you can splurge on life’s little luxuries more often.

LIVE BETTER

hummingbird In Boquete and many other areas in Panama, you can leave your windows wide open to get fresh air every day. I’m surrounded by spectacular views of lush green mountains and flowers everywhere. It’s good for your soul.

Nature is all around you in Panama. It’s up close and personal.

Panama is like having 3 countries in one… and you can drive to all of them in a day. There’s the Pacific Ocean to the south, the Caribbean Sea to the north, and a huge mountain range in the middle. There are 1500 islands surrounding Panama. Plus I have ready access to Panama City with a 40 minute flight. And I’m less than a  1 1/2 hour drive to Costa Rica.

There are often specials at an all-inclusive resort next to the Pacific Ocean for $89 a night – which includes food and adult beverages.

You can visit primitive Indian tribes or monkey sanctuaries, see sloths and beautiful blue butterflies. Or go to Bocas del Toro on the Caribbean Sea for a weekend of swimming in turquoise blue water, lively music, and dancing. I love their rock-n-roll concerts.

Just about every day I have a flock of green parrots fly by my bedroom window on the way to the jungle area next to my house where my organic coffee grows. My yard is filled with hummingbirds and butterflies. And my windows are usually open to take in the FRESH AIR which is much more healthy than living in a place where you need an air conditioner.

When you don’t have to work so hard to keep up with all the expenses in North America or Europe, it removes the stress. Less stress = better health. You really can live better for less!

The list goes on and on about ways that I live a better life for less in Panama. You could too!

TAXES

The United States taxes citizens and residents on their worldwide income. Citizens and residents living and working outside the U.S. may be entitled to a foreign earned income exclusion that reduces taxable income. The exclusion is available only for wages or self-employment income earned for services performed outside the U.S.

If you are a US citizen living overseas at least 330 days a year, you could qualify for the Foreign Earned Income Exemption. The income must be active income. Passive income does not qualify.

In 2022, you can deduct a little more than $112,00 in income from your taxes. If you and your spouse both live and work that is $224,400 on tax-free income.

That’s a savings of $66,000 per year for a couple.

SAFETY

With all the violence and constant threats going on around the world, it is refreshing to live in Panama where I feel safe! Safety and security are PRICELESS!

IN CONCLUSION

With all these savings, you can see why so many people are moving to Panama!

A little savings here and a little savings there … all add up to BIG savings when you live in Panama.

In Panama, just like everywhere else in the world, prices have gone up in the last 10 years. But for the most part, prices have gone up much less in Panama than they have in North America.

Sure you might pay more for a few things but overall you will save money in Panama

You really can live for less in Panama! And it is much safer too!

Join us in a 6-day all-inclusive Panama Relocation Tour to see how you can LIVE BETTER for LESS in Panama too!

Or get the Online Panama Relocation Guide to learn all the things you need to know to relocate to Panama the hassle-free way!

Jackie Lange

Jackie Lange is the founder of Panama Relocation Tours and lives in the highlands of Boquete Panama. She has helped thousands of people relocate to Panama.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Betty Gall says

    We would like to come for two months in January and live like an ex pat. We love golf and blue ocean equally. We enjoy discovering big city and all that it offers but probably not live there. Need nearby restaurants and would not have a car. Rent around 1,000 per mth with something more up to date and hot water thru out the house.
    I see golf areas that look new and seem to have plenty of vacation but are they too remote for dinner and drinks out in the evening.
    Need good internet connectivity, cell and cable.
    Can you recommend where we mite focus a search.
    Thx,
    Betty

    • Panama Relocation Tours says

      January is HIGH season and it will be very hard to find what you are looking for last minute. You need to reserve a place ASAP (like this month) Gorgona or Coronado will have exactly what you are looking for but you will need to up your budget to closer to $1500 a month for a short term rental. I friend is renting an ocean front condo in Gorgona for $950 but he has a 1 year lease. For short term leases, you always pay much more. Contact Cat Mandel or Denise McDonald at http://mypanamarealestate.com January may already be booked for 2016. A taxi is an affordable way to get to restaurants if there is not one within walking distance to you.

  2. Bob ODonnell says

    I was intrigued by your comments regarding your daughter’s decision to get worldwide insurance coverage instead of Obamacare. Who might we contact to investigate that same possibility for my wife’s coverage.

    • Panama Relocation Tours says

      You have to live overseas most of the time to get the coverage. You can’t live in the United States.

  3. robert Wymenga says

    My wife and I are avid Harley riders. I have heard that it it costly (or impossible) to import a motorcycle in to Panama. Can you fill me in on the details, as that would be a deal breaker if we could not move there without our Harleys.

    • Panama Relocation Tours says

      Several of our tour clients moved their Harley’s down to Panama. One of them is writing an article which will be out soon. There is also a Harley dealership in Panama City where you could avoid the hassles of shipping them down – buy in Panama.

  4. Linda Rutherford says

    when and what is the Panama relocation tour?

    • Dustin Lange says

      Hi Linda, You can find our tour dates on this page and you can learn more about our tour dates on this page.

  5. Mark Solomon says

    A question. US citizen. I will be 64 in November. I would like to retire in January 2021. I have a couple million in investments, and two pensions in Nov. 2021, and Social Security in January. Does IRS tax my investments, and would I pay Panamanian tax

    • Jackie Lange says

      HI Mark

      As a US citizen, you are required to pay taxes on your income regardless of where you live in the world. But in Panama, you won’t owe any taxes on income that is make outside of Panama.

  6. Brian Swanson says

    Hi Jackie is Panama still pushing the booster shot in order to get in we are staying in Costa Rica we have to make a boarder run we wanted to fly down to check out Panama if you have to have the booster we will take Panama off our list, since both of us had side effects from our double vax. Not taking any more shite in our arms.

    • Jackie Lange says

      Panama is still encouraging people to get a booster. To enter Panama, you only need a negative covid test OR two Covid vaccines. If a restaurant wants to go to 100% capacity, they can only let in people who have had 3 covid vaccines.

      see entry details at https://www.tourismpanama.com/plan-your-vacation/advisories/

  7. D Stone says

    Hi! Which expat communities have a higher percentage of retired single/divorced/widowed people?

    • Jackie Lange says

      The Coronado area has more singles.

  8. Tony says

    Hi we are looking for 2-3 months in the winter so from Jan-Mar in our retirement years

    We prefer staying close to the best beach in Panama which I don’t know where that is,
    Where do you recommend in Panama for the best beach and EX pat communities in Panama and what should I budget for per month apprx.

    • Jackie Lange says

      Hi Tony

      Everyone has a different idea of what the best beach is in Panama. If you’re in the Coronado area, budget at least $1500 for a rental (plus electricity), if you’re in the beach communities in the Azuero, budget $700 per month plus electricity, if you’re in Bocas del Tor (Caribbean side) budget $700 a month, if you’re in Bocas Chica, Las Lajas, o rLas Olas budget $1600 per month. https://panamarelocationtours.com/top-10-beaches-in-panama

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