Why People Move to Panama

When I started doing Panama Relocation Tours in 2010, many tour guests moved to Panama because they wanted great weather and a more affordable place to live.  No snow in Panama was a big plus!

Everyone is looking for a new adventure. 

Previously, most tour clients came from the United States and were between 50 and 60 years old.

Now, people from all over the world come on a Panama Relocation Tour.  About 70% of our clients come from the United States, and about 20% are Canadians.  We also have clients from England, Germany, France, Poland, Russia, Italy, Spain, Turkey, China, Singapore, South Africa, Egypt, Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates (Dubai), New Zealand, Australia, Bahamas, Cayman Islands, and more!   It’s fun for everyone on the tour to meet people from other countries considering relocating to Panama.

Over the last few years, the reasons for moving and the demographic have changed.

Many still seek great weather, affordable living, and a new adventure.  You can find all of those things in Panama. 

Panama is consistently ranked as a top country for retirees to move to.  It’s understandable for retirees and others to move to Panama because it offers so much!

Over the last few years, more people have moved for political reasons. They don’t like the way things are going in their country. They are looking for a place with family values and no political divisiveness. We recommend leaving your politics at the border when you move to Panama!

People move to Panama for more freedom!

US citizens like Panama use the US dollar to not have to deal with an exchange rate that could reduce their buying power.

Now, people in their 30s, 40s, and 50s are coming on Panama Relocation Tours and relocating to Panama.  These people are not retirees. They are also looking for that new adventure. Most already have online businesses they can run from anywhere with an internet connection.

There are many more families with children moving to Panama, too.  In Panama, you can homeschool if you want to, or there are bi-lingual schools for as little as $80 a month.

WHAT ATTRACTS PEOPLE TO PANAMA?

Proximity! Panama is close to the United States.  Miami is only a 2-hour flight.  It is a quick flight from Panama to Ecuador, Colombia, Chile, Argentina, Costa Rica, Belize, Mexico, etc.  Living in Panama makes exploring and enjoying adventures in other countries easy.

Even though Panama is a small country, it is packed with a lot of diversity.  Drive an hour in any direction and completely change your environment.  Panama City is a very cosmopolitan city where you can find anything you want.  There are first-class restaurants, fancy malls, opera, ballet, a subway, and some of the best hospitals in Latin America.

Beach lovers can enjoy 1547 miles of coastline from two oceans.  The Pacific Ocean is to the south, and the Atlantic and the Caribbean Seas are to the north.  There are many islands off both coasts.  Snorkeling, scuba diving, and deep-sea fishing are favorites of sun lovers.  Those who prefer cooler weather will enjoy Spring-like weather year-round in mountain towns like Boquete, Volcan, and El Valle.   It’s not just the weather, the scenery is just spectacular.

DISCOUNTS ON EVERYTHING!

Another huge benefit for retirees in Panama is the world’s best retiree program, the Pensionado Visa.  With this visa, you must prove a lifetime income of $1000 for singles or $1250 for couples.  Then you qualify for discounts like 20% discount when eating out, 10% off prescription drugs, 20% off at the doctor’s, 25% discount on airfare to anywhere in the world, and many other discounts.

The Panama Relocation Tours demographic is changing.

In August, a family from Seattle came on the tour and decided to stay instead of flying back to the United States.  Within two weeks, they had a lovely rental house, a car, a bank account, a visa, and a corporation set up.  A few months later, they opened a new restaurant after hiring contractors to renovate the building entirely, getting all the permits and health certificates, and hiring employees.   Try doing all that so fast anywhere else!

Several Visa programs are available for people who want to work or start a business in Panama.  If you plan to get a job in Panama, the best visa is the Friendly Nations Visa. There are more job opportunities in Panama City where there are many multinational companies.

Most people from other countries are not taxed on their worldwide income.  US citizens are taxed on their worldwide income, but you do get a $120,000 per person tax exemption.  That means a single person from the United States who lives overseas full-time can make more than $120,000 in income… and not pay a penny in taxes!  You still have to file a tax return, but you will not owe any taxes if your income is below $120,000 a year. (2023 Foreign Earned Income Exclusion).

That’s a really good reason to move to Panama!  And it is why many younger adults are moving to Panama to work. You can get a raise by just moving to Panama!

If your income is not sourced in Panama, you don’t owe any taxes in Panama either.  So, moving to Panama is possible and not paying ANY taxes. Even if you have to pay taxes in Panama, taxes are much less than in the United States, Canada, or other countries.  You can live in Panama but not have income sourced in Panama if you do not sell a product or service in Panama.  An online business is ideal.

Let’s face it: a Social Security or a pension payment will not go very far in North America.  But you can easily live on your pension payment or Social Security in Panama. 

Yes, you can retire on what you have right now instead of working to save more for retirement.  You may even be able to retire early!

Affordable health insurance and quality health care are other reasons people move to Panama. 

Previously, I had international health insurance, which covered me at any hospital or doctor anywhere.   But now, I have Panama health insurance, which is only $117 a month (price for 60-69 year old).  If I travel, I’ll get traveler’s insurance.   If you are younger, it would be less.  If you are older, it will cost more.

Even without insurance, it is only $15 to see a doctor at their private office, or I can go to the public hospital, where it only costs $2 to see a doctor. These doctors are well-trained, and many speak English.

In my opinion, Panamanian doctors put the CARE back into health care.

In November, two 52-year-old tour clients who live in the United States told me their insurance has a $6,000 deductible and is $750 per month per person.  That’s $1500 a month for a couple or $18,000 a year for health insurance that they cannot use until they pay $6,000 out of pocket first.

You can live in Panama for $1500 a month!

You can see why affordable health insurance is a big reason people move to Panama.

PANAMA IS SAFER!

Panama has no military.   There is no big division between political, religious, or ethnic groups like there is in other countries.  So, it just feels much safer in Panama.  There are no terrorist threats in Panama. Panamanians are very patriotic and love their country.

Everyone just gets along in Panama. People are friendly and helpful.

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

Panama offers something for everyone. Whether you are looking for a more affordable lifestyle, better weather, or just a new adventure– Panama has what you are looking for.

Come check out Panama during a 7-night, 6-day all-inclusive Panama Relocation Tour to learn how you can LIVE BETTER for LESS in Panama!

During the tour, you’ll visit the most popular places to live, like Panama City, the Coronado area, Chitre or Las Tablas, Santiago, David, Boquete, and Volcan.

You’ll meet an immigration lawyer and real estate experts, too! The tour is like a rolling seminar with essential lessons being taught daily about how to get things done in Panama, like getting a visa, finding a rental, bringing pets to Panama, buying a car, getting health insurance, getting a driver’s license, and so much more!

Since 2010, Panama Relocation Tours has helped many thousands of people have a hassle-free move to Panama. We have the experience you can trust!

These are some of the 320++ reviews on TripAdvisor:

Bryan wrote: Seeing is believing!
This tour packed a ton of information and a huge sampling of expat living options into a single week. It also featured two of the best tour guides we’ve ever met, who helped answer a range of questions from our diverse group while keeping each part of the trip interesting and fun! We cannot wait to keep exploring Panama after this tour!

Eric wrote: Exceeded my expectations!
I was a member of Tour Group 233 from January 19, 2024 to January 26, 2024.
Going on this tour has been one of the best experiences of my life. John Veillon and Jerry were our tour guides. The way they conducted the initial orientation assured me
I was going to receive exactly what I was expecting: The information that I would need to decide for myself if Panama is a place that I would like to move to.

This tour definitely will provide you with the good, the bad and the ugly. John and Jerry earned my trust with they way they presented the information. This is not a sales presentation or sales tour. It is not a vacation (although you will have some fun along the way). It is just what they say it is: A rolling seminar to show you different areas of the country and expose you to all of the aspects of the country so that you can make up your own mind.

By the end of the tour, I really felt like John and Jerry were friends. I also felt like all of the members of the tour group had bonded and will keep in touch for life, whether we move to Panama or not.