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 10% 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!   Meeting people from other countries who are considering relocating to Panama is fun for everyone on the tour.

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. Panama offers all of those things. 

Panama is consistently ranked as a top country for retirees to move to. It’s understandable that they and others would want 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, and they seek a place with strong family values and no political divisiveness.

People often say they are “sick and tired” of hearing about politics. The last thing they want when they move to Panama is to run into people who can’t stop talking about politics.

It’s best to leave 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 avoid dealing with an exchange rate that could reduce their buying power.

Now, people in their 30s, 40s, and 50s are taking Panama Relocation Tours and relocating to Panama. They want to reduce living costs and are looking for a new adventure. Most already have online businesses they can run from anywhere with an internet connection. Getting a job or starting a business in Panama is not so easy.

Many more families with children are moving to Panama, too. In Panama, you can homeschool if you want to, or there are bi-lingual or international schools.

WHAT ATTRACTS PEOPLE TO PANAMA?

Proximity! Panama is close to the United States.  Miami is only a 2.5-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 sun lovers’ favorite activities.  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 MANY THINGS!

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. After you get your permanent visa, you qualify for discounts like 20% off when eating out, 10% off prescription drugs, 20% off at the doctor’s, 25% off 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. 

Several Visa programs are available if you don’t qualify for the Pensionado Visa.

If you are not selling any products or services in Panama, you will owe no taxes in Panama. However, you may still need to file a tax return and pay taxes in your home country. You should consult with an expat tax expert to find out if you need to report foreign bank accounts and corporations and file a tax return in your home country.

If you’re a US citizen and live overseas full time, you can take advantage of the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion. In 2025, you can earn up to $130,000 without owing taxes. This must be active earned income. Passive income or capital gains do not count.

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

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 (the price for 60-69-year-olds). 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 costs only $15 to see a doctor at their private office. Alternatively, I can go to the public hospital, where it only costs $2. 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 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! We’ll tour a private hospital during the tour too!

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

These are some of the 500++ reviews on TripAdvisor:

Global wrote: The ONLY Way to Go!
The thought of moving to another country is daunting; especially when doing it alone. But Jackie Lange and her Panama Relocation Tours (PRT) have taken much of the fear and uncertainty out of the equation. I went on the tour July 2024. No only did I get a great feel for all the country has to offer, Chuck and John our tour guides were a wealth of important information. Our bus travel was filled with great information and I soaked it all up. I am moving to Panama April 2025 and would never have done this if it wasn’t for Jackie Lange. I recommend PRT without reservation.

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.