Cost of living 2019 in Panama

I moved here oct 2018. My 4/5 apt runs about $2500 a mo in the city of knowledge.  It’s very large and updated.  It’s part of a Corp deal or I would never be able to afford it . I live alone and spend about $100 a week in food. Now I am stockpiling stuff I had to start from brand new like salt , spices , sugar. Things won’t need to buy again for a while.  I did uber and I’d pay from $3 a trip to $8. I noticed sometimes the rate be like $7. And I’d wait a few minutes try again and it lowered back to $3/4.  I hope to go to  puerto Armuelles and see if I can live  there .  I just hope it’s affordable when it’s time to retire. I’m finding Pty very expensive. I also was hoping for a housekeeper. Here in the city they charge about $400 a mo - on my SS could never ever afford it.  So I may have to see about Mexico  as an option .

Hi, Panama is quite expensive if you intend to work here and have a local salary.
Here are my answers to your questions:
How much does it cost to rent an apartment or a house in Panama? How about buying an apartment or a house in Panama? Renting around 2000/2500 usd per month.
Buying a house with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms in Albrook: around 500.000/600.000

How much do you pay on average for public transportation (bus, subway, train, tram, taxi)? Uber: around 4 to 6 usd. Bus: 1.5 usd the trip.

What is your monthly budget for groceries? For 2 people, count around 200/230 for food per week.

How much does it cost to see a doctor or health specialist in Panama? 50 usd for a doctor, 70 to 80 for a specialist.

What is your child's schooling budget per month? 770 usd per month, 130 usd transportation.

How much does it cost to fill up your car’s fuel tank? 45/50 usd per tank (60 liters)

How much do you pay for electricity/gas/water etc., per month? Electricity for a house: 250 usd/month. Water: 25 usd per month.

How much do you pay for your internet and phone subscription? 75 usd.

How much do you pay for an espresso coffee? 2.5 to 4 usd.

How much do you pay for a cinema ticket? 6 to 10 usd.

Still Panama is a nice place to stay. Enjoy!

Expensive

There is Panama City, and then there is the rest of the country.....
in David -
blog.thepanamaadventure.com/2019/01/02/cost-of-living-report-december-2018/

Rent an old 2 bedroom apartment in the city $600 

How much do you pay on average for public transportation (bus, subway, train, tram, taxi)?
I walk to and fro work, my kid's school, the supermarket and home.

How much do you pay for basic food items such as rice, bread, and pasta?
3 dollars rice, 2 dollars pasta, 2 dollars for the bread.

What is your monthly budget for groceries?
$400

How much does it cost to see a doctor or health specialist in Panama?
Around $35 a general doctor appointmnt

How much do you pay for health insurance per month?
I dont have one

How much does childcare cost on average per month?
Dont use this

What is your child's schooling budget per month?
$100

How much does it cost to fill up your car’s fuel tank?
$20 weekly, my husband's car.

How much do you pay for electricity/gas/water etc., per month?
$40 dollars the electricity and $10 the gas

How much do you pay for your internet and phone subscription?
$40 the internet. Around $20 my phone

How much do you pay for your lunch pack on weekdays?
$7 dollars per meal

How much do you pay for an espresso coffee?
$1

How much do you pay for a cinema ticket?
Domt usually go

How much does a gym membership cost in Panama?
$75 croSsfit

some things in line some not i pay 22 a month for new gym in chorrera but 52 for internet but have like 22 g?? ispend over 500 for groceries but we eat really good ,, my house payment is less tn 400 but elec is 60 a month my insurance i carry in colombia is 30 a month and look at my tickets to medellin as a deductible but pay about 35 to see a urologist here in chorrerra ,, buffett lunch when we eat out is about 4 bucks good food i go to framers market once a week spend 10 bucks but  buy rib eyes steak at casa de carnes once a week around 14 and we get 5 or 6 meals from it same with pork ,, chicken 14 bucjks once a week same

Hi all!
I'm scared to death to just quit my job and come down there.  I do have some equity in my home that can keep me safe for a while, but I don't know if I can trust the idea of all of these BECOME A WRITER AND WORK FROM ANYWHERE blogs and newsletters.

Have any of you just up and quit and trusted that everything will be taken care of?

I would be very concerned too. Yeah, be a writer, a photographer, a blogger ... finance your new life overseas... uh huh. I have never met anyone who makes a living like this. I have a blog with 1500+ readers. At first advertising brought $15-20/month, and then it dwindled to less than $2/month even with increased readership (wordads through Wordpress) I don’t care enough to put in the work to recruit other advertising, and I don’t believe it would be enough to pay the bills. My amazon link brings in next to nothing either.
I know someone who writes for International Living, supplemented by other writing jobs through some website. She squeaks by.
Someone else I know on line seems to make her main income by selling others instructions on how to make a living on line.

I would certainly consider working from where you are right now, and if you manage to generate the income you need then make the move.

Thanks, Kris!
That's pretty much what I'm finding is the correct path.

I own 3 online businesses but I bought them already set up and generating money. We build WordPress themes in 2, one has been live since 2008, and in the third business we offer hosting and a shopping cart since 2006.
I am grateful to God for finding those but I had to search quite a bit. Now, my family and I can live nearly anywhere.

Don't fall for the "write a blog and make money" scam, unless you want affiliate marketing, then yes there is money in affiliate blogging but it takes time. Instead, go to Flippa and also to Shopify Exchange to find a business that's already functioning, do your research, and if you like it bid or buy it .

Selling a product or service has more chance of making money.

About apartments in Panama City:
Those who say that apartments only cost 2000-2500 USD in the city are wrong and perhaps have never been there or searched there, unless they're only talking about one expensive sector.

We even heard some in Panama say that!
Why do you keep spreading that misinformation?
Just go to encuentra24 and you'll find furnished apartments for around 800-900 USD! LOTS of them!
Some are houses for 750 USD (I think they were rented though ). If you don't want furnished, they're even cheaper.
Some are nice apartments. Go up to a 1000 and you get very nice ones.

There are for 2000, and for 4000 also, but please do not say that that's the only price range you'll find there.

With that said, I'm not saying Panama City is cheap but it's not as expensive as they make it out to be. HOWEVER, for Latin America, yes, it is expensive and not worth the price.

Did my other posts make it to you? I don't see them in the thread.

They asked what our experience is . I can only share what I know about the Clayton area. I am sure it’s less expensive throughout Panama. Food however is expensive in the grocery stores.  I’ve only been to Colon and PTY city and hope in finding less in puerto armuelles. If not I can’t retire here.
Expats killing the market for those with less money. But much of the expensive high rise buildings are empty.  They don’t sell or rent - so wondering in 3 yrs how it will pan out.  But as you said, compared to the rest of CA it’s expensive.  The nice houses in Clayton run over $500k. Insane

Thanks for sharing your experience. Sorry, my reply wasn't directed at you, it was for the one after you, and of course, the many others online and even in Panama lol.

No problem, just sharing that there are many apartments for less than 1000 USD, inside of Panama City.

No offense -  Oh I am sure there are many, but it has became too expensive for those trying to retire with modest incomes. Today on my FB I had ads for new homes at $789K  being built in puerto armuelles. By the time I get there - I won’t  be able to afford it . Seem the investor bought a huge plat of land by the beach. Sigh
Not all the beach towns should belong to the wealthy , why I left Florida!

If you live in an area like Panama City where you are spoilt for choice then you can bring down your cost of living to some degree.

But the further you move from the bigger city the more expensive this tend to get. You pay more for some basic things because there is transport involved. And in Panama where you have a road system that is not always up to date, that can lead to price hikes.

We live in Bocas del Toro and to some degree, certain things are more expensive here.

Some more information on this: ***

That hasn’t been our experience at all. Most say Panama City is the most expensive and the more rural the area, the cheaper it is especially for housing. You can even find decent housing prices in beach areas, especially away from gringo areas and developments like the one in Puerto. We live in a David for about 1/3 of what it cost us in Florida, not on the beach (which has its drawbacks that aren’t advertised) but on the north edge of town within a few minutes of everything we need for daily living. If we want to go to the beach it’s a reasonable drive to a number of beautiful areas. https://blog.thepanamaadventure.com/201 … mber-2018/

What are the drawbacks ?

you can rent in the country or in small towns very much cheaper ,, la chorrrra is on that has all the amenities of panama city ,, or way in to the country in cerra cama and raise your own fruits and vegetables   walk to the lake and fish ,, eat in local fondas for less than 4 bucks buffett furnished $650 mo  water paid.. you  pay elec and internet typical rentals out there ,,

david in the summer is dry and hot ,, i live here in chorrerra without air ,, yesterday was 102 in panama city and probably as hot in david never got over 89 here is a disadvantage to david ,, is easy to explain just look at google earth and the mountain range dividing the country ,, this time of the year we get winds directly from the north ,, the mountain range is green north of it towards the carribean and brown south of it ,, the wind come off the ocean cool and travel across the hot dry landscape when it reaches david it is hot and dry ,, is even worse in pedasi ,, 17 years her i have experienced it all .. the cerro cama are small town outside chorrerra is cool year round is only 21 miles from the carribean and low hills and a 200 sq mile lake north to the ocean ,, best climate in panama

Thanks. I will explore by internet.

I don't know much about chorrera but isn't it less safe there? Just wondering.
I understand it's cheaper just like the rest of outside of Panama City.

How much is electricity?

like all of panama goes off from time ti time ,, inter nt for 50 bucks tho is super fast and is much cooler than the city and has everything the city has   and is safe for sure ,, i am in a semi gated neighborhood helps i am sure

my elec is less than 70 i have 8 ciling fans never run air as i live on top of a hill cool breezes but i have 3 refers also

Drawbacks if the beach..., depends on where you are but here in Chiriqui there is nothing going on out there and you have to drive to David for pretty much everything. This is mostly according to a friend at La Barqueta = it’s very hot. AC only at night is around $300/month, and they spend the day sweating in bathing suits. The salt air causes a constant maintenance headache, and appliances are destroyed in 1-4 years. It’s lonely since most of the houses are vacation homes used only for a few weeks out of the year. I live in David (yeah I know it’s hot but I like it that way) and the beach is hot even for me.  And for me, a white skinned gringa, I can’t be out in that sun in the daytime.  I’ve heard rumors of bugs and mosquitoes but haven’t seen them myself.

kristc99 wrote:

There is Panama City, and then there is the rest of the country.....
in David -
blog.thepanamaadventure.com/2019/01/02/cost-of-living-report-december-2018/

good point,thx

Yikes, Panama is expensive.
Some people answer they spend x amount per month on food, but everybody has different diets/wants for food.
The girl who gets the $1 coffees was realistic.
Small coffee is $0.50, large $1, starbucks is gonna be US price, but why get Starbucks in a coffee producing nation??
Gallon of Milk $5 (Panama milk is phenomenal, but really $5?)
Rice and Beans $1 or $2.
2 Kilos of Panama Rice $2
2 Donuts $0.70
Bananas/Platanos $0.99/kilo
Pineapple $0.88/kilo
1 Apple $0.60
1 Panameño Beer $0.72
Anything else in the grocery store is basically more expensive than US (go figure with all those merchandise containers coming through).

Psalm 119:54 wrote:

Yikes, Panama is expensive.
Some people answer they spend x amount per month on food, but everybody has different diets/wants for food.
The girl who gets the $1 coffees was realistic.
Small coffee is $0.50, large $1, starbucks is gonna be US price, but why get Starbucks in a coffee producing nation??
Gallon of Milk $5 (Panama milk is phenomenal, but really $5?)
Rice and Beans $1 or $2.
2 Kilos of Panama Rice $2
2 Donuts $0.70
Bananas/Platanos $0.99/kilo
Pineapple $0.88/kilo
1 Apple $0.60
1 Panameño Beer $0.72
Anything else in the grocery store is basically more expensive than US (go figure with all those merchandise containers coming through).

Must be cheaper at a market though, right?
I heard Pineapples and so on are 50 cents or 1$ at the market (full one).

Does Panama charge by the kilo or by the pound at the local supermarkets?
Blessings.

Hey Wolfmanmike.
You seem to be experienced and that is who I prefer to talk with.  I want to travel in the years ahead to Panama and check it out for myself.  My intentions are to find a location where the climate and weather are not hot most of the time.  Near a lake or good sized river.  I want to either buy or remodel what would be a 4-5 room bed n breakfast with a 3 bed private residence.
I wish to make good use of the local agriculture and markets as well as having my own garden and fruit trees if possible.
What can you tell me based upon your experience living in Panama where I should look?
Thank you.
Alan

Probably cheaper at a market, but i don't know any, not too familiar with city.
Supermarkets are a good barometer too as they take into consideration street prices.
The only place cool, or not super hot in Panama is in the mountains, everywhere else about the same and Darien jungle is very hot/humid.
Not much wind flow either in Panama.

We almost never buy produce in supermarkets. You'll do much better with locally grown produce at a street market.
Things are sold by the kilo, but we see both kilos and pounds on price stickers most of the time in the supermarkets.

True. Your in David right? i would think there is very few expats in David.
after some of the nasty looks i got when i walked across David, i could not wait to get outta there.
Maybe you are happy there and have a niche?
As a generalization, Panameños hate Gringos (sorry to say it that way).
Many Panameños have been very good & kind to me and i do love Panameño people, but i have had an overwhelming number of hateful looks.
Maybe because my nation of birth built billions of dollars of bridges across unpassable rivers and an essential highway that stretches across a massive country which is almost soley responsible for their prosperity above the rest of CA?
Or maybe because the US built a canal to give them truckloads of tax money, jobs and prosperity?
Strange to me.
I guess this was about prices in Panama, Panama is another place where rich developers and real estate tycoons build expensive destinations for the wealthy and drive the prices way too high, some of these folks make $2 an hour and are expected to pay $500/month for rent and $5.50 for a gallon of Milk.
Pretty sad:/
I dont know Panama City too well, probably some good markets, but in general Panama is way more expensive than Mexico and Guatemala.

Nasty looks? In David??? We have been here almost 7 years and I have never experienced this, not here, not anywhere in Panama. I’ve ridden my bike all over David and the surrounding towns and talked with lots of people, and everyone has been super nice. They may not think highly of our government but I’ve never ever heard anyone say they hate gringos or had the feeling that they do. I think their main complaint is gringos drive up prices in places they congregate, which is true. But, I have been treated with such kindness and respect, and made to feel like part of the community and part of a number of families. It’s what I love the most about Panama. It surprises me that our experiences could be so drastically different.

That is indeed a totally different experience.. In our 2 weeks there, we only received one bad look from a convenience store African descendant shopkeeper who sells bread en la ciudad. We tried to buy from her but she ignored us, multiple times, and served others and so I told her "fine, you don't want our money", and then she tried to "appease us", Latin American style when they're caught doing something wrong, and I think she tried to raise the price of the bread too after that, I forgot if we bought something from there but afterward we just left as we couldn't feel she was sincere. No idea what happened there but it kind of ruined our impression of some of the locals.
We felt that she could have been racist against us for some reason. I'm Lebanese and my wife is Guatemalan but we're both Canadian too, and we speak fluent Spanish. I forgot what language we were speaking in front of them all but for sure we spoke Spanish to her. Unsure why her behavior was as such but apart from that, everyone else, regardless of skin color, was great to us and we were great to them.

Let me add something relevant to the original subject of this post. I think Panama is too overpriced when it comes to food and rent in some places. Guatemala is much cheaper, but not in everything, and of course that's normal since Guatemala is a vastly poor country with some rich areas here and there (as I tell my wife, "from colonia to colonia living", not my type but that's the Latin American life). Panama has more liberty, is more open, less security as there isn't as much crime, less gates, but the cost of food is abusively high compared to neighboring lands (not CR).

Like i said, many Panameños have been very kind to me, very kind.
It is not fair for me to say anything bad about the people of David, even a man and his family took me into his home to stay the night and cooked a nice meal, etc....but only to say that i recieved alot of nasty, angry looks.
Alot of nasty looks from David to Darien:/
But to be fair, Panameños have been fair and kind to me and i should not judge a people based on the opinions of old dogs.
Some young ones too:/

Abusively high food prices for a place that has access to the entire worlds food supply.

I wonder if the nasty looks are only your perception? Try a smile and “buenos días” and I’ll bet you get a smile and greeting back.

And food prices? Going back to the US is always sticker shock for me. It may not be the cheapest here but it’s cheap enough for us to live a good life.

housing very expensive

Hi Kris,
is it any place in Panama where the weather is spring like, all the time?
Thx,
Florin,AB,CA

Boquete advertises itself as the place of eternal spring. You could probably say that about anywhere in the cooler mountains.

Are there other developed towns like Boquete in Panama?