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Talk for and about Expats. Living in this Panama? Let others know about it. Want to live here? Ask questions!
Expat, Panama

susan (203.94.87.173) -

could I live very comfortably in panama, not in the city, on $1000 a month inc. rent. plus car prices a modest 4 door.

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Comment #1 retireinchiriqui (201.226.26.78) -

Yes, you could depending on the location you want. In Panama City it will be tough. In Boquete it will also be tough. Volcan, it could happen. David, it could happen. Bocas Del Toro, you may be able to pull it off. Puerto Armuelles, no problem at all.

RICSA

retireinchiriqui.com

Comment #2 DS (84.172.134.159) -

I know a couple retiring to Panama probably their land is near Panama City. She is from Panama and he is from USA. I donät know if I will qualify for the discounts that pensioners moving to Panama can get, but I like the tax discount. I would have to live on about $1000 also per month or less to save. I guess I would have to live in a smaller city like Chiriqui said---Volvan, David, Boca del Toro, Puerto Amuelles...

I guess it will take a while to learn about apartments, houses, banking, and stuff. I have to compare with Asia as I have been there to Thailand and other places. I havenät been to Panama yet. I guess the tourist areas in all cities charge more for everything though.

Comment #3 don (12.160.149.10) -

GO TO "americans in panama.com" and sign up It is a discussion group of expats ....you can comfortably live on 1,000 per mo....don

Comment #4 Greg Sun (201.218.72.74) -

It depends on how many people are going to be living with a $1000 income if it's one person alone you should be able to live quite comfortably except for maybe san blas and bocas as prices there have gone up quite a bit

Greg

Comment #5 Old Pana in Okie Land from Tulsa,Ok. -

Agree, Got friends living in David for 800 a month (lower middle class) and single. Want a middle class living count on shelling 1000 plus in David. 1500 and you on easy street. Good luck.

PS: Chiriqui a better and most stable place than Thailand. Trust me on this one.

Better people too.

And Don is correct. Visit Gringos in David and Americans in Panama. Folks are a pleasure to chat with, and extreamly helpfull.

Give it a try.

Comment #6 Baroness1440 (64.59.144.87) -

My husband and I are exploring living part time in Panama. We have an 8 year old son who would do correspondence school while we are there. What would life be like on $3000+ per month? Thanks.

Comment #7 rowena105 from Hogstown, The Universe -

Wow you mean you can actually live in Panama for $800 a month? That would cover everything including a car and living expenses such as gas and food and entertainment? Or does that just cover accommodations?

Even if it is only accommodations that's fantastic.

Is it very difficult to actually move there and have your pensions sent to you there?

Comment #8 Jules from Vegas, baby -

That's amazing that you could live there comfortably for just $800 a month. I think it would be ideal to retire there, but I've got quite a few years before I can even think of retiring!

Comment #9 Karen from Texas -

I've been reading about a lot of people moving to Panama to retire. Is it that much cheaper than living here in the States? If you're living on only $800 a month, what exactly are you doing without?

Comment #10 carr from Veracruz Mexico -

Interesting that I found this page doing a web search. I tried a couple of the links other posters have provided here and was unable to find the forums so I joined and here I am.

As my profile states Im 56, semi retired and living in Veracruz Mexico (since 2002). Veracruz now is a lot like Miami or LA. The charm I found here when I moved here has gone.

I am planning a highway trip through Central America in the next 2 weeks to a month. I have ordered the guidebooks Lonely Planet and RoughGuide for Central America and hopefully will have them in a week.

WHat Im looking for is a place where I can live within walking distance of the beach without a crush of tourists (here is horrible on weekends) and without paying tourist prices for everything. Hopefully a place with a few waves to surf.

Being experienced with travel and life in Mexico, Im approaching the trip to Central America carefully since its unknown territory. Additionally I have a world of questions about whats allowed and whats not in Panama. Without clogging this place up with a lot of needless questions Im going to wait for the guides and after that post with questions about the trip and life there in Panama.

Thanks to all for the forum.

Regards

Carr in Veracruz Mx.

Comment #11 Sharron Volkman (67.142.130.15) - Sun Jun 15 23:18:46 2008

I live in Roatan Honduras right now - I have about 900 in income - I can work here but most jobs are Island wages and 6 days a week. I am 63 and would prefer to work only a few days. My accomodations are simple a furnished place but no car and hot water is only in shower which is good for here.

I was wondering if there was any place in Panama i could live on my Social Security and be any where close to water. I am on the beach here but then the Island is pretty small and anywhere is "pretty close to the beach".

Also do I need Spanish, I am working at it but progress is slow.

I love the simple life here but communication with home is often a problem.

Comment #12 Mary Strociek from Las Margaritas, Panama - Mon Jun 23 10:24:10 2008

Hi!

We live in Panama on $1400/month (Matt's social security). We live very comfortable, but we own our home and cars. We live about 1-1/2 hours from PC.

Our utilities (elec, gas for house, DirecTV, internet, water, cell phone) run us about $300/month. Car insurance is $175/year. House insurance is about $100+/year. Other expenses include gas for car ($100/month per vehicle), medicines for Matt ($200/month). I go into PC 1 per month to do major grocery shopping at PriceMart, MegaDepot, RebaSmith, etc.

We don't travel back to the states or anywhere else for that matter.

We have found paradise and don't want to leave!!

Matt and Mary

whypanama com

Comment #13 Fatima (190.140.31.19) - Mon Jun 23 22:18:11 2008

Well i agree and disagree with some of the things here, specially when it comes to having a calm life here in panama, maybe its not as safe as they say the u.s is, but at least we dont have child alerts of missing people everyday .. so its safe for your kids...

i had a bad experince..recently with a couple that was comming to relocate to panama, first they said they needed someone to help them with everything cause they didnt speak spanish, so i offer myself for that, i waited for them at the airport took em back to the hotel .. and we decide meeting the next day, the guy called me next day at 12 pretending me to be there at 12:01 , pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeee i mean panama traffic is horrible when i got there he said that he rathers having a person that could be on time.. hellooooooooo i mean at least i got there... anyhow.. the relation ended there coz... coz they decided they didnt want my help anymore, but what is the point here? is that at first when they got to the airport they supposed to have a car booked already ..when they arrived the people from avis said they didnt have a car, then he had an appointment with a lawyer the next morning and the lawyer never answered his phone calls..and yes then i was late.. (but at least i was there) , i mean this are some of the things people should know when comming to panama.., here things are never on time.., if you want someone to show up on time you better call that person early.. at least an hour early ... so she or he can make it ...

but besides that ....and im not saying everyone but most people here are friendly..., in my case.. i lost 2 weeks of my time..looking for schools, and apartments and inssurances, and other things for this people..and then they just kicked my butt.. that way.. thats probably what it takes to be friendly and try to help people... from other countries trying to relocate in mine...

xoxoxox

blessings for all here

Comment #14 Jack Bauer from CR ,at the moment - Mon Sep 1 01:50:34 2008

German family is moving to Panama mid-september , my 11 year old daughter needs a second. school( 5 th grade ). We all need a house or a flat ( 2 bedrooms min .)nearby this school ( or working bus delivery system ).We would like to spend not more than 700 US for the rentalcosts . The question is : where to go ? We come with our in CR registered car & our household ( not too much .. ) is that a problem ?? (border , taxes ...??)Any help welcome.thank´s .Jack & Ray (my wife )& Mira (my princess )

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