'Mexico or Panama?' Retirement

Carl & Debbie from Georgia, USA (Contact Member) -

We're looking at Panama or the area around Guadalajara Mexico as a place to retire. Both have benefits & drawbacks so we'd like input from people who've lived in either place for a while.

We've done enough research to get past the glossy vacation adds and gringo priced priced real estate deals and want to know what people really think about living every day in a new place.

Thanks for any insight anyone can offer.

Comment #1 Greg (63.176.159.74) -

I were you I would choose Panama more than Guadalajara Mexico but the your idea of jumping from one place to another is good though its very very tiring. Maybe a weekly moving would be better so could enjoy a place more. I think you need a lot of money in order to that having hard cold cash in dollars might be the best thing to do if you're really up to be the jumping gringo.

Comment #2 Adrian (63.176.159.88) -

I suggest you try Panama because unlike Mexico, Panama is more peaceful and has low incidents of Caucasians being treated badly. Plus the fact that there are so many kidnapping and violent rebel activism incidents reported at Mexico. Thus, Panama is the best choice.

Comment #3 Goonda (63.176.159.43) -

I also recommend the more safer choice, Panama. Though it is unfair to discriminate Mexico, one should also think of himself or his companion's welfare in deciding what plae to spend most of their time with. Mexico is tainted with the image of pointless violence, political killings, unstoppable rebellion, and worst of all their infamous drug industry. I have read better reviews on Panama and will personally recommend it for I have been there many times.

Comment #4 Pantah (201.160.3.196) -

I have lived in both and Mexico is far superior in two areas than Panama. Ease of residency and civility of the people. Panama is experiencing a dramatic increase in crime. Mexico crime is mostly concentrated in the border states and Mexico City.

Unfortunately the press has been sensationalistic about Mexico and the hype about Panama is done by promoters. Kidnappings are exceeded in Phoenix, Az by only one place in Mexico (Juarez). I have experienced NO unfriendliness in Mexico by being a caucasian, althought I don't know about Northern Mex. Wouldn't live there anyway.

Comment #5 cwemoy (63.176.159.250) -

It is good that you have done all the other research and have just left out the bit of relocating. Even without going to the details, Panama would be what I would recommend because it seems to have a more serene and peaceful environment.

If talk of Caucasians being treated badly is true, then it is better to avoid the location. You would not want to make a good living anywhere but still suffer indecent treatment.

Comment #6 Rana (173.78.123.21) - 01/23/10 17:50

"Panama v. Mexico"

I am an attorney in Florida with many clients who came from Mexico or who's parents did. Even they don't like going there because it is so UNSAFE! One (of Mexican ancestry) is afraid to speak because of her "American" accented Spanish. Her husband, a Mexico born American labor contractor who regularly hires Mexicans to work in the fields, was kidnapped while working in Mexico. Others who go back to visit relatives will only drive an old, beatup vehicle there because anything nice gets car jacked, and they ARE MEXICAN! I have been to Panama twice and Costa Rica three times, and personally hope to retire to Panama in five or six years. Unless you are well off and don't like to change, expect to make some adjustments, but if you accept Panama and its people on their terms, you will find it to be a beautiful place filled with (mostly) warm, friendly people. Just use common sense and don't anything that you wouldn't do in a big city here.

Comment #7 Fred Williams from Las Vegas, Nevada (Contact Member) - 02/05/10 20:14

"Yucatan Mexico -vs- Panama's Pacific beach areas"

How is living in the Pacific coastal area of Panama compare with Mexico's Yucatan peninsula? We have a timeshare in Playa del Carmen which is 40 miles south of Cancun. We have been going there for 15 years and have never felt unsafe and the Mayan population is so friendly.

We are three years away from retirement and still considering Playa del Carmen -vs- areas like Coronado, Panama. We want to be close to the ocean. Panama's pensionado program is appealing. We are curious about the cost of living in the Yucatan peninsula -vs- Panama?

Comment #8 Daniel (71.180.96.13) - 02/05/10 21:39

"Retired"

You want an "expert" opinion???

I lived all over Mexico while working for a large American Corporation for 10 years.

I also just moved from Panama back to Florida after living there for over 1 year.

My recommendation is "stay in the USA"!

Mexico would be my 2nd choice, Panama being my 3rd choice!

PANAMA is NOT CHEAP as some people report, especially the retirees with limited/fixed incomes.

NOTHING is cheap about PANAMA. I paid $300, 000.00 for a new high rise condo in Panama City that would have cost $200, 000 in MIAMI!

The traffic and the way Panamanians drive is totally reckless......I've been hit by vehicles/motorcycles several times, mostly while stoped....they usually just drive away after they damage your vehicle.

And a note about PANAMA being "cheap"............

1. Rental apartments are higher than MIAMI

2 Purchase prices are higher than MIAMI (and MIAMI still has some of the highest real estate prices in North America!)

3. Gasoline cost about $1.00/gal more than the USA

4. Insurance cost twice what I was paying in MIAMI

5. Cars cost 30% to 50% more than in the USA

6. Restaurants are a little cheaper, but food quality does not compare, even in the BEST restaurants in PANAMA

7. Roads are absolutely terrible, not maintained, at all.

8. The Pacific beaches are not as nice as the USA.

9. The Caribbean side is very nice water as expected, but no cities, just very poor people and very small villages.

The Panamanian people are very friendly, they like Americans but it is dangerous. As somebody previously stated "promoters" and real estate people are "pumping" Panama's image.

CRIME is not usually reported, if it is, it's not put out to the public.

DO NOT count on the police for any assistance! 90% of the police are either on foot (as traffic signals) and the remaining 10% ride small scooters.

An attorney must be hired for ANY legal document or transaction.

It took 2 months to open a personal checking account trying to satisfy their "due-diligence" at the bank, even though I tried to give them a $100, 000.00 (US) check just to open the account and clear the check....they didn't want it.

And the bottom line???????

My partner was murdered in Panama City 2 months ago in our new high-rise!

Security? SURE, cameras and security guards, but the guards were no help, just as the camera was no help, people coming and going all day long!

Then there's the police...........The Police Investigator could not get to the apartment for 2 days because she could not locate a police car to get her to the crime scene.

"Oh, he's biased" you're saying..........what I've said about PANAMA is true, so true that we had already decided to move BACK to Florida, unfortunately, we waited too long!

And what do the Police say when I call them to ask about the investigation..."oh, we don't discuss investigations!"

So I made a crime report to the FBI in Miami because they do have agents in Panama.......

when I call them they can't even find the report................

Good Luck if you decide to move to Panama..............

but I'm warning all of you, PANAMA IS NOT SAFE.....and I'm basing that fact from living in Panama and seeing what goes on in that country.

Personally, I will NEVER live anyplace other than the USA, SHEIK OBAMA, or not!

E-Mail:         

Name:            (required)

Title:           (required)

Message (do not enter emails or links or urls in the message!):