🇵🇦 Mexico & Central America
Panama City, Panama
Mexico & Central America ✓ Live Numbeo data See Panama country profile →
USD-based economy (no FX risk); high electric bills in tropical heat
Climate
Rainfall, humidity, and the best months to visit: see the full Panama City climate profile →
Internet speeds
Measured medians from 51,454 real speedtests within 10 km of the city center (Q1 2026) — not advertised ISP numbers.
| Download | Upload | Latency | Tests | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed broadband | 288 Mbps | 64.8 Mbps | 10 ms | 46,824 |
| Mobile | 34.8 Mbps | 24.9 Mbps | 24 ms | 4,630 |
Speedtest® by Ookla Global Fixed and Mobile Network Performance Maps, © Ookla. Accessed 2026-07-18. Your building's wiring and ISP plan matter more than the city median. Compare all cities in the Internet Speed Explorer →
Cost of living breakdown
USD converted from local prices at baseline rates (1 USD = 1 USD, 2026-06-16). Use the Cost of Living Explorer for live exchange rates.
| 💰 Monthly budgets | USD |
|---|---|
| Individual (excl. rent) | $844 |
| Individual all-in (excl. rent + 1BR center) | $2,114 |
| Family of 4 (excl. rent) | $3,073 |
| Average net salary (after tax) | $969 |
| 🏢 Rent & property | USD |
|---|---|
| 1BR city center | $1,270 |
| 1BR outside center | $913 |
| 3BR city center | $2,145 |
| 3BR outside center | $1,432 |
| Buy price / sqft — center | $291 |
| Buy price / sqft — outside | $161 |
| 🍽️ Food & dining | USD |
|---|---|
| Cheap meal (1 person) | $10.00 |
| Mid-range dinner (2 people) | $50.00 |
| Fast food combo | $8.00 |
| Beef (per lb) | $4.76 |
| Taxi (per mile) | $2.91 |
| ⚡ Utilities & lifestyle | USD |
|---|---|
| Basic utilities / mo | $131 |
| Phone plan / mo | $30 |
| Internet / mo | $47 |
| Gym membership / mo | $44 |
| Cinema ticket | $8.00 |
| Preschool / mo | $500 |
| International school / yr | $10,820 |
| New car (Corolla equiv.) | $21,262 |
Visa, taxes & legal in Panama
Country-level research that applies to living in Panama City — each row links to the full comparison dashboard.
| Tourist entry (US passport) | 90-180 days visa-free (nationality-dependent) |
| Digital nomad visa | Short-Stay Remote Worker Visa — income requirement $3,000/mo ($36k/yr) — compare all countries → |
| Path to permanent residency | Yes via residency routes (not the remote-worker visa) |
| Tax if you become resident | Territorial ⭐ system · top rate 25% top (local only) — tax breakdown → |
| Family-law exposure (payer) | Obligation 5/10 · cross-border collection 4/10 — legal detail → |
Everything about the country in one place: Panama profile for American nomads →
Location
Compare with nearby cities
Data last updated · Source: Numbeo