There is a strong stereotype about life abroad especially about Panama that life can be extremely cheap here and one can live like a king here with a budget as low as $1000. We would like to unveil some secrets and ideas about living in Panama.
- Your budget highly depends on the style of life that you are used to, i.e. your habits. Expectations that after moving to tropical county and keeping the same style of life and habits will be cheap is untrue. Most of things which are regular in Europe and U.S. cost more here, whether with “local” habits life can be a lot cheaper.
- Maids. Home help is comparatively cheap in Panama than in most of countries. Full time maid with cooking and shopping can be between $400-500 monthly here.
- Fresh vegetables, fruits and local products. You may avoid buying canned food and exported products in Panama, because it costs much more in Panama than local products.
- Insurance programs. There are different opinions on the cost of medical services in Panama, but there is definitely a solution for everyone, and the costs of insurance may be as low as $50-100 per month to several hundreds. Coverage may include complex surgeries, hospitalizations, etc. There are number of facilities in Panama that offer high standard services which are similar to those in the U.S. or Europe.
- Clothes. Another item of expends that can be really cheap in Panama. The truth is that during the entire year you would not need even pullover, unless you are traveling to mountain area of Chiriqui or Altos de Maria.
So whether it is cheap to live in Panama or not, it is upon the decision of each person. Each has to decide which habits to abandon or obtain new ones, which clothes to wear, what food to eat and where to live.
