Relocate · Living in Panama
Panama is small on the map but varied on the ground: a big-city skyline, Pacific beach towns, cool mountain towns and a Caribbean coast. Here is what daily life is like in each, and what to weigh before you choose.
The capital, on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal.
High-rise neighborhoods along the bay, the historic Casco Viejo district, restaurants, shopping and the country’s main airport. Many people live in apartments with building amenities.
West of the city along the coast — for example Coronado and, further west in Coclé province, Buenaventura.
Gated resort communities and quieter beach towns, often with golf, pools and beach clubs. Many residents split time between the coast and the city, a drive of roughly one to two hours depending on the town and traffic.
Highlands such as Boquete in Chiriquí and El Valle de Antón in Coclé.
Cooler air than the coast, green hills, gardens and hiking, and small-town daily life with established international communities.
From the Bocas del Toro islands to the coast around Portobelo.
Island and seaside life, boats as everyday transport in Bocas del Toro, and a slower, more remote pace.
The beaches
Go deeper on the coastal places we know best — what each feels like, who it suits and what you can own there.
Tell us how you want to live and your budget range. A person on our team will reply with areas worth a closer look.
