An IMGlobalWealth.com News Report
For the second year running, Panama has topped InterNations’ Expat Insider survey, with 94% of respondents there reporting that they have a good life abroad. The survey canvassed 10,085 expatriates across 46 destinations and assessed them across five domains: working abroad, personal finance, quality of life, expat essentials and ease of settling in.
“Nearly 97% of expats say they feel safe IN PANAMA, compared with 81% globally”
Panama’s victory is emphatic. In no subindex does it rank below third place, and it comes first in the “Working Abroad” category for non-retired expats. On the “Ease of Settling In” front, Panama ranks second globally: 82% of its expats say they are satisfied with their social life, 75% find it easy to make local friends, and 88% judge locals to be friendly to foreigners.
Quality of life in Panama has improved sharply; it now ranks third (from 16th the previous year), boosted by strong scores for leisure options, environment, safety, and public transport. Nearly 97% of expats say they feel safe there, compared with 81% globally. Nevertheless, certain weaknesses remain: the affordability of healthcare and adequacy of infrastructure score relatively poorly.
Cost remains a decisive factor. According to Global Citizen Solutions, a single person living in rural areas or smaller towns can live comfortably for US $800–1,500 per month. At the same time, a more urban lifestyle in Panama City may require up to US $2,500 (excluding import-heavy goods). The same source claims the cost of living in Panama is about 36.3 % lower than in the United States. Other estimates are slightly more conservative: Expat Money suggests a baseline of around US$814 (excluding rent), rising to between US$1,750 and US$2,000 with rent in central districts. International Living’s figures for Panama City show furnished one-bedroom apartments in upscale areas renting for US $900–1,500, while in more modest settings prices can fall to US $800.
Still, the appeal of Panama is clear. A dollarised economy, favourable tax treatment of foreign-source income, modern air connectivity and relatively simple visa frameworks (such as the “Pensionado” and remote-worker schemes) make it particularly attractive to retirees and digital nomads alike. Yet the very attributes that send it to the summit also invite scrutiny: site-specific costs (infrastructure, imported goods, healthcare) and disparities between rural and urban living may temper the dream for many.
Ultimately, Panama’s top ranking is no fluke. It strikes a rare balance between warmth, convenience and value — but for expats, the devil remains in the details.
