Expat Communities in Panama: Which are the best?

Apart from the numerous landscapes and beaches scattered all around, there are also excellent locations for expat communities in Panama, as many expats from around the world live here. These expat communities offer various lifestyle options to suit the growing needs of retirees who have decided to take the leap and move to Panama.

Expats have some great choices in Panama, depending on the lifestyle and weather they are looking for. From big city life to small town life to beach life, you can find an expat community that will suit your needs.

Over the last 20 years, Panama expat communities have popped up all over the country. Panama has become the most popular country to retire in because of its ease of gaining permanent residency, geographical location, and climate.

Listed below, in no particular order, are some of the Expat communities in Panama.

Bocas del Toro

Located on the Caribbean side of Panama, Bocas del Toro is home to six islands, popularly known as tourist sites. Bocas del Toro is a lively town famous for parties and bubbling social life. It has hostels and restaurants scattered all around.

One unique feature of Bocas del Toro is the transport system, mainly by skateboards or bicycles. Some of the other side attractions that make Bocas del Toro a haven for expats come in the form of volunteer opportunities, live music venues to relax, availability of tours, dive and Spanish lessons, and fitness classes.

The cost of living is relatively low, accommodation is affordable, and the people are very accommodating. If you are the lively type who loves adventures, then Bocas del Toro is the best place to be. This town attracts the younger expat crowd from all over the world.

You can read more about retiring in Bocas del Toro here.

Panama City

Most people who move to Panama City see it as a place of job opportunities, and the truth is not far from that. Panama City is an expat community great for kids and parents who want to live in a bustling city. Many areas like those pictured here are very walkable, have many shops, restaurants, and a fun place to live.

Also, many retirees like city life and may come from the big cities of North America or Europe and want to continue the fine dining, theater, and everything else city life has given them. They are looking for a more affordable option to city life, and several areas in Panama City’s heart can offer this.

The city is filled with many high rises and beautiful views, which makes it irresistible. It is usually an excellent choice for people on a larger budget. Although the prices are similar to those in larger US cities, there is a greater chance of having more value for your money. You can still rent a lovely 2-bedroom apartment in a high-rise for under $1000 a month. There are areas like El Cangrejo, which is very popular with expats, and its vibrant nightlife, hip bars, laid-back brewpubs, and busy casinos, many clustered around Via Argentina.

This is an up-and-coming expat community. Small-town rural living with a population of 2,500, near the beach, and very affordable. You are surrounded by green pastures, cattle grazing, and tuna fishermen bringing in their daily catch.

Pedasí is in the driest area of Panama, with an average rainfall of 59 inches annually. The ocean breezes can keep the temperatures comfortable. More about Pedasí here. As an expat community, it is very small, with about 200 expats living there. However, this is also the main reason these expats have moved here: they seek a quiet, safe, and peaceful place to live. It is quite far from Panama City life, but in one hour in the car, you can be in Chitre and all the amenities you need.

Read more about Pedasí here.

After speaking with many retirees, we have come to find out that many expats prefer living near the beach due to the warm nature of the climate in Panama. Coronado is one of the Panama expat communities located around a beach. It is one of the most developed city beach communities, and it became a choice destination for retirees after development began 30 years ago.

Coronado is a relatively small community with a mix of locals and expats. It is just a one-hour drive from Panama City. Coronado is a destination for expats who want to have the hot weather and enjoy the fantastic view of the Pacific Ocean. The city has many supermarkets, gas stations, banks, beauty salons, shopping malls, and health care facilities. Here is a complete blog post about Coronado.

Unlike Coronado, Boquete has a comfortable cooler climate because of its 4,000 ft elevation. With daytime highs around 26°C (80°F) and evening lows at 15°C (60°F), these temperatures are probably the main reason this expat community in Panama has grown to what it is today. Boquete has a population in the area of about 25,000, with about 20% of that made up of expats.

It is one of the most developed highlands areas you can find in Panama. For over 20 years, Boquete has been a prevalent Panama expat community. If you are looking for a large expat community with expat events going on all the time, you will always find something to do in Boquete.

Unlike some other areas of Panama, learning to communicate in Spanish is not highly compulsory as several thousand English-speaking expats are in town. The cost of living is generally lower than most US cities. Boquete is one of the most known and largest expat communities, and you can learn more about it here.

Beyond these, Panama boasts numerous other expat-friendly destinations, making it a prime choice for retirees and expatriates seeking adventure, affordability, and diverse experiences. Exploring these communities allows individuals to discover the perfect place to call home in Panama, aligning with their unique budget, lifestyle, and dreams.

When you book a Retire in Panama Tour, we take you for seven days to each of the places listed here and more so you can find the best expat community in Panama that matches your budget, lifestyle, and dreams.

It’s more than a tour… it’s an experience.