Where to Find the Best Rentals in Panama
Last Updated on September 6, 2026 by Retire in Panama
So, you have decided to move to Panama, and everything is in motion. Do you try to secure a rental before you get here? Or do you come and stay in Airbnb or a hotel for a few weeks as you look for a rental? Two very good questions and it totally depends on your situation.
Depending on the area you decided to move to, rental availability changes; in the larger communities, like Panama City, the Coronado area, and Boquete, you could easily come here, stay in a 3-week Airbnb, and find something ready to move into. About 90% of rentals in Panama come fully furnished, many with pots and pans, bedding, and even towels; all you bring is your toothbrush and clothes. In the more remote areas, like El Valle de Anton, Pedasí, Las Lajas, there is lesser availability, so you will have to do more searching.
If you plan to bring all your furniture and appliances, you may want to consider that. If you cannot do without it, maybe find storage back in your home country for six months, come here and rent for a while and look for that perfect place to rent or buy. As I mentioned, most houses for rent are already furnished, and the ones that are not may not fit your furniture, especially your appliances. If you have a big 6-burner stove and a 4-foot double-wide fridge, finding a home in Panama that fits those appliances may be difficult.
So, for those of you who have decided to sell everything or store your things for a while, you are ready to start your search. If you are insistent on bringing a container of stuff, then you need to get online and start looking at unfurnished places that will fit everything that you are bringing, and you will really need a rental agent that can help you get what you need.
If you come on one of our Retire in Panama Tours, you will already have contacts for people who deal specifically with rentals in the area you are looking for, and rental agents are great, as they do not take a commission from you; the owner pays it. And you can be sure that the ones that we recommend to you, and good and honest people, will really help you.
If you are not working with an agent, online rental sites are the best place to start. Be very, very, very careful renting a place online and sending a deposit to someone you don’t know. This can be very dangerous, and you could end up with a place that is not like the pictures or just end up without a place and lose your deposit. If you know no one in Panama, talk to Oscar and I to see if we can help you.
Also, look for Facebook groups in the area you are renting like
In tourists area, like the beaches and mountain towns, December – April is the high season, and rentals are harder to find.
Even before you begin your search, join some discussion forums in the area that you are considering, like:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/expatsinboquete
These are related to the Boquete Area. Do some searches to find other forums in the area that you have decided to move to. Become a member, as you will be asking some questions.
Here is a group for the Coronado area,
https://www.facebook.com/groups/337184013105953/
And the Panama City Group
Some things to consider when renting a property in Panama. There are basically two types of housing, Panamanian style and North American style. Consider these questions:
Hot Water: Hot water in Panama is typically delivered by instant water heaters hanging on the side of your house and often is not plumed to every location in the house. In lower-end Panamanian houses, it is typical not to have hot water, only an electric shower heard for warm showers. These are nicknamed “suicide showers”. They actually are not that bad, I had one in the first house I rented, and I was fine with it. They provide a consistent semi-hot shower for as long as you want.
The instant hot water tank in basic Panama houses may only service your kitchen sink and shower. In North American-style homes, you should have hot water in all areas, but if this is a stickler for you, make sure you check. I have hot water in my kitchen and shower in my house, but no hot water in bathroom vanities or laundry.
Water Outages: this is where the forums come in. If you find a house in a specific neighborhood, check the water reliability in the forums, asking if there are frequent water outages there. This can be a problem, and many rentals will have water backup tanks; if you see this in your listing, you are covered.
Power Outages: Some areas of Panama still have old electrical grids and can experience frequent power outages. All of Panama will have more power outages than in North America, but that is just the way it is in Latin America.
Fast Internet. This is important to many, as maybe you work online or you will get your English TV through streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime. For fast internet, you need to check to see if the location you are looking for is serviced by Tigo, Mas Movil or Telca, the companies in Panama that offers up to 1000 meg internet speeds in most of the country. If you are in a remote area where fiber is not available, you can use StarLink.
Finding your new home can be daunting, so try not to get too stressed out about it. If you do not have someone on the ground in Panama that can help, like a friend, or repeatable agent, I highly recommend that you come here for a few weeks, stay in an Airbnb, and search for the home you want. You will have way better luck seeing the place and meeting the owner to ensure it is the right place for you. I cannot recommend finding a rental on Craiglist and sending a stranger your deposit. If you have no one here to help you, go to our Rentals Page and send us a message to see if we can help you.
