How is living in Panama for a somewhat retired American citizen?

Question

My Mother is retired from the U.S. Air Force, now an ordained minister, and considering relocating to Panama (country, not the city in Florida state). What are the overall conditions and experience like there?

Answer 1

There is great and there is bad just like anywhere in the world.

If you think your mom will be ok in the outsides of Miami, then your mom will love Panama' .

Panama has the city, the Beach life-Pacific or Caribean, the mountain life (+/- 65 degrees all year)and the valley life.

There is technology, top rated hospitals (John hopkins hospital - http://www.hospitalpuntapacifica.com/), and many more things to offer.

There are more information in this web site

http://www.paradisebytheseas.com

Answer 2

This place is great. The people treat you very well and it is very very cheap. I have lived in Costa Rica for about a year and a half doing massage therapy and helping tourist get around. I even helped someone by a house.

The over all conditions seem to be very good but I have only been here about 2 weeks and have spent that time recouperating from some bad water I drank while in Costa Rica. I speak fairly good spanish but it is really not necessary for your mom to know since many here speak english.I have to go now but feel free to write back If you have some more questions.

Answer 3

IT IS GREAT but don't take my word.  Watch this ABC news piece on retirement in Panama.  Good Luck.

Answer 4

Hey there. I´m actually in Panama right now. I´ve been here for little over a month. I´m in Colón though, and I doubt that your mother, as an American Retiree, will move there. But I can say somethings about Panama that I´m pretty sure are true throughout the country.

Good Points

--Weather is fairly nice.

--Cheap (at least for the average American) and if your mother is retired, she´ll get an additional 50 percent off pretty much everything.

--Offers most luxeries that you get in America. Things such as fast internet access and like.

--Is there a chance she´s planning on retiring in Panama City? If so, it´s a blast. There are so many things to do and see and the Caribbean coast is just an hour and half away. They also have one of the biggest malls I´ve ever seen there. And... you can dine in style for as little as seven dollars.

--She´ll have lots of company. Plenty of retirees here.

--The forrests are beautiful and there are some exotic animals such as monkeys and parrots.

Bad points

--Dirty. Filthy. Panama City´s better than Colón but it´s a pretty dirty country all the way around.

--Unless she moves to the mountains, it´s going to be hot and humid. Although I don´t think it´s too bad.

--The roads are a little crazy and the bus drivers are crazier. (Make sure to warn her to watch out for them).

--There are dogs wandering hte streets everywhere. And they´re filthy and desease (sp?) ridden. A lot of them are bald and their skin is scabbed over. Not a pretty sight. Plus, they drop dead all the time, so there are dead dogs everywhere. But this might not be true where she moves to.

--There´s a lot of pickpocketing and crime in the cities.

Anywho, there´s a lot more I´d like to tell you, but I think those are the things most of interest. If you have any other questions, feel free to email me.

Answer 5

Here is a friendly piece of advice in which most of the people forgot to mention to you.

Right now, the interest rates are 5.75% in some local banks but then do not forgetthat the majority of them will offer you between 4 to 4.50% as you interest rate.

The people are friendly. Most of the people are bilingual : who speak English and Spanish perfectly.

The cost of a taxi from the airport of Panama City, Panama  to any residence will cost you about $ 27.40 if you take the taxis from the airport.  If you call for a taxi, from a pay phoone, it will cost you $15.00  approximately.

I hope my advice was useful.

Answer 6

Wonderful.You will not regret relocating there.You will be happy to know that the cost of living is a fraction of what it is here in the USA.

Answer 7

wonderful

Answer 8

Hey there. My friends who come to my travel agency always buy tickets to go to Panama and the foolowing is what they told me.

The good side side:

Weather is fairly nice. It is approximately 75 degrees every single day with the highest of being 85 degrees.



Going to the supermarket: the cost of the spermarket will vary from supermarket to supermarket but keep one thing in mind that the prices are much cheaper in Panama than in the United States.

Going to a pharmacy: the average pharmacy, whether or not it is Super Farma or the pharmacy that is in the supermakets like: El Rey, Super 99 or even Riba - Smith will povide you a discount that is between 15% to 17% off.

Dining out: Whether or not to dine out at any restaurant you are bound to save 25% per person and if you are in a budget those savings truely does help out a lot.

Using a taxi: The cheapest way of hoping around town is by using a taxi in which it costs $ 1.00 for you and 25 cents for every passanger there of. Meaning if you take a take a taxi, from the street just the two of you, it will cost you $1.25 but if you call for a taxi to come to pick you up then you have to pay an additional 40 cents.  Sundays, national holidays and pick ups after 10p.m. willl cost you an additional 15 cents.

Using the internet - There are plenty of internet cafes in Panama that cost about $ 1.00 an hour

Staying at a hotel: most hotels provide discounts for retirees

that were in the military.

Banking in Panama is simple and quick. All she needs is are two people who do know her as references and she could transfer the money to her account  bank to bank.  Please watch out if the amount that she is going to bring to panama is greater than 10,000 because if so, she will have to declare it at the customs.

if you need any additional help, please do not hesitate to contact me via email where I can answer all of your questions honestly.

Answer 9

Panama is pretty good for American retired,most of people i have seen here in panama have been Americans who are looking for a good place for living, Panama is cheaper than US, the cost of a house can be between 25,000 to 1.5 millon but it depends of the budget what you have and your tastes, Panama is becoming one of the most important place in invesment.and the Real-estate investment is increasing every year so you can find whatever you are looking for in housing,well about the condition, if you are refering the condition like an Inmigrant you can check this page:

http://www.migracion.gob.pa/