United States vs Panama
Single · Comfortable · $3,000/mo
Panama is approximately 50% less expensive than United States based on cost of living including rent. This makes Panama a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Panama has a FIRE Score of 58/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The country's safety index is 57.6, suggesting moderate safety levels.
Recommended profile: Panama is best suited for digital nomads who prioritize experience over savings.
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Best in rowWashington, D.C.
United States
Panama City
Panama
Country-level averages. N/A or Not enough data means no figure is published for that country. * Women's inclusion scores are unverified.
About these countries
About Panama
Retirees on fixed income win here: the Pensionado visa needs just $1,000/mo, far below the $4,000 digital nomad threshold, and territorial taxation means foreign pensions stay untouched. Pair that with an 8/10 ease-of-access score and a large expat community, and low-effort residency is the real draw, not bargain living, since rent and costs sit mid-range. Skip Panama if you need top-tier safety or fluent English outside expat pockets.
Panama costs roughly 50% less than United States, though United States has significantly faster internet infrastructure, making it one of the more financially compelling destinations for United States expats. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Panama is approximately 50% less expensive than United States based on cost of living including rent. This makes Panama a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Panama has a FIRE Score of 58/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The country's safety index is 57.6, suggesting moderate safety levels.
Recommended profile: Panama is best suited for digital nomads who prioritize experience over savings.
United States
Washington, D.C.
About United States
Best for families seeking high English proficiency and excellent air travel access, with no retiree or digital nomad visa available. Internet speed of 390.28 Mbps and a large expat community support remote work, but the cost of living index is 100 (global baseline). Key trade-off: no retirement or digital nomad visa, and a complex pathway to residency or citizenship limits long-term stays.
$155/mo
Not sure which United States visa you qualify for?
Answer 11 questions and get a personalized match in under 2 minutes.
Living Costs (excl. rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness Scores
About Panama
Retirees on fixed income win here: the Pensionado visa needs just $1,000/mo, far below the $4,000 digital nomad threshold, and territorial taxation means foreign pensions stay untouched. Pair that with an 8/10 ease-of-access score and a large expat community, and low-effort residency is the real draw, not bargain living, since rent and costs sit mid-range. Skip Panama if you need top-tier safety or fluent English outside expat pockets.
$1,196/mo
Not sure which Panama visa you qualify for?
Answer 11 questions and get a personalized match in under 2 minutes.
Living Costs (excl. rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness Scores
Battle of Lifestyles
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| Metric | United States | Panama |
|---|---|---|
| Travel Advisory | N/A | Level 2: Increased Caution |
| Quality of Life Index | 184.7 +65.6 | 119.1 |
| Healthcare Index | 66.9 +5.1 | 61.8 |
| Safety Index | 50.8 | 57.6 +6.8 |
| Cost of Living Index | 69.7 | 46.5 +23.2 |
| Living Costs (Single, excl. rent) | $1,176 | $781.4 +394.6 |
| Living Costs (Family, excl. rent) | $4,239 | $2,854.6 +1,384.4 |
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $1,668.61 | $1,023 +645.61 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $1,355.41 | $795.57 +559.84 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $2,688.4 | $1,863 +825.4 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $2,228.12 | $1,396.92 +831.2 |
| Avg Internet Speed | 314.35 Mbps +81.2 | 233.11 Mbps |
Rights & Inclusion
Published indices. Legal protection and public attitudes are kept separate, and neither is folded into a single score.
Same-sex relations
Not criminalized
United States
Same-sex relations
Not criminalized
Panama
LGBTQ+ legal protection score
Attitudes
Scores run from 0 to 100. Women's inclusion scores come from the Georgetown WPS Index and are currently unverified. Sources: Equaldex, ILGA-Europe Rainbow Map, Spartacus Gay Travel Index and Georgetown's Women, Peace and Security Index. See the full inclusion ranking.
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Income thresholds, fees, processing time and residency paths for United States and Panama, side by side.
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