As a Panamanian whos grow up in Panama, and now liing in Colombia, I can say all of these are true! Panama is indeed, more modern, better quality of life, more expensive, hella westernized and HOT AF in 90% of the country. There are certain loopholes around the high cost of living, such as taking public transport which is $0.35-0.75 for buses and metro (subway), going to local supermarkets that are not Riba smith lol (its like trader joes or whole foods, pricey and posh), and buying clothes and electronics! Property though, VERY expensive. Panama also has the highest min wage in latin america (its low compared to the US tho, around 600$ a month). And yes people are friendly but less extroverted than Colombians. Colombia on the other hand, is less developed but VALUES and thrives on tourism, VERY low cost of living (mostly from the moneda or exchange), has way more cultural and land/bio diversity, isnt as safe but thats just in very populated areas, has a better and more template climate (not as HOT and humid as Panama), and finally the people are caring and service oriented. I literally just moved to Colombia so that I can save up enough to buy property in Panama since its SO expensive and hard to save up in Panama (esp if youre making Panamanian wages living there). Living in Colombia has allowed me to save up more than I ever have in my life and Im only 25 :) Also, I wanna say that if it werent for the unstable government and insecurity, I would 100% live here for the rest of my life
Preaching to the choir. Colombia's downfall is its insecurity. It's still liveable BUT you really do feel the luxury of feeling at peace in safer countries. Would still totally live in Colombia it's just a shame criminal elements have been allowed to influence such a great place.
Boquete, Panamá is safer than virtually every city in Colombia maybe with the exception of Manizales. Worth considering if you want to live somewhere where you don’t have to keep your head on a swivel every time a group of motos pass by.
Yeah, haven't been anywhere else in Panama, so I can't speak much for the rest of the country beyond what I've seen in photos unfortunately. In terms of good nearby beaches though, I'd personally go to the San Blas islands. Although there are other closer beaches, the San Blas islands seem to be the most idyllic that aren't too far away. You can see them in either a day tour (many tour packages will pick you up from Panama City and take you back) or stay the night on one of the islands (probably what I'd do, so as not to rush).
Most people who have lived in both countries prefer Colombia, you can't even compare the two. Colombia is much better, but crime and insecurity are the main problems of Colombia, although you should be fine is you keep a low profile. Panama residency visas are complicated, not straightforward like it used to be, it's expensive, it's hot and humid, a lot of uncollected trash, bad service at restaurants and coffee shops, not as nice as Colombian people.
Hey there, I am half Panamanian and half Colombian and some of the things that you say about both Colombia and Panama are true and not true... In Panama, of course it's going to be humid because you are in a tropical climate and that goes for much of the coastal regions of Colombia and pretty much a lot of Colombia as well with the exception of the Highlands region with cities like Medellin or Bogotá or Cucuta. And I'm sorry if you experienced bad service at a restaurant or a coffee shop, but that is not the experience that most people get in many places in Panama and especially not in the countryside of Panama at all.. in fact, the countryside of Panama has very friendly people and even friendlier than some people in Colombia. In Colombia, for example the friendliest people are going to be in the Caribbean coast, which is almost identical to Panama or other Caribbean islands that speak Spanish.. If you go to Bogotá, the people are going to be cold and probably rude if you are in a high traffic area as most big cities would be.. And even depending on some areas in Colombia, the people are not as friendly because they are very introverted in some places with the exception of places in the Pacific coast and Caribbean coast, as well as Cali and Medellin, which are very friendly places. But even in those cities as well, you can find rude experiences.. there are some American or foreign men in Colombia that get disrespected by Colombian men and I've seen it happen before my own eyes..
@chrissysviews I was mainly talking about Panama city, not the countryside. Probably the countryside, regardless of the country, it's more friendly and welcoming than city people, that's the same everywhere. But I get what you're saying. I don't have experience with Bogota, but as you mentioned, the people of Medellin and the coast are super friendly. I like Colombia better. To be honest, I think life in Colombia is more entertaining and exciting than in Panama. I was in Panama back in March, and the traffic and the garbage were awful.
As a Panamanian whos grow up in Panama, and now liing in Colombia, I can say all of these are true!
Panama is indeed, more modern, better quality of life, more expensive, hella westernized and HOT AF in 90% of the country. There are certain loopholes around the high cost of living, such as taking public transport which is $0.35-0.75 for buses and metro (subway), going to local supermarkets that are not Riba smith lol (its like trader joes or whole foods, pricey and posh), and buying clothes and electronics! Property though, VERY expensive. Panama also has the highest min wage in latin america (its low compared to the US tho, around 600$ a month). And yes people are friendly but less extroverted than Colombians.
Colombia on the other hand, is less developed but VALUES and thrives on tourism, VERY low cost of living (mostly from the moneda or exchange), has way more cultural and land/bio diversity, isnt as safe but thats just in very populated areas, has a better and more template climate (not as HOT and humid as Panama), and finally the people are caring and service oriented.
I literally just moved to Colombia so that I can save up enough to buy property in Panama since its SO expensive and hard to save up in Panama (esp if youre making Panamanian wages living there). Living in Colombia has allowed me to save up more than I ever have in my life and Im only 25 :) Also, I wanna say that if it werent for the unstable government and insecurity, I would 100% live here for the rest of my life
Preaching to the choir. Colombia's downfall is its insecurity. It's still liveable BUT you really do feel the luxury of feeling at peace in safer countries. Would still totally live in Colombia it's just a shame criminal elements have been allowed to influence such a great place.
Colombia is A+ I go there every year to chill from hustle and bustle of Houston....And I speak very little spanish.
Boquete, Panamá is safer than virtually every city in Colombia maybe with the exception of Manizales. Worth considering if you want to live somewhere where you don’t have to keep your head on a swivel every time a group of motos pass by.
Very helpful insight. Thanks!
Have you mainly been in Panama City?
Which beaches can you recommend that are close to the city?
Yeah, haven't been anywhere else in Panama, so I can't speak much for the rest of the country beyond what I've seen in photos unfortunately. In terms of good nearby beaches though, I'd personally go to the San Blas islands. Although there are other closer beaches, the San Blas islands seem to be the most idyllic that aren't too far away. You can see them in either a day tour (many tour packages will pick you up from Panama City and take you back) or stay the night on one of the islands (probably what I'd do, so as not to rush).
Most people who have lived in both countries prefer Colombia, you can't even compare the two. Colombia is much better, but crime and insecurity are the main problems of Colombia, although you should be fine is you keep a low profile.
Panama residency visas are complicated, not straightforward like it used to be, it's expensive, it's hot and humid, a lot of uncollected trash, bad service at restaurants and coffee shops, not as nice as Colombian people.
Hey there, I am half Panamanian and half Colombian and some of the things that you say about both Colombia and Panama are true and not true...
In Panama, of course it's going to be humid because you are in a tropical climate and that goes for much of the coastal regions of Colombia and pretty much a lot of Colombia as well with the exception of the Highlands region with cities like Medellin or Bogotá or Cucuta.
And I'm sorry if you experienced bad service at a restaurant or a coffee shop, but that is not the experience that most people get in many places in Panama and especially not in the countryside of Panama at all.. in fact, the countryside of Panama has very friendly people and even friendlier than some people in Colombia. In Colombia, for example the friendliest people are going to be in the Caribbean coast, which is almost identical to Panama or other Caribbean islands that speak Spanish..
If you go to Bogotá, the people are going to be cold and probably rude if you are in a high traffic area as most big cities would be..
And even depending on some areas in Colombia, the people are not as friendly because they are very introverted in some places with the exception of places in the Pacific coast and Caribbean coast, as well as Cali and Medellin, which are very friendly places. But even in those cities as well, you can find rude experiences.. there are some American or foreign men in Colombia that get disrespected by Colombian men and I've seen it happen before my own eyes..
@chrissysviews
I was mainly talking about Panama city, not the countryside. Probably the countryside, regardless of the country, it's more friendly and welcoming than city people, that's the same everywhere.
But I get what you're saying. I don't have experience with Bogota, but as you mentioned, the people of Medellin and the coast are super friendly.
I like Colombia better. To be honest, I think life in Colombia is more entertaining and exciting than in Panama. I was in Panama back in March, and the traffic and the garbage were awful.
Para los que no saben , panamá es un departamento de Colombia 😂😂😂😂😂
En el pasado si, pero ahora es un pais.
Colombia is A+ I go there every year to chill from hustle and bustle of Houston....And I speak very little spanish.