I lived in Panama and Costa Rica and moved out of Panama because the 12:26 12:26 panamaians near the canal zone were the laziest dumbest people that think they won a war with the us to take back the canal
My wife and I moved to Costa Rica almost five years ago and really love it. We're in the Central Valley and like that we don't need to have heat or A/C. I have spent time in Panama and I much prefer Costa Rica.
Absolutely! We have not explored every microclimate in Panama, and while we are a bit tongue in cheek about climate, all the expats that are in Panama have found the climate that works for them.
@@yourpuravida The mountain climates in Panama (I personally know this for Altos Del Maria) is 70 - 76 F year round. beaches and heat are 30 min to the west, so it's a good option if you want both climates.
Very Bias...My neighbor moved to Costa Rica and it's way more expansive and less safe. Yes it's humid in some areas, but Boquetti is perfect. and far more developed than Costa Rica. Plus Costa Rica allows anyone a visa, but Panama doesn't allow anyone with a felony in..period. much safer...
Yup, we aim to tell our experience, bias and opinion. We say that this is only our opinion. If Panama is your place, I’m happy you found it. Pura vida.
@@angelstar7656 - this is a real challenge. Can it happen? Maybe. If you rent a room in a small(er) location. But that is quite low - not only for Costa Rica but for many expat destinations around the world...
I was about to move to Costa Rica. Was building a condo in Jaco. Lots of construction delays. Went to check out Panamá. For me Panamá City was safe super, amazing food and bar scene. I live 56th floor with amazing views of Pacific and city. Roads better. A city life far superior. Canal super cool. Close to beaches on both coasts.
Understand. I love Costa Rica. It’s amazing 2 completely different vibes. It’s been a year. Made lots of friends. 70 years old. Not sick one day. Super Happy for me😎
I've not read much about that area Robert but will do some exploring online! Yes, as with anywhere, Costa Rica isn't for all - cost is for sure a prohibitive factor for many. True also in parts of Europe and the Caribbean. Thank you for your great comment!
You forgot to mention the highlands of Panama. Chiriquí province. Medical in Panama is very good. We Panamanian are very friendly, we are very welcoming of expats.
Regarding nature: Costa Rica has awesome national parks. However, what I love about Panama is that you can have real adventures. For example, you can hike 21km on the colonial path Camino de Cruces just outside of the city and it is partially overgrown, etc. It's a real adventure. In CR this would be a major tourist attraction where they charge entry, etc. There are so many cool things to discover in Panama that nobody cares about. The rest is similar. CR has more mountains. Panama has more islands and indigenous.
I don't get a comparison between the two beautiful countties when many of the opinions rely of not having the complete experience, make suppositions and take for granted others experiences.
These are general comments for people who are just starting a search. We do not presume to be the ultimate source for all. But for those that are researching, you need to start someplace with generalities from which to build. At least that's our way of thinking.
Thanks for sharing! People often ask why I chose Costa and not Panama and I give a number of reasons why I love and prefer Costa Rica. But now i can share this video as a reference for them.
7:05 "In Panama you can't escape it". (the heat). This is so false and misleading. Panama mountain areas (Volcan, Boquette, ...) have cool mountain climates just like the cool mountain areas of CR.
Yes! There are microclimates and thank you for mentioning this! We try to have fun on our videos and we never meant to imply that there are NO changes in climate. We were speaking specifically about the region around Panama City in our discussions. Yes, there are some amazing areas of Panama with milder climates, but as we discussed heat was one of the factors that helped us (personally) choose Costa Rica over Panama. As mentioned we have friends who live there and would never think about anyplace else. It's just another factor to look into as you explore the options. Really appreciate the exchange @billbrasier9521
Really? roads are way better in Panama, our main haighway have 4 lanes. Temperature? relocate to Boquete or Volcan. We have the dollar and import almost everything, so briging Amazon stuff gets very cheap and you do NOT pay US or PANAMA taxes, if item is lower than $1000. Supermarkets are full of US items. Panama will offer you senior citizen discounts, at the banks, you get priority service. MOVE TO PANAMA. Panamanian society loves to bark but we dont bite.
Intersting but how can you call Panama City a draw with San Jose…after stating a load of advantages of Panama City…climate aside. Also for your knowledge on Panama & Suriname have the best carbon footprints in the world. No experience of healthcare in Panama but Costa Rica wins hands down - but you have no idea about Panama period.
Many thanks for your post! I recently returned from Panama, and had a fantastic time....beautiful place, and amazing people. My concern about considering a move there, is that with the numbers of expats relocating, whether eventually Panamanians will get sick of it. I witnessed that when I was younger and living in the VI.
it is a great point! the same can be said pretty much anywhere. it is one of the reasons we advocate for persons relocating (anywhere) that truly want to join a community and support it, vs. just be an expat and live with our own in isolated areas... Thank you for your comments!
Statistically, where are there more North American retired expats, Panama or Costa Rica?? I think it's important to be able to hear as many different anecdotal opinions as possible in this subject.... just my 2 cents waiting to visit both countries....
I wasn`t in both countries, I`m equal on both, Panama has less debts, allows owning weapons, is less populated, doesn`t force you to the caja like Costa Rica, Costa Rica on the other side has less requirements to get a residency, even buying a car counts for the 150k and it seems easier to live there on a tourist visa, and the state is not as harsh as in Panama, which was quite obvious during the plndemic. Seems I need to visit both and decide then where it is personally better.
Who has the best Electric Vehicle infrastructure? We own two and will never go back to gas so we are courious. We use a app called plug share here in the states. It shows several in Costa Rica but not so much in Panama. Is that acurate?
Best choice is Colombia 🇨🇴 everything's cheaper, a lot of Americans are leaving Costa Rica and Me'xico for Medellin, Colombia, once you explore Colombia you will forget about moving to any of this two countries, Colombia is a big country and it is very diverse, good luck, greetings from USA 🇺🇸 🙏🇨🇴✌️
@@LuisFernandez-gm7fs - I can't wait to really explore Columbia. No, not to move. I'm very happy in Costa Rica with our sense of security, but because its culture is so dynamic!
@yourpuravida thankyou sir ! Hoping to be there to scope & compare with 🇨🇷. FYI it's expensive here for sure BUT it is special. Kind of how 🇫🇷 has the je ne c'est quoi 🇨🇷 similarly has the Pura Vida - all about living. 🇵🇦 I will see - as a foodie I think that might be deciding factor.
You guys should add something more about cost of living: not only CR, on average, is lot more expensive than Panama; but also, some areas of CR (Guanacaste) are up to 3 times more expensive than the rest of CR - we are talking California and NY level of prices. 90% of potential expats flat out will not be able to afford it.
Most of this you are just guessing! Boquete is a thriving expat town that is in the Caldera and is labelled as the land of the eternal Spring. Cerra Punta is high in the mountain and it's about 60 degrees there in the daytime. I have been there. Besides Panama city, the country is mostly rural and very inexpensive, but there is an extensive bus system so you can get anywhere by bus. Healthcare is world class and you do not need insurance because it's about 1/10th of what you would pay in the US. You never spoke about the residency process. How do they compare? Panama has one of the easiest Residency visas in the world.
How do you rate the internet and cell phone service? I am trying to decide between the two places and my top five priorities in order are: safety; cost of living; internet access/speed; residency requirements; and ease getting to/from the Eastern USA
I have great internet at my home (and in my area, there isn't a fiber option) - lots to choose from. and cell service is strong in most of the country (less so in very rural areas) - much like all countries it depends on cell tower location@@angelstar7656
Panama authorities are less nice than Costa Rican, CR consulate replied me but Panamanian not. Wanted to know whether I can travel there with travel ban from the US.
I know the guys say that they're just talking about their experience, it's their opinion, etc. But the video would have been far more useful if it was one person who moved to Panama over Costa Rica, and one person who moved to Costa Rica over Panama. What we got were totally biased "opinions" from two residents of Costa Rica who are comically uniformed about Panama climate and deliver only anecdotal opinions and hearsay about other key details. They somehow completely omitted details about the Riviera Pacifica, Panama's huge resort playground and community, along with the temperate and cool mountain communities, two of which are teeming with US expats. I urge you to find your info elsewhere.
Love these comments - we make it very clear we are the CR side of this equation, and that we look to our viewers like you to help balance out the conversation. We have nothing against Panama and we hope that if people are truly looking at the 2 options they look at a TON of on-line sources. Thanks for being part of the discussion!
Hi, i m from india, currently i lives in mexico from 3 yrs, from my expect in latin america Mexico, Costa rica and Panama is real good for business and living, in carribean islands i used to lives trinidad and tobago for 8 yrs, its good for business for sure... But dominican republic is also good for living and doing business 🙏🏻
Unfortunately, the cost to be a resident in Costa Rica is too high (because of paying huge $$ for the cedula and then probably having to have private insurance as well).
@@yourpuravida you should do an episode on what it would cost someone on average pension income to get their caja - or even average social security income. With the new rates, I think it would be a huge consideration. And, in fact, my guess is if people are moving there to have lower cost of living because that is their only income, that it isn't going to work for them. And doing "border runs" is risky - we found that out with COVID.
I really enjoyed the video. I agree with most of what you have mentioned, but there seems to be a pretty hard slant. For example, you are comparing Panama City to San Jose. The reason for the heat in PTY is the elevation, when compared to San Jose (PTY is 0 elevation and SJO is almost 4,000 elevation). I have spent a lot of time in Volcan, Boquete and David in Panama. The elevation is the key to the temperature and weather. Most places, once you get above 4,000 elevation, the heat becomes much more bearable. In Phoenix, AZ, it's 100 degrees in June at 1,100 elevation. In Flagstaff, AZ (at 5,000 elevation), it's 20-25 degrees cooler. I would imagine you guys are pretty familiar with that type of thing. Would have been nice to fill in some of these types of details, so it wasn't so slanted. Nature. Again, I think there is a pretty hard slant there. The beauty in nature in both places are amazing. There is only a few hundred miles difference between the two. I would agree that Panama doesn't preserve nature nearly as well as Costa Rica, but my travel in Costa Rica is more limited than Panama. I agree totally on the quality of life. Finding that special place is the key. If you travel a bit, especially internationally, you learn what you like and what you don't like. I agree on the ratings as well.
The climate is not bad, it's just that some people don't like hot weather. People who like hot weather would hate San Jose. It comes down to preference, not the weather.
@@guillermogouldburn763 You mean San José is relatively mild with humidity and heat? Compared I suppose to Panama or other places? We're in western Canada, with low humidity. The weather is so pleasant right now.... around 18 degrees Celsius.
Nice entertaining video. I guess it truly depends on location in these countries as i am presently in Costa Rica, Manuel Antonio to be more exact and the weather here is in my and many other people I speak with, extremely oppressive, the sooner you can get back indoors the better. I can see if you are just comparing cities, San Jose would win for weather against Panama city. I do love the beauty of CR, but, I have to reconcile the everyday cost which for me is what is driving me to not make this place my home. I do love it here in Costa Rica, but, from an economical standpoint, I will be heading to other countries later this year or early next year to explore to fit my overall budget. I go back and forth, trying to decide if there's a way to make it work here, but, realistically, I just can't see it, but, I will still keep an open mind. My real love is Mexico, but, then income requirements to retire there is way out of reach for me. Panama, I hope to visit soon, likely the cooler regions with be my target areas.
Please feel free to post a video about what you might disagree. We discuss our opinions but if Panama is right for you, we're happy you found your place!
Hi! I just wanted to say how much you’ve done the countries featured in your videos justice! The in detail elaboration towards important topics rather than superficial ones such as healthcare, infrastructure etc… It’s really helpful for any ex…(let’s be for real here -3-) immigrants moving to the region! I’ve wanted to ask though, in reference to owning, anything frankly, but specifically land or property, should there be any concerns for the natural environment taking a toll on such? I’d hate to put a down payment on a new house then have it destroyed by an earthquake, or tsunami, or volcano, or, flooding, or torrential rainforest weather, or a hurricane or any of the thousands of crazy animals or bugs this country has!? 😭
What was this amazing 11 course meal? Numerous courses for a cheap price isn't necessarily a good meal. I wish you had researched the question of health care before commenting. This might actually be important to some expats. I would like to hear other specific examples (or interviews?) of why someone might choose CR over Panama or vice versa. I'm beginning my search for a retirement destination starting early next year.
The title should have been "why we don't like Panama". You are quite joyful to say which subject wins in CR but painfully dismissive to anything you say is better in Panama. One of you then says you think health care is a draw even though you had no experience with it in Panama. Ridiculous bias. I've done the research and it is no contest Panama is superior in health care. In a nutshell no credibility with your assessments other than you personally prefer CR.
Panama City is definitely much denser than San Jose, and the number of apartments in high-rise buildings is many times over that of San Jose; but San Jose is actually larger in area and more spread out… small homes outnumber apartments by far… In general, Panama’s urban areas tend to be more concentrated than those in Costa Rica, which tend to spread out and become more like towns than cities… Now, the actual number of international visitors to Costa Rica is larger than those arriving in Panama, despite Panama indeed being an international flight hub, which Costa Rica really isn’t, it’s more just a destination…. But on a yearly basis there are actually more international tourists visiting in Costa Rica than in Panama, only possibly in less concentrated areas than in Panama…
It's silly to compare weather in SJ (1km elevation) vs Panama city (on the coast)!🤦♂️.. should you compare Panama City's weather to something - compare it to Tamarindo - which is very similar.
We have as well. This video has opened up a ton of conversation and it is great to see! I met a wonderful couple that used to live (9 years) in Panama and are now nomadic (currently staying in Atenas) with all kinds of insights about where and why they loved Panama. As we have said, having options that fit each expat's goals and needs is good.
Lived in Quepos for year and a half from Philly best time in my life. Moving to bocas del toro in August, because the price, beauty, people, also health care is up there in rankings.Will comment later when i get there, p. s food was not great in Costa Rica., just okay.
well i've been going to c.r. for 13 yrs, my wife is from sarchi c.r... and i am moving to c.r. shortly..have researched both panama and although panama might be easier to immigrate to a lot of areas don't seem easily accessible..and i have never known anyone that lived south of the canal.also the darien gap the most notorious region for criminals and such
We agree! As we note if you are looking for massive city life then Panama City is hands down more appealing than anything in Costa Rica, but we agree with you that Costa Rica is (to us) more appealing overall. Thanks so much for your comments, Doug. Where are you landing in CR?
Thanks for bringing this up - I have heard that as well. I think that's a false narrative. To be clear - it is expensive here. This is de facto an island - expensive to get consumer goods to a small country with a small population off the main shipping hubs. You are trading the cost of goods for quality of life. And I push back on 3rd or 2nd world classifications. Both of those have very specific meanings. This is an agrarian country to be sure. Not poor, but also not at a tax base to have massive infrastructure spends, etc. I think they do a good job balancing quality, and I would happily sacrifice some creature comforts for this way of life. (but too, the dollar has gone down over 20% in just the last year against the colon so that doesn't help..)
Honestly, TWO SUBJECTIVE guys doing a compare/pro-con video about CR and Panama. Where is the guy who actually lives in Panama, and experiences daily life there? This video is crap comparison. Find another comparison video., don't rely on this one. I'm moving to Panama ASAP!
We answer this a lot and I'm not going to give a lot of energy to this, but: you are right. We are not objective. We live in Costa Rica. That doesn't mean this video is not supportive of anyone's personal journey. You do you. Find where speaks to YOU. All we can do is give you our feedback and you take if from there. If you find it isn't good info for you, don't take it. Even with your snark aside, we are excited for you to find your perfect spot in Panama!
Well, you've validated, reinforced your decision to live in CR instead of PA. You've judged PA and CR even though you've lived in CR yet not in PA. The information unrevealed is voluminous, noteworthy, but those omissions are ok with me. As for oppressive heat, the coast of CR (Tamarindo, Jaco) is just as oppressively hot as the coast of PA.
There are some things that people say are just fantasies. First, San José cannot compete with Panama City, Panama moves a lot of money, it has better infrastructure and development and the people are friendlier in Panama. San José is a town at the foot of Panama City, Costa Rica is like a village. Secondly, health, public health in Costa Rica is a disaster, appointments take more than 1 year to find a public sector specialist. Private healthcare in Costa Rica is expensive and the value for money is not good. Unlike Panama, which has better private hospitals, Costa Ricans travel to Panama for affordable medical care. San José and all of Costa Rica in general is more insecure than Panama, Panama has better security and less crime. In Human Development Panama is far above Costa Rica. Panama has less poverty than Costa Rica. Food prices in Costa Rica are absurdly ridiculous, very high. Many people who live in Costa Rica and visit Panama immediately move to Panama. I know many retirees who, after being in Costa Rica, move to Panama looking for tranquility and comfortable prices. The streets in Costa Rica are a disaster and the customer service is terrible. Costa Ricans do not have the idiosyncrasies to provide service. In Costa Rica, when they see a foreigner they want to scam them with prices that increase up to 4 times, the Panamanian is more honest and has a good culture.
Thanks for sharing your perspective. Lots of people find their home in Costa Rica because they want to be in or near a capitol city but PTY doesn't fit their needs. It's all about what's right for you and your family.
I came twice to Costa Rica and went once in Panama for one month.... I did not like Panama it's not clean at all, trach everywhere. Costa Rica has beautiful beaches, But in Panama it's hard to get to the beach. I will not go again to Panama. So everything about in Costa Rica is better than Panama.
For us Texans especially: the gun laws are very generous in Panama. My current understanding is that as long as you carry concealed and not open, you do not need a permit or license to have a gun on your person and it is perfectly legal. But you should verify this for yourself and I am NOT an attorney. I believe Panama is safer. And, as they say, "An armed society is a polite society." Also, Panama has NO standing military, which I find comforting, and their police are not militarized - USA police seriously have armored cars and even tank-like personnel carriers. What could go wrong?
This is a nuanced answer, but yes. Private pay hospitals are exactly that: private pay. Anyone can go to them; some specialties in Costa Rica have created "medical tourism". But you cannot take advantage of the public system as that is one you pay into.
? ...They are making a comparison based on their personal preference, both individuals live in Costa Rica, Where is the opinion , reality or experience of the Panama side expat?
Thanks for your comment. It's hard to compare the infrastructure between the two countries. Our preferences are clearly Costa Rica but we definitely see lots of upsides about Panama. Pura vida!
A lot of the your comparisons are Costa Rica v. Panama City, which would not be in the hottest area if it weren't for the canal. Same goes for health care - try living in NYC unless you're rich you have to join the lines etc. even in great hospitals.
Sir, are you sure of all the bla bla you talk about..I was born in Costa Rica, grew up in USA,retired U.S.Marine and SSA pensioner...you can not talk about two diferent countries like you just did..please, think before you speak..get your words correctly, think clearly..I lve in both countries, Costa Rica is much much expensive than Panama..so please schek yourself out
In and out of Panama for close to 40years, retired here 10yrs ago. Live in low moutains in Cocle Provence, daily avg 85degrees, we use ceiling fans, no a/c. Have a lot of expierience in Costa Rica- you can keep it, I'll stay here. Good Medical, way less expensive as well. These guys are not honest
Panama is a great place to put your MONEY NO TAX FOR AMERICA, LITTLE FOR PANAMA. REALLY THE MAINES RESON.COST FOR A VERY SMALL RESIDENT,TO GET VISA &PASSPORT.
I didn't watch the whole video but did you compare day-to-day living prices? CR is a third world country with first world prices. All the Ricas cross the border to buy stuff in Panama. Enough said really isn't it fellas?
You must have missed most of the video. 😉 There are many reasons why one would want to live in Costa Rica over Panama. And many reasons why one would choose Panama over Costa Rica. Pura vida.
I have not been in Panama yet,but sjo is ugly city no walkable ,beside roads in Costa Rica is not accessible to other areas like 200km takes 7hrs to get tomtravel
Thanks for your comments. I'd disagree that San José is ugly and not walkable. The valley is incredibly beautiful. From my apartment, I can see the mountains, volcanoes and a beautiful skyline. Every morning I take a walk for an hour through different parks and neighborhoods. But yes, SJ isn't for everyone. Pura vida!
@@yourpuravida you sound like you have a vested interest in Costa Rica. No objectivity. Used medical facilities in both countries, sprained knee in Panama, sick from poluted water in San Jose. Had English speaking Dr in Panama
Gracias por tu comentario, no estamos en desacuerdo. Pero con este comentario es importante señalar que en cada país existen clases sociales. Para nosotros la clave es intentar integrarnos y no ser "sólo expatriados". Thank you for your comment, we do not disagree. But with this cimment it is important to note that there are social classes in every country. For us the key is trying to integrate and not be "expat only".
![What is the cost of living in Costa Rica? [Updated for 2024]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/rA57rYd_VoY/mqdefault.jpg)
Why did you decide to move to Costa Rica or Panama? We'd love to hear your story in the comments!
I lived in Panama and Costa Rica and moved out of Panama because the 12:26 12:26 panamaians near the canal zone were the laziest dumbest people that think they won a war with the us to take back the canal
My wife and I moved to Costa Rica almost five years ago and really love it. We're in the Central Valley and like that we don't need to have heat or A/C. I have spent time in Panama and I much prefer Costa Rica.
Can't you escape the heat by leaving in the mountainous regions of Panama?
Absolutely! We have not explored every microclimate in Panama, and while we are a bit tongue in cheek about climate, all the expats that are in Panama have found the climate that works for them.
@@yourpuravida The mountain climates in Panama (I personally know this for Altos Del Maria) is 70 - 76 F year round. beaches and heat are 30 min to the west, so it's a good option if you want both climates.
Very Bias...My neighbor moved to Costa Rica and it's way more expansive and less safe. Yes it's humid in some areas, but Boquetti is perfect. and far more developed than Costa Rica. Plus Costa Rica allows anyone a visa, but Panama doesn't allow anyone with a felony in..period. much safer...
Yup, we aim to tell our experience, bias and opinion. We say that this is only our opinion. If Panama is your place, I’m happy you found it. Pura vida.
(and I look forward to traveling to Boquetti - I'd not heard much about it. Will be fun to explore - thanks for the recommendation!)
Is it realistic to search for decent accommodations in a safe area for $300/month?
@@angelstar7656 - this is a real challenge. Can it happen? Maybe. If you rent a room in a small(er) location. But that is quite low - not only for Costa Rica but for many expat destinations around the world...
I was about to move to Costa Rica. Was building a condo in Jaco. Lots of construction delays. Went to check out Panamá. For me Panamá City was safe super, amazing food and bar scene. I live 56th floor with amazing views of Pacific and city. Roads better. A city life far superior. Canal super cool. Close to beaches on both coasts.
It’s so great to hear your experience Alan!!!!!!
Understand. I love Costa Rica. It’s amazing 2 completely different vibes. It’s been a year. Made lots of friends. 70 years old. Not sick one day. Super Happy for me😎
Panama City must be great if you're willing to live in a sauna! Yuck!! How the residents there stay there is beyond me!
Costa Rica is too expensive but we are too established to move to Panama.
@@dovygoodguy1296 I think it is what you are accustomed to. I doubt it is a great deal worse than Southern Texas.
I live in Volcan in Panama at 1400 meters in elevation so we have a cool climate. Costa Rica is very nice but is too expensive.
I've not read much about that area Robert but will do some exploring online! Yes, as with anywhere, Costa Rica isn't for all - cost is for sure a prohibitive factor for many. True also in parts of Europe and the Caribbean. Thank you for your great comment!
You forgot to mention the highlands of Panama. Chiriquí province. Medical in Panama is very good. We Panamanian are very friendly, we are very welcoming of expats.
That's what we love about this community. We can only talk about our experiences - so having yours will help others plan. Thank you!
im deciding between panama and costa rica
@@travisoshea - we're here to support you if Costa Rica ends up being one you really want to explore in person
@@yourpuravida yea I think costar rica is going to the place. Have been looking at place to stay on air bnb
@@yourpuravida thank you.
Regarding nature: Costa Rica has awesome national parks. However, what I love about Panama is that you can have real adventures. For example, you can hike 21km on the colonial path Camino de Cruces just outside of the city and it is partially overgrown, etc. It's a real adventure. In CR this would be a major tourist attraction where they charge entry, etc. There are so many cool things to discover in Panama that nobody cares about. The rest is similar. CR has more mountains. Panama has more islands and indigenous.
I love this perspective. Thanks for your comment. Pura vida.
I don't get a comparison between the two beautiful countties when many of the opinions rely of not having the complete experience, make suppositions and take for granted others experiences.
These are general comments for people who are just starting a search. We do not presume to be the ultimate source for all. But for those that are researching, you need to start someplace with generalities from which to build. At least that's our way of thinking.
Thanks for sharing! People often ask why I chose Costa and not Panama and I give a number of reasons why I love and prefer Costa Rica. But now i can share this video as a reference for them.
we will happily share this with the world! 🙂 Pura Vida!!!
7:05 "In Panama you can't escape it". (the heat). This is so false and misleading. Panama mountain areas (Volcan, Boquette, ...) have cool mountain climates just like the cool mountain areas of CR.
Yes! There are microclimates and thank you for mentioning this! We try to have fun on our videos and we never meant to imply that there are NO changes in climate. We were speaking specifically about the region around Panama City in our discussions. Yes, there are some amazing areas of Panama with milder climates, but as we discussed heat was one of the factors that helped us (personally) choose Costa Rica over Panama. As mentioned we have friends who live there and would never think about anyplace else. It's just another factor to look into as you explore the options. Really appreciate the exchange @billbrasier9521
Don’t forget Valle de Anton
Why do these temp comparison's always use panama city ?
Panama City will be the best place for most looking to have a similar lifestyle to a modern city. Also, a strong economy.
Really? roads are way better in Panama, our main haighway have 4 lanes. Temperature? relocate to Boquete or Volcan. We have the dollar and import almost everything, so briging Amazon stuff gets very cheap and you do NOT pay US or PANAMA taxes, if item is lower than $1000. Supermarkets are full of US items. Panama will offer you senior citizen discounts, at the banks, you get priority service. MOVE TO PANAMA. Panamanian society loves to bark but we dont bite.
Intersting but how can you call Panama City a draw with San Jose…after stating a load of advantages of Panama City…climate aside. Also for your knowledge on Panama & Suriname have the best carbon footprints in the world. No experience of healthcare in Panama but Costa Rica wins hands down - but you have no idea about Panama period.
What about Boquette area as far as the weather.
Many thanks for your post! I recently returned from Panama, and had a fantastic time....beautiful place, and amazing people. My concern about considering a move there, is that with the numbers of expats relocating, whether eventually Panamanians will get sick of it. I witnessed that when I was younger and living in the VI.
it is a great point! the same can be said pretty much anywhere. it is one of the reasons we advocate for persons relocating (anywhere) that truly want to join a community and support it, vs. just be an expat and live with our own in isolated areas... Thank you for your comments!
So he says the healthcare in Costa Rice is better and in the same breath he admits he doesn’t know anything about the healthcare in Panama
How easy is it to regularly travel from San José to Panama City for the option of shopping?
Multiple flights a day and pretty low cost for airfare
Thank you for informative videos! Have you purchased a car there? Would love to hear about this experience
Funny enough we just posted a video on purchasing a car in Costa Rica. Check it out: th-cam.com/video/25jwMPDhNEs/w-d-xo.html
@@juanluiscarbonepicard-ami5379 - we both purchased automatics as well...
Statistically, where are there more North American retired expats, Panama or Costa Rica?? I think it's important to be able to hear as many different anecdotal opinions as possible in this subject.... just my 2 cents waiting to visit both countries....
I wasn`t in both countries, I`m equal on both, Panama has less debts, allows owning weapons, is less populated, doesn`t force you to the caja like Costa Rica, Costa Rica on the other side has less requirements to get a residency, even buying a car counts for the 150k and it seems easier to live there on a tourist visa, and the state is not as harsh as in Panama, which was quite obvious during the plndemic. Seems I need to visit both and decide then where it is personally better.
Infrastructure? Electricity, plumbing, roads, sidewalks, walkability, sanitation, sewage system?
Great video think8mg of retiring to Costa Rica this is giving me a lot to think about
Here to help! 😁
Great video. Thanks.
Thanks for your kind words and watching. Pura vida!
Who has the best Electric Vehicle infrastructure?
We own two and will never go back to gas so we are courious.
We use a app called plug share here in the states.
It shows several in Costa Rica but not so much in Panama.
Is that acurate?
Best choice is Colombia 🇨🇴 everything's cheaper, a lot of Americans are leaving Costa Rica and Me'xico for Medellin, Colombia, once you explore Colombia you will forget about moving to any of this two countries, Colombia is a big country and it is very diverse, good luck, greetings from USA 🇺🇸 🙏🇨🇴✌️
We have plans to cover Colombia in another video. Stay tuned. Thanks for your comment!
Colonbia da miedo con solo pensar en ese país 😢
Colombia is good, cheap, economic, but the bad thing is the insecurity.
@@LuisFernandez-gm7fs - I can't wait to really explore Columbia. No, not to move. I'm very happy in Costa Rica with our sense of security, but because its culture is so dynamic!
Plus it has the best concaine!! 😅😅😅😅😅😅
Please advise on where you had your $100 11course meal in Panama City...
Riesen... well worth the visit!
@yourpuravida thankyou sir ! Hoping to be there to scope & compare with 🇨🇷. FYI it's expensive here for sure BUT it is special. Kind of how 🇫🇷 has the je ne c'est quoi 🇨🇷 similarly has the Pura Vida - all about living. 🇵🇦 I will see - as a foodie I think that might be deciding factor.
You guys should add something more about cost of living: not only CR, on average, is lot more expensive than Panama; but also, some areas of CR (Guanacaste) are up to 3 times more expensive than the rest of CR - we are talking California and NY level of prices. 90% of potential expats flat out will not be able to afford it.
Many thanks for the note. We are actually planning this exact video topic. Be on the lookout for the results!
Most of this you are just guessing! Boquete is a thriving expat town that is in the Caldera and is labelled as the land of the eternal Spring. Cerra Punta is high in the mountain and it's about 60 degrees there in the daytime. I have been there. Besides Panama city, the country is mostly rural and very inexpensive, but there is an extensive bus system so you can get anywhere by bus. Healthcare is world class and you do not need insurance because it's about 1/10th of what you would pay in the US. You never spoke about the residency process. How do they compare? Panama has one of the easiest Residency visas in the world.
We love hearing other POV. As we’ve said these are our opinions. We are not experts on Panama. That’s why we love to hear from others!
How do you rate the internet and cell phone service? I am trying to decide between the two places and my top five priorities in order are: safety; cost of living; internet access/speed; residency requirements; and ease getting to/from the Eastern USA
I have great internet at my home (and in my area, there isn't a fiber option) - lots to choose from. and cell service is strong in most of the country (less so in very rural areas) - much like all countries it depends on cell tower location@@angelstar7656
@@angelstar7656By the priorities you are remarking, I think Panama is best for you.
Panama authorities are less nice than Costa Rican, CR consulate replied me but Panamanian not. Wanted to know whether I can travel there with travel ban from the US.
I know the guys say that they're just talking about their experience, it's their opinion, etc. But the video would have been far more useful if it was one person who moved to Panama over Costa Rica, and one person who moved to Costa Rica over Panama.
What we got were totally biased "opinions" from two residents of Costa Rica who are comically uniformed about Panama climate and deliver only anecdotal opinions and hearsay about other key details. They somehow completely omitted details about the Riviera Pacifica, Panama's huge resort playground and community, along with the temperate and cool mountain communities, two of which are teeming with US expats. I urge you to find your info elsewhere.
Love these comments - we make it very clear we are the CR side of this equation, and that we look to our viewers like you to help balance out the conversation. We have nothing against Panama and we hope that if people are truly looking at the 2 options they look at a TON of on-line sources. Thanks for being part of the discussion!
Hi, i m from india, currently i lives in mexico from 3 yrs, from my expect in latin america Mexico, Costa rica and Panama is real good for business and living, in carribean islands i used to lives trinidad and tobago for 8 yrs, its good for business for sure... But dominican republic is also good for living and doing business 🙏🏻
Unfortunately, the cost to be a resident in Costa Rica is too high (because of paying huge $$ for the cedula and then probably having to have private insurance as well).
Indeed, Costa Rica isn't going to be right (from a residency point of view) for all. That is true for almost every country. All have trade-offs!
@@yourpuravida you should do an episode on what it would cost someone on average pension income to get their caja - or even average social security income. With the new rates, I think it would be a huge consideration. And, in fact, my guess is if people are moving there to have lower cost of living because that is their only income, that it isn't going to work for them. And doing "border runs" is risky - we found that out with COVID.
@@CJ-Photo We'll for sure add this to a monthly Q&A!
Pretty fine presentation, thank you
we appreciate your comments!!!
Thanks for the video. Great personal opinions. I’m looking forward to visiting Panama after I move to CR.
Currency is better in Panama (US dollars)
Congrats. You've sold me Panama on every single point
That's great! We want everyone to find their right place. If Panama is yours we're excited for you!
I really enjoyed the video. I agree with most of what you have mentioned, but there seems to be a pretty hard slant. For example, you are comparing Panama City to San Jose. The reason for the heat in PTY is the elevation, when compared to San Jose (PTY is 0 elevation and SJO is almost 4,000 elevation). I have spent a lot of time in Volcan, Boquete and David in Panama. The elevation is the key to the temperature and weather. Most places, once you get above 4,000 elevation, the heat becomes much more bearable. In Phoenix, AZ, it's 100 degrees in June at 1,100 elevation. In Flagstaff, AZ (at 5,000 elevation), it's 20-25 degrees cooler. I would imagine you guys are pretty familiar with that type of thing. Would have been nice to fill in some of these types of details, so it wasn't so slanted.
Nature. Again, I think there is a pretty hard slant there. The beauty in nature in both places are amazing. There is only a few hundred miles difference between the two. I would agree that Panama doesn't preserve nature nearly as well as Costa Rica, but my travel in Costa Rica is more limited than Panama.
I agree totally on the quality of life. Finding that special place is the key. If you travel a bit, especially internationally, you learn what you like and what you don't like. I agree on the ratings as well.
If the climate is so bad in Panama City, how can so many people live there?! How independent is each country from American power??
The climate is not bad, it's just that some people don't like hot weather. People who like hot weather would hate San Jose. It comes down to preference, not the weather.
@@guillermogouldburn763 You mean San José is relatively mild with humidity and heat? Compared I suppose to Panama or other places? We're in western Canada, with low humidity. The weather is so pleasant right now.... around 18 degrees Celsius.
Nice entertaining video. I guess it truly depends on location in these countries as i am presently in Costa Rica, Manuel Antonio to be more exact and the weather here is in my and many other people I speak with, extremely oppressive, the sooner you can get back indoors the better. I can see if you are just comparing cities, San Jose would win for weather against Panama city. I do love the beauty of CR, but, I have to reconcile the everyday cost which for me is what is driving me to not make this place my home. I do love it here in Costa Rica, but, from an economical standpoint, I will be heading to other countries later this year or early next year to explore to fit my overall budget. I go back and forth, trying to decide if there's a way to make it work here, but, realistically, I just can't see it, but, I will still keep an open mind. My real love is Mexico, but, then income requirements to retire there is way out of reach for me. Panama, I hope to visit soon, likely the cooler regions with be my target areas.
These guys don’t know much about Panama. The only thing I agree with is the heat. They are clueless when it comes to everything else
Please feel free to post a video about what you might disagree. We discuss our opinions but if Panama is right for you, we're happy you found your place!
Hi! I just wanted to say how much you’ve done the countries featured in your videos justice! The in detail elaboration towards important topics rather than superficial ones such as healthcare, infrastructure etc…
It’s really helpful for any ex…(let’s be for real here -3-) immigrants moving to the region! I’ve wanted to ask though, in reference to owning, anything frankly, but specifically land or property, should there be any concerns for the natural environment taking a toll on such?
I’d hate to put a down payment on a new house then have it destroyed by an earthquake, or tsunami, or volcano, or, flooding, or torrential rainforest weather, or a hurricane or any of the thousands of crazy animals or bugs this country has!? 😭
we very much appreciate the comment! thanks for engaging with our videos!
What was this amazing 11 course meal? Numerous courses for a cheap price isn't necessarily a good meal. I wish you had researched the question of health care before commenting. This might actually be important to some expats. I would like to hear other specific examples (or interviews?) of why someone might choose CR over Panama or vice versa. I'm beginning my search for a retirement destination starting early next year.
It was one of the best meal of my life at Riesen and I try to have an epic meal like this 2 times a year. It rivaled Pujol, for example.
Visit Panama Relocation Tours. Jacky Lang
Hey guys, thank you for your video and comments. Never been to Panama, but Costa Rica 4x. Hope we can communicate via email soon. Pura Vida ! Edwin
We look forward to connecting Edwin! Pura Vida!
The title should have been "why we don't like Panama". You are quite joyful to say which subject wins in CR but painfully dismissive to anything you say is better in Panama. One of you then says you think health care is a draw even though you had no experience with it in Panama. Ridiculous bias. I've done the research and it is no contest Panama is superior in health care. In a nutshell no credibility with your assessments other than you personally prefer CR.
Panama City is definitely much denser than San Jose, and the number of apartments in high-rise buildings is many times over that of San Jose; but San Jose is actually larger in area and more spread out… small homes outnumber apartments by far… In general, Panama’s urban areas tend to be more concentrated than those in Costa Rica, which tend to spread out and become more like towns than cities…
Now, the actual number of international visitors to Costa Rica is larger than those arriving in Panama, despite Panama indeed being an international flight hub, which Costa Rica really isn’t, it’s more just a destination…. But on a yearly basis there are actually more international tourists visiting in Costa Rica than in Panama, only possibly in less concentrated areas than in Panama…
This is a great post - so much info and perspective. Thank you!
@@yourpuravida And keep in mind San Jose, Alajuela, Heredia and Cartago are basically one city. Googlemap.
It's silly to compare weather in SJ (1km elevation) vs Panama city (on the coast)!🤦♂️.. should you compare Panama City's weather to something - compare it to Tamarindo - which is very similar.
I hear Boquete climate is NOT like PC.
We have as well. This video has opened up a ton of conversation and it is great to see! I met a wonderful couple that used to live (9 years) in Panama and are now nomadic (currently staying in Atenas) with all kinds of insights about where and why they loved Panama. As we have said, having options that fit each expat's goals and needs is good.
Lived in Quepos for year and a half from Philly best time in my life. Moving to bocas del toro in August, because the price, beauty, people, also health care is up there in rankings.Will comment later when i get there, p. s food was not great in Costa Rica., just okay.
But how is the internet? Is it reliable and speedy? That is a big consideration for someone still engaged in remote work.
Where was the best food of your life?. Name of the place.
Riesen in Panama City. Pura vida!
well i've been going to c.r. for 13 yrs, my wife is from sarchi c.r... and i am moving to c.r. shortly..have researched both panama and although panama might be easier to immigrate to a lot of areas don't seem easily accessible..and i have never known anyone that lived south of the canal.also the darien gap the most notorious region for criminals and such
We agree! As we note if you are looking for massive city life then Panama City is hands down more appealing than anything in Costa Rica, but we agree with you that Costa Rica is (to us) more appealing overall. Thanks so much for your comments, Doug. Where are you landing in CR?
@@yourpuravida Sarchi area
@@yourpuravida well i bought a place in santa lucia, 10 minutes from la fortuna
Are you loving it@@dougdileo4727 ? Hope so - great area!
I commonly hear: 3rd 🌎 living for 1st 🌎 prices in regards to Costa Rica.
Thanks for bringing this up - I have heard that as well. I think that's a false narrative. To be clear - it is expensive here. This is de facto an island - expensive to get consumer goods to a small country with a small population off the main shipping hubs. You are trading the cost of goods for quality of life. And I push back on 3rd or 2nd world classifications. Both of those have very specific meanings. This is an agrarian country to be sure. Not poor, but also not at a tax base to have massive infrastructure spends, etc. I think they do a good job balancing quality, and I would happily sacrifice some creature comforts for this way of life. (but too, the dollar has gone down over 20% in just the last year against the colon so that doesn't help..)
Honestly, TWO SUBJECTIVE guys doing a compare/pro-con video about CR and Panama. Where is the guy who actually lives in Panama, and experiences daily life there? This video is crap comparison. Find another comparison video., don't rely on this one. I'm moving to Panama ASAP!
We answer this a lot and I'm not going to give a lot of energy to this, but: you are right. We are not objective. We live in Costa Rica. That doesn't mean this video is not supportive of anyone's personal journey. You do you. Find where speaks to YOU. All we can do is give you our feedback and you take if from there. If you find it isn't good info for you, don't take it. Even with your snark aside, we are excited for you to find your perfect spot in Panama!
Well, you've validated, reinforced your decision to live in CR instead of PA. You've judged PA and CR even though you've lived in CR yet not in PA. The information unrevealed is voluminous, noteworthy, but those omissions are ok with me. As for oppressive heat, the coast of CR (Tamarindo, Jaco) is just as oppressively hot as the coast of PA.
There are some things that people say are just fantasies. First, San José cannot compete with Panama City, Panama moves a lot of money, it has better infrastructure and development and the people are friendlier in Panama. San José is a town at the foot of Panama City, Costa Rica is like a village. Secondly, health, public health in Costa Rica is a disaster, appointments take more than 1 year to find a public sector specialist. Private healthcare in Costa Rica is expensive and the value for money is not good. Unlike Panama, which has better private hospitals, Costa Ricans travel to Panama for affordable medical care. San José and all of Costa Rica in general is more insecure than Panama, Panama has better security and less crime. In Human Development Panama is far above Costa Rica. Panama has less poverty than Costa Rica. Food prices in Costa Rica are absurdly ridiculous, very high. Many people who live in Costa Rica and visit Panama immediately move to Panama. I know many retirees who, after being in Costa Rica, move to Panama looking for tranquility and comfortable prices. The streets in Costa Rica are a disaster and the customer service is terrible. Costa Ricans do not have the idiosyncrasies to provide service. In Costa Rica, when they see a foreigner they want to scam them with prices that increase up to 4 times, the Panamanian is more honest and has a good culture.
Thanks for sharing your perspective. Lots of people find their home in Costa Rica because they want to be in or near a capitol city but PTY doesn't fit their needs. It's all about what's right for you and your family.
Panama 🇵🇦
I came twice to Costa Rica and went once in Panama for one month.... I did not like Panama it's not clean at all, trach everywhere. Costa Rica has beautiful beaches, But in Panama it's hard to get to the beach. I will not go again to Panama. So everything about in Costa Rica is better than Panama.
We really appreciate your perspective!!!!!!
I prefer C.R. for a stress free life, Panama looks to be too much like Miami.
For us Texans especially: the gun laws are very generous in Panama. My current understanding is that as long as you carry concealed and not open, you do not need a permit or license to have a gun on your person and it is perfectly legal. But you should verify this for yourself and I am NOT an attorney. I believe Panama is safer. And, as they say, "An armed society is a polite society." Also, Panama has NO standing military, which I find comforting, and their police are not militarized - USA police seriously have armored cars and even tank-like personnel carriers. What could go wrong?
Can you take advantage of Healthcare in Costa Rica 🇨🇷 if you live in Panama? 🇵🇦🤔
This is a nuanced answer, but yes. Private pay hospitals are exactly that: private pay. Anyone can go to them; some specialties in Costa Rica have created "medical tourism". But you cannot take advantage of the public system as that is one you pay into.
Panamás infrastructure is better that in Costa Rica in every way love it , but Costa Rica keep on pulling you every time you what to travel !!! .
? ...They are making a comparison based on their personal preference, both individuals live in Costa Rica, Where is the opinion , reality or experience of the Panama side expat?
Thanks for your comment. It's hard to compare the infrastructure between the two countries. Our preferences are clearly Costa Rica but we definitely see lots of upsides about Panama. Pura vida!
Thanks for your comment, @romantico345. Pura vida!
A lot of the your comparisons are Costa Rica v. Panama City, which would not be in the hottest area if it weren't for the canal.
Same goes for health care - try living in NYC unless you're rich you have to join the lines etc. even in great hospitals.
Sir, are you sure of all the bla bla you talk about..I was born in Costa Rica, grew up in USA,retired U.S.Marine and SSA pensioner...you can not talk about two diferent countries like you just did..please, think before you speak..get your words correctly, think clearly..I lve in both countries, Costa Rica is much much expensive than Panama..so please schek yourself out
In and out of Panama for close to 40years, retired here 10yrs ago. Live in low moutains in Cocle Provence, daily avg 85degrees, we use ceiling fans, no a/c. Have a lot of expierience in Costa Rica- you can keep it, I'll stay here. Good Medical, way less expensive as well. These guys are not honest
It's our perspective, and we're happy to hear from others who have different perspectives. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Costa Rica internet was fine, Panama. I heard it is fine depending where you're at.
Panama is a great place to put your MONEY
NO TAX FOR AMERICA, LITTLE FOR PANAMA. REALLY THE MAINES RESON.COST FOR A VERY SMALL RESIDENT,TO GET VISA &PASSPORT.
I didn't watch the whole video but did you compare day-to-day living prices? CR is a third world country with first world prices. All the Ricas cross the border to buy stuff in Panama. Enough said really isn't it fellas?
You must have missed most of the video. 😉 There are many reasons why one would want to live in Costa Rica over Panama. And many reasons why one would choose Panama over Costa Rica. Pura vida.
I have not been in Panama yet,but sjo is ugly city no walkable ,beside roads in Costa Rica is not accessible to other areas like 200km takes 7hrs to get tomtravel
Thanks for your comments. I'd disagree that San José is ugly and not walkable. The valley is incredibly beautiful. From my apartment, I can see the mountains, volcanoes and a beautiful skyline. Every morning I take a walk for an hour through different parks and neighborhoods. But yes, SJ isn't for everyone. Pura vida!
How can you talk about places you haven't visited.
These 2 guys remind me of used car salesmen
...without the selling of cars or really anything. Our opinion is free!
@@yourpuravida you sound like you have a vested interest in Costa Rica. No objectivity. Used medical facilities in both countries, sprained knee in Panama, sick from poluted water in San Jose. Had English speaking Dr in Panama
Costa Rica was top 40 years ago
Now it's like Florida, Rip off the. Tourists while there here
CR will charge you just for exist...that is crazy
The happiest country in Latin America is Colombia 🇨🇴
Go to Costa Rica, Panamá is to fill, Costa Rica is the Best.
Thanks for your comment. Pura vida!
Very bias opinions. Bye.
En costa rica hay claces sociales es lo que el gringo no entiende
Gracias por tu comentario, no estamos en desacuerdo. Pero con este comentario es importante señalar que en cada país existen clases sociales. Para nosotros la clave es intentar integrarnos y no ser "sólo expatriados".
Thank you for your comment, we do not disagree. But with this cimment it is important to note that there are social classes in every country. For us the key is trying to integrate and not be "expat only".