Still deciding on Panama? Read the Panama departure guide first - visa pathways, cost breakdown, and what to expect before you commit.
The paperwork is done. The Pensionado card is in your wallet, or the residency stamp is in your passport. You’re standing in a Panama City apartment, sweating despite the AC being on, wondering if it’s always this humid.
Yes. It is. But you’ll adjust. Here’s everything else you need to know.
Taxis in Panama City do not use meters. Establish the fare before you get in. For most in-city trips, $2-5 USD is reasonable. If a driver quotes you $15 to go eight blocks, you’re being targeted as a newcomer. Smile, close the door, and wave down the next one.
Uber operates in Panama City and is significantly easier - fixed price, no negotiation, card payment. Use it until you’re comfortable with the taxi system.
The Metro has two lines and covers the main urban corridor. It is clean and air-conditioned. Line 1 costs $0.35 USD per trip; Line 2 costs $0.50 USD. Useful for commuting from Albrook or Albrook Mall area into the city centre. It will not take you everywhere you need to go, but it is reliable where it runs.
Driving in Panama is manageable but aggressive. Canadian licence is valid for 90 days after arrival; after that you need a Panamanian licence (requires your residency card and a medical certificate, processed through the Traffic Authority). Traffic in Panama City is a legitimate daily problem - the Corredor Norte and Corredor Sur toll highways save time and are worth the cost.
Outside Panama City: A car becomes essential. Boquete in ChiriquĂ, Coronado on the Pacific coast, and the Azuero Peninsula all require a vehicle. Road quality varies - major highways are good, secondary roads less so in rainy season.
El Cangrejo is the traditional expat centre - restaurants, international grocery stores, hotels, central location. Dense and lively.
Marbella and Obarrio are slightly more upscale. Business hotels, good restaurants, walkable to financial district.
Punta Pacifica and Punta Paitilla are the high-rise residential areas with ocean views. Higher rents, more condo-style living, popular with retirees and professionals.
Costa del Este is the planned community east of the city. Newer, quieter, family-oriented, good schools nearby. Popular with Canadians who arrive with children.
Outside the city: Boquete in the highlands (Chiriquà province) is the mountain expat hub - cool climate, coffee farms, active hiking community, heavy North American and European retiree population. Facebook groups like “Expats in Boquete” are active.
El Rey is the go-to supermarket. Well-stocked, good produce, US brands throughout, open 24 hours in some locations. Because Panama uses USD and imports heavily from the US, the product selection feels more familiar than most Latin American countries.
Super 99 is cheaper and more basic. Fine for staples.
Riba Smith is the upscale option - think a mid-tier gourmet grocery. Imported cheeses, specialty items, organic produce. Expensive, but the place to find things that don’t exist elsewhere.
MultiPlaza Pacific and Albrook Mall have the big-box stores and more familiar retail brands.
A note on prices: Panama imports a lot and charges for it. Groceries are not cheap by Latin American standards. A comparable grocery cart to what you’d buy in Canada will run 20-30% less - not the dramatic savings people expect.
IKEA does not exist in Panama. This surprises most Canadians.
Novey is the hardware and home goods chain - functional, mid-range, good for appliances and basics.
EPA (similar concept) is the other main option.
The Miami option: Many Panamanians buy furniture and appliances through freight forwarders in Miami. You ship to a Miami address and they truck it to Panama - typically 5-10 days and significantly cheaper than buying locally for larger items. Ask your landlord or any established expat for their freight forwarder contact. This is genuinely common practice, not a workaround.
Facebook Marketplace Panama has secondhand items. Quality varies. Useful for that gap period when you’re waiting on the Miami shipment.
A sit-down lunch at a local restaurant runs $4-10 USD. A full dinner at a mid-range place runs $15-30 USD. Panama City has a serious restaurant scene - sushi, Italian, Lebanese, ceviche, the works.
The local staple is arroz con pollo and corvina (local white fish). Both are reliable, cheap, and genuinely good. Sancocho (chicken soup) is the national comfort food.
US fast food chains are everywhere and identically priced to the US - the shared currency means no adjustment needed. This is convenient when you first arrive and haven’t figured out your grocery situation yet.
The humidity. Panama City averages 80%+ relative humidity year-round. Your hair, your leather goods, your lungs, and your mold awareness will all adapt. Run your AC. Keep closets ventilated. Check under furniture periodically.
Rainy season is real. April through December brings afternoon downpours - often an hour of heavy rain, then it stops. You plan around it. The flip side: dry season (January to March) is spectacular and the main reason long-term residents endure the rest of the year.
The Pensionado discount is actually used. If you have Pensionado status, the 20-50% discounts on hotels, restaurants, medical procedures, transport, and entertainment are not tourist brochure fiction. Carry the card and present it. Some places don’t volunteer it - ask.
Banking as a Canadian non-resident is harder than anywhere else on this list. Panamanian banks conduct significant KYC (Know Your Customer) due diligence and are cautious about new foreign clients. Banco Nacional and Banistmo are the main options. Bring every document you own (residency card, passport, tax returns, proof of income, two references). Many Canadians keep a Canadian account active and use Wise for transfers while they work through the local banking process.
Electricity bills. AC runs constantly in Panama. Your electricity bill will be significant - $150-300 USD/month is normal for a well-cooled apartment. Factor this into your cost-of-living math before you sign a lease.
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