Latin America · 5 cities
Panama for digital nomads: 5 cities compared (2026)
Panama has 5 cities in the dataset. Bocas del Toro scores highest under balanced weights at 62/100; David (Panama) is the cheapest with a city-level price at $1,204 a month. Panama has a dedicated remote-work visa, the Short-stay visa for remote workers.
Dataset 2026.10.7. How scoring works.
Cities in Panama, ranked
Balanced weights, every factor equal. Open a city for the full breakdown with sources, or rank them with your own weights.
| # | City | Score | Cost/mo | Internet | Comfortable months | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bocas del Toro Caribbean archipelago town of water taxis, surf and reggae bars | 62 | $1,550* | 42.3 Mbps | 4/12 | Island hopping by water taxi · Surf and diving |
| 2 | Panama City Skyline on the canal, dollars in the wallet | 61 | $1,742 | 43.6 Mbps | 4/12 | US dollar · Hub airport |
| 3 | Pedasí Sleepy Azuero fishing town with surf at Playa Venao and dry-season sun | 61 | $1,550* | 42.3 Mbps | 4/12 | Isla Iguana snorkelling · Playa Venao surf 30 km |
| 4 | David (Panama) Hot commercial capital of Chiriquí, the practical base near Boquete | 58 | $1,204 | 42.3 Mbps | 4/12 | Boquete 40 min · Cheapest big-city living in Panama |
| 5 | Boquete Cool coffee-highland town with a big expat community | 56 | $1,376 | 42.3 Mbps | 3/12 | Coffee farms · Spring climate |
* national estimate
National figures shared by every city
These come from country-level sources and apply to every city in Panama; city pages add the local numbers.
| Figure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 12.78 per 100,000 people | Victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population (national data, latest year), 2024 |
| Political stability | 70 (percentile, World Bank WGI) | Worldwide Governance Indicators — Political Stability and Absence of Violence (score 0–100), 2025 |
| Health coverage index | 82 (WHO UHC index, 0–100) | UHC service coverage index, 2023 |
| Life expectancy | 77.2 years | Life expectancy at birth (years), both sexes, 2021 |
| Human Development Index | 0.839 | Human Development Index (HDR 2025, HDI 2023), 2023 |
| English proficiency | low | EF English Proficiency Index 2024 (band), 2024 |
| Starlink | available | Starlink availability map, 2026-10 |
Visas and entry
What three common passports get at the border, from the passport index. Pick your own passport on the ranker for the full picture.
| Passport | Entry rule |
|---|---|
| US passport | 180 days visa-free |
| EU passport | 90 days visa-free |
| UK passport | 90 days visa-free |
Compare cities in Panama
Head-to-head pages for the pairs people look at most.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Panama good for digital nomads?
- Bocas del Toro scores 62/100 under balanced weights, which ranks it 529 of 1,000 cities in the dataset. Panama's 5 cities average 59.5/100. Strongest factors in Bocas del Toro: air quality and visa ease; weakest: climate.
- What is the cheapest city in Panama for a remote worker?
- David (Panama), at about $1,204 a month for one person including rent (Cost of Living Global 2026 (city rows), 2026-07). Panama City is the most expensive city-priced option at $1,742.
- Does Panama have a digital nomad visa?
- Yes: the Short-stay visa for remote workers. Minimum income $3,000/month. Details, documents and official sources are in the Panama visa guide.
- How long can a US, EU or UK citizen stay in Panama without a visa?
- US passport: 180 days visa-free. EU passport (Germany as reference): 90 days visa-free. UK passport: 90 days visa-free. Source: Passport Index dataset (visa requirements, 199 passports × 199 destinations), 2026-02.
- Which city in Panama has the fastest internet?
- Panama City, with a measured median download of 43.6 Mbps (M-Lab, 2024). Measured speeds run below advertised plans everywhere; 40 Mbps measured is already good.
- How safe is Panama?
- Panama records 12.78 homicides per 100,000 people (Victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population (national data, latest year), 2024) and sits at the 70th percentile for political stability (World Bank WGI, 2025). These are national figures; city pages note local caveats.
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