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This weekend I’ll be returning to Panama for the first time since moving away three years ago, so the Isthmus is on my mind this week. There are plenty of things I miss about life in Panama, and a few things I plan to stock up on to bring back—my favorite rum, some spices and peppers, and hot sauce, to name a few… Giving so much thought to Panama this week and with our Live And Invest In Colombia Conference coming up in a few weeks, I thought I would share a comparison of these two neighboring countries—so close to one another geographically yet with such different cultures and lifestyle options.

While they both have so much to offer right now, frankly, Panama and Colombia couldn’t be more different, as Kathleen Peddicord recently mused…

Putting Two Of Our Favorites Head To Head

We’ve been alerting you to the opportunities on offer in these countries for years. I first recommended Panama for retirement and investment more than 20 years ago, and we began heartily endorsing Colombia, specifically Medellín, a dozen years ago.

Thinking specifically, how do these heavy-hitting overseas havens stack up against each other?

Here’s how I’d lay this out…

Panama

• Bona fide tax haven, taxing income on a jurisdictional basis
• World’s top offshore haven
• Uses U.S. dollar, meaning no currency exchange risk
• Specific Countries visa program (which can mean a work permit)
• Best infrastructure in Central America
• Strong economy
• Quality, affordable health care
• Diverse lifestyle options, including Pacific and Caribbean coasts, islands, mountains, and Panama City
• Top choice for entrepreneurs
• Super accessible, with many direct flights daily to and from North America and Europe

Panama Pros

• Bona fide tax haven, taxing income on a jurisdictional basis
• World’s top offshore haven
• Uses U.S. dollar, meaning no currency exchange risk
• Specific Countries visa program (which can mean a work permit)
• Best infrastructure in Central America
• Strong economy
• Quality, affordable health care
• Diverse lifestyle options, including Pacific and Caribbean coasts, islands, mountains, and Panama City
• Top choice for entrepreneurs
• Super accessible, with many direct flights daily to and from North America and Europe

Panama Cons

• Hot and humid in Panama City and on coasts
• Traffic congestion in Panama City
• Poor service standards
• Panama City is not suitable for walking… meaning you must own a car or rely on public transportation and taxis
• Strong mañana attitude

 Colombia

Colombia Pros

• Best health care in Latin America at a cost that can be 90% less than U.S. costs for comparable care
• Top investment haven with enormous upside
• Strong economy
• Welcoming, well-mannered locals
• First-World, even luxury lifestyle options
• Working hard to compete for foreign attention and investment
• Easiest and cheapest residency option in the world today; pensioner option requires income of only less than US$1,000 per month at today’s exchange rate… and you can process the application yourself
• Diverse lifestyle options on offer, including sophisticated, Euro-chic city living, Caribbean beach, world-class colonial towns, rural landscapes, and the finca lifestyle
• South America rather than Central America… and there is a difference

Colombia Cons

• Necessary to learn some Spanish
• Less existing expat infrastructure
• Not a low-tax jurisdiction
• Air pollution in Medellín and Bogotá

In the context of the issues most important to the would-be retiree or investor, here’s how these two countries stack up against each other…

Cost Of Living

Remember the exchange rate. Right now, Colombia can be the greater bargain by far.

On the other hand, retired on a fixed U.S. dollar-based income in Panama, you’d never have to worry about the exchange rate eroding your budget.

Cost Of Real Estate

Again, thanks to the exchange rate, real estate in Colombia can be 60%+ cheaper, apples to apples.

Also note that, while it’s possible to own luxury in both Medellín and Panama City, Panama City luxury now comes at a much higher cost.

That said, the Panama City market is soft right now, creating a buy-on-the-dip opportunity that’s worth paying attention to.

Climate

Way more comfortable in Medellín than Panama City, for example, but both countries offer many different climates.

Cartagena, on Colombia’s Caribbean coast is hot and sticky year-round…

While Boquete in the highlands of Panama offers respite from the heat and humidity down at sea level.

Quality Of Life

What are you looking for? Both countries offer city, coastal, mountain, and rural choices fully supported by all 21st-century comforts and amenities.

Ease Of Residency

Panama changed the rules for its Friendly Nations residency program, which now requires an investment in real estate of US$200,000.

In short, that program is far less appealing than it used to be.