Brian - Gay Expats Panama

Home & Auto Insurance in Panama: What It Costs, Who to Use, and Why Where You Live Changes Everything (2026)

June 11, 2026

Home insurance on a $300,000 property in Panama runs $300–$950 per year. Comprehensive auto coverage on a $25,000 car costs about $600–$800 annually. Both are a fraction of Florida rates. But if you’re moving to Boquete, Coronado, or anywhere outside Panama City, the car you didn’t need in the capital becomes the one expense that changes your whole budget — and we cover that math honestly.

Financing a Home in Panama: Mortgages, Cash, HELOCs, and the QIV Deadline Every Expat Couple Should Know (2026)

June 11, 2026June 9, 2026

Panama bank mortgages for foreigners are real — but the age math alone disqualifies many retirees from practical terms. We cover every option: bank mortgages with current rates, developer financing, U.S. HELOC strategies, and the Qualified Investor Visa’s $300,000 threshold closing October 15, 2026. Plus: why we’re still working out our own answer.

Buying a Home in Panama as an American Expat: The Complete 2026 Guide to Costs, Taxes, and Process

June 11, 2026June 8, 2026

Panama gives foreign buyers the same constitutional property rights as citizens — no partner required, no quota, no special approval. But titled land vs. right of possession is a critical distinction that has cost real buyers real money. Here’s everything: closing costs, property taxes, the 2026 Law 468 change, pre-construction risk, insurance, selling costs, and the questions that come up constantly in expat groups.

What Does It Actually Cost to Live in Panama City? A 2026 Monthly Budget for Two

June 11, 2026June 4, 2026

Grocery shopping in Panama and the real cost of living there.

“Panama is cheap — you can live on $1,500 a month.” We’ve heard it. We researched it. Here are three honest monthly budgets for a retired couple in Panama City, built from 2026 figures: a lean $2,800–$3,200, a mid-range $3,800–$4,600, and a comfortable $5,500–$7,500. The savings are real. The $1,500 figure is not.

Banking in Panama for American Expats: What’s Really Hard, What’s a Myth, and How to Get It Right (2026)

June 11, 2026June 1, 2026

Banking in Panama - not has difficult as you think

Every Panama expat group has the banking horror stories. What they rarely have is an explanation of why it’s hard — or a clear plan for doing it right. We researched the real causes of failure: timing, documentation gaps, the wrong bank, and FATCA history. Here’s what actually works.

Taxes in Panama: What the Territorial Tax System Actually Means for American Expats (2026)

June 11, 2026May 29, 2026

Panama doesn’t tax your foreign income — and that’s genuinely true. What most expat blogs quietly omit is that your IRS obligations don’t disappear when you move. Here’s an honest breakdown of Panama’s territorial system, income tax rates, property tax exemptions, Pensionado discounts, and what you still owe the U.S. government.

The Real Numbers: Our 12-Part Guide to Finances, Money & Budgeting in Panama (2026)

June 11, 2026May 26, 2026

We couldn’t build a retirement budget on vague, so we built a 12-part series instead. Taxes, banking, cost of living, buying a home, healthcare costs, estate planning for gay couples, and the reserve strategy that most expat guides skip entirely — with actual figures from our April 2026 research trip.

Tipping in Panama: What to Tip, What the Law Says, and Why It’s More Complicated Than You Think

June 4, 2026May 23, 2026

Tipping in Panama is different than the US

Tipping in Panama is voluntary by law — ACODECO just reminded everyone of that in May 2026. But the real debate isn’t legal. It’s whether American expats tipping 20–25% are doing service workers a favor or slowly making Panama unaffordable for the people who actually live there. We break down what to tip at restaurants, bars, hotels, Uber, tour guides, and more — and take an honest look at the question nobody in the Facebook groups seems to want to resolve.

Fondas in Panama: Cheap, Authentic, and Why We Haven’t Eaten at One Yet

June 2, 2026May 22, 2026

Fonda's sell affordable meals - street food.

A couple of locals we talked to in Panama City told us the same thing: you have to try a fonda. They’re licensed, they’re $5–$6 for a full meal, and they serve the most authentic Panamanian food you’ll find. So why haven’t we eaten at one yet? Honestly? No air conditioning. Here’s everything we found out while we work up to it.

Panama Address Change Rule: Residents Must Notify Migración Within 30 Days (Now Online)

May 21, 2026

You must file a change of address within 30 days of moving

Panama has always required residents to report address changes within 30 days. In 2025 they started enforcing it — and added a $100 fine for anyone already late. The process is now online. The notarized documents are not, and renters especially need to read this before they file.

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