Base
Part 4 of the founder’s series. I told why I left, what I verified and how I see the country as an entrepreneur. Now: daily life, with numbers from my own household.
8. One of the world’s best countries to retire
Retirees proving income from US$1,000/month enter the Pensionado program and get a long list of benefits by law: 25% off airline tickets and restaurants, up to 50% off hotels and entertainment, discounts on medicines and medical care. Add the structure — golf courses, communities built to the standard Americans and Canadians expect, places like Boquete — and it is one of the best places on Earth to retire.
9. The climate (this one is a filter)
It is never cold here. The low is around 24-25°C and even that is rare; daytime runs 31-33°C. Real heat, all year. If you dislike heat, this is not your country — better to know before buying the ticket. (Prefer cool air? Boquete exists exactly for that.)
10. Cost of living with numbers from my life
- School: I pay about US$300/month for my daughter’s school;
- Rent: varies wildly. Living somewhere very good is not cheap — but outside the center there are great, cheap finds: a friend lived in Playa Dorada, a 3-bedroom house in a beachfront community with a water club and slide, 5 minutes from the beach, for US$400/month;
- Pricier than Brazil: greens and fruit at conventional supermarkets (lettuce, kale, broccoli) — but strategic places sell far cheaper, like the Mercado de Mariscos for seafood;
- Cheaper than Brazil: olive oil (the good kind!), cars — much cheaper and far easier to buy — and clothing, especially unbranded. So much so that you don’t see badly dressed people on the street.
Summary: Panama is a middle ground. Not as cheap as the US in everything, but far better than Brazil on the overall bill. On average I spend about what I spent there — with another quality of life and another peace of mind.
👉 Series finale, part 5: what came next — offshore, foundation and the legacy for my heirs.
