I moved to Panama. It feels like I’m living a dream because it’s affordable and I’m so much more relaxed.

Kimberly Kelley moved to Panama in 2023. 

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Kimberly Kelley, a 71-year-old retired hypnotherapist who moved from Arizona to Panama in 2023. It’s been edited for length and clarity.

I’m from Arizona — a town called Cottonwood, up near Sedona.

Before I retired, I worked as a licensed hypnotherapist and was a minister at a spiritual center that my ex and I founded. After I’d lived in Cottonwood for years, several factors made me want to leave — not just the town but ultimately the US as well.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people from California started buying property in Sedona and renting it out short term, which drove up prices and pushed out local workers. People who could no longer afford Sedona moved to Cottonwood, which then caused prices to rise there, too.

Affordability wasn’t the main reason I wanted to leave the US. The increasingly toxic political environment also concerned me. On top of that, my husband and I got divorced after 30 years of marriage, my mom passed away, and the dog I had rescued died — all within three months of each other.

I just tapped out. I needed a fresh start, a sense of adventure — something that would let me reinvent myself.

While I’ve always been comfortable traveling, my biggest hesitation was missing my family. But after some reflection, I realized that my family is spread out across the US, and I see them only about once a year anyway.

I thought, why not do that from another country, like Panama?

My Google searches led me to Panama

Panama came onto my radar through an online search.

I was looking up the best and most affordable places for retiring on the beach. Every time I typed something in, Panama kept popping up.

Several things attracted me, including the country’s natural beauty, climate, and affordability. The fact that its people speak Spanish was another big plus. I have a Spanish background and wanted to brush up on my language skills. I’m getting fluent — still not quite there yet, but close.

Panama is also not that far from the US — about four hours from Houston by plane — so it’s easy to get back if needed.

The country offers some incredible financial benefits for retirees. The most important ones for me are the 25% discount on round-trip flights originating in Panama, 50% off entertainment, and 25% off healthcare. That’s on top of its already incredibly low prices.

I took a scouting trip to Panama in July 2023, and just four months later, I sold everything I owned and made the move.

I’m paying more for housing, but it’s worth it

I live about an hour and a half outside Panama City, in a little town called San Carlos. I love it here.

It’s kind of a busy area known for its beaches. Many expats have settled here, and one of the main hubs nearby is a town called Coronado. That’s where all the key amenities are — larger grocery stores (not quite big box by US standards but big for here), hardware stores similar to Home Depot, doctors, dentists, hair salons.

It’s also a popular vacation spot for locals from Panama City. Many own condos out here that they rent out on Airbnb when they’re not using them.

Kelley in Panama. 

When I went on my recon trip in July, I had a handler named Angela. She took me all over the area to check out different neighborhoods where I could live. I wanted a condo on the beach — that was nonnegotiable.

By chance, we connected with a condo owner, an American who retired in Panama City. She and I hit it off, and she offered to hold a unit until I could move in November.

My condo came fully furnished. There’s just one door in, which opens into the kitchen. A balcony overlooks the ocean directly across from it, and I have a second balcony off the bedroom.

When I moved in, the rent was $900 monthly, including all utilities. The owner raised it to $1,000 this past year, but it’s still a bargain by anyone’s standards. It’s a beautiful place, not some cheap, little unit.

Back in Cottonwood, I lived in a studio apartment attached to the spiritual center my husband and I owned. I paid just $600 monthly, which was a bit cheaper. But my place in Panama is more than worth the difference.

Besides the views of the Pacific Ocean and all the amenities I get from being near the city, I live in an area where many local fishers come in. About 8:30 every morning, they return from their night catch, and I can buy fresh fish straight from them.

I’m saving big on groceries and other expenses

Each month, I set aside money for living expenses such as housing, groceries, my car, personal maintenance fees, entertainment, and my US cellphone plan.

I budget about $300 a month for groceries. Some months, I’ve spent between $400 to $500, including extras — like food for potlucks, get-togethers, and beach parties, as well as wine. Overall, it’s really affordable, especially if you shop locally. If you prefer US brands, you’ll pay a lot more.

Fruit in a Panamanian market. 

I purchased a cute, little 2012 Hyundai Accent outright for only about $5,000. My car insurance is just over $200.

I spend about $80 a month on fuel. Panama is a small country, and I don’t drive nearly as much as I did when I lived in Arizona. That helps keep costs down. Car repairs here are also super affordable — labor runs about $25 to $35 an hour.

Healthcare is affordable, too. When I visited Panama in July 2023, I got really sick from something I picked up in Belize. I ended up seeing two doctors, receiving four days of steroid and antibiotic shots, going to the hospital, having X-rays and lab work, and being prescribed multiple medications.

The total cost? Under $300. That kind of care would’ve been impossible for that price in the US. That amount would have maybe covered a single office visit there.

I’m living a dream in Panama

There’s so much I love about Panama. First and foremost, the Panamanian people — they’re some of the warmest and kindest you can imagine.

Making friends here has been one of the easiest parts. I joined several expat groups on Facebook, including tons specifically for Panama. From there, I found more targeted groups on WhatsApp based on my interests and activities.

Of course, I did have to adjust to a few things. The infrastructure, for example, took some getting used to. Things like trash pickup, pothole filling, and general maintenance can be a bit inconsistent.

People also don’t lock up their dogs like we do in the States. I work with a group called Spay Panama, and we gather as many dogs and cats as possible — with permission from their families, of course. We take them to be spayed or neutered and then return them to their owners.

The biggest adjustment was learning to live in “mañana time.” There’s just a completely different energy here: laid back. I no longer enjoy that go-go-go mindset.

It takes courage, but it also requires a lot of curiosity and a desire to move somewhere new and reinvent yourself. I think the happiest expats are the ones who are looking for an adventure.

While I pay more in rent than I did for my old place in Arizona, living in Panama has been absolutely worth it.

My environment, peace of mind, and overall quality of life have all improved. Honestly, the lifestyle I have here would’ve been out of reach for me in the US. I feel like I’m living a dream — but this is truly my life.