Saran Lhawpongsawad

Panama City has a modern metro, Uber and DiDi, and cheap buses. Outside the capital, public transport thins and a car becomes necessary. Here’s every transport option, what it costs, and how expats use each one.

Panama offers everything from cosmopolitan city life to highland coffee towns and Caribbean island communities. Here’s an honest breakdown of where expats actually settle, and how to find the right fit.

Panama drives on the right, uses USD at the pump, and has roads ranging from excellent highways to sections that close in rain. Here’s what to know about rules, road conditions, and handling accidents.

Panama’s crime index of 42.7 ranks it among the safer countries in Central America. Petty theft is the realistic risk in most expat areas; violent crime is concentrated in specific neighborhoods most residents never visit.

Tourists can drive on a foreign license for 90 days. Once you have residency, Panama law requires converting to a local license, but for most nationalities, there is no written exam and no road test. Here’s how the process works, what the tests involve, and what to do if you no longer have your original license.