🔥 Scouting Report: Why Global STR Investors Are Turning to Panama City

Why Global Investors Are Turning to Panama City for Plan B Living & Investing

 💲 Where Your Lifestyle, Profit, and Possibility Intersect

Some cities look good on paper—others you have to see to believe. Panama City is the latter.

If you’re tired of chasing yields in oversaturated U.S. STR markets, concerned about a weakening dollar, or simply seeking a Plan B that doesn’t feel like a compromise—Panama City deserves your attention.

Our thirty days of boots-on-the-ground revealed what the numbers only hint at: short-term rental properties at a fraction of U.S. prices, a steady and expanding mid-term demand, effortless access from major U.S. cities, and a lifestyle that’s easy to fall in love with.

💡 What You're Really Getting

Imagine buying a modern ocean-view condo for what you'd pay for a parking space in Miami. Then imagine collecting rent in U.S. dollars, in a country that's three hours from Florida.

That's Panama City.

Here's what makes it work:

• Modern condos with ocean views start near $180K

• Healthcare, dining, and daily living cost that can be 40–60% less than comparable U.S. cities

• Panama operates on the actual U.S. dollar—no peg, no conversion, no currency risk for U.S. investors

• When the dollar strengthens globally, European and other foreign buyers find Panama more affordable, increasing demand

• When the dollar weakens, your buying power as a U.S. investor remains stable since everything is priced in dollars

• You can visit your property without passport complications or timezone headaches

First-world infrastructure. Emerging-market pricing. Dollar-based economy.

It's the rare combination that protects U.S. investors from currency risk while making the market attractive to global capital—and it's landing distance from Miami.

✈️ Your Property Is Closer Than You Think

Picture this: You leave Houston after an early breakfast, land in Panama City at lunch, and you're standing in your condo by early afternoon.

Tocumen International connects directly to every major U.S. hub—Miami, Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, New York. The UTC-5 timezone means you're never scrambling for Zoom calls or property manager updates at odd hours. Very nice.

And when you land? Downtown is 30 minutes away.

This isn’t some far-flung outpost. It’s s closer than many cross-country U.S. flights, with the kind of connectivity that makes active management genuinely feasible. And American investors are noticing, in growing numbers.

🏙️ Where Your Investment Actually Fits

The question isn't whether Panama City works. It's which neighborhood matches your strategy. We scouted the top neighborhoods for STR investment and here is what we found.

If You Want Licensed STR Income

Casco Viejo is your zone. Widely recognized as Panama City’s Airbnb hotspot, this UNESCO-listed district blends colonial charm with rooftop terraces and cobblestone streets. Short-term rentals here are fully legal and performing exceptionally well. Cultural cachet meets strong yield. You’re buying into Panama’s soul — and travelers pay premium rates to experience it.

If You're After Stable Corporate Tenants

Costa del Este is master-planned perfection. Multinational companies house their executives here, driving consistent mid-term demand. Expect credible developers offering pre-sales with financing and a tenant pool that values quality and pays on time. We’re based here and have plenty to share.

If You Want Luxury Positioning

Punta Pacífica sits beside the Johns Hopkins–affiliated hospital, luxury retail, and major business towers. It attracts medical-tourism patients, high-net-worth executives, and families willing to pay for prestige. Properties here practically manage themselves with professional operators already in place. Medical-tourism deals coming soon.

If You're Building a Pied-à-Terre

Santa María offers golf-course living, gated calm, and suburban elegance. It’s where you’d actually want to spend time—quiet enough to decompress, refined enough to impress. Ideal for long-term holds with appreciation potential and low turnover. We met with the developer and can’t wait to share what we found.

If You Want Waterfront Lifestyle Value

Balboa Avenue lines the bay with high-rises, joggers, and skyline views. It offers high liquidity when you’re ready to exit and the kind of location that photographs itself. You’ll want to visit—and so will your tenants. This is the heart of the action, with plenty of opportunity.

If You're Targeting Young Professionals

Marbella blends urban energy with walkability. Restaurants, residences, and reliable mid-term tenants—many remote or hybrid professionals—make for steady demand and manageable turnover. Several quality pre-sale opportunities are available.

If You Want a Community Feel

San Francisco centers on Parque Omar, a green oasis surrounded by local flavor and modern convenience. Mid-term and long-term rentals here attract families and professionals who prefer neighborhood life to high-rises. Strong potential for resale and mid-term rental deals.

If You're a Value-Add Investor

El Cangrejo is bohemian and walkable, with metro access and year-round demand. Older units near Via Argentina Station can offer 20–30% upside for investors willing to renovate. This is where hands-on investors find margin. Local resale deals from our insider coming soon.

If You Want Serene Coastal Living

Coco del Mar delivers low-rise calm and sea breezes. Perfect for a personal pied-à-terre or selective long-term tenants who value quiet over buzz. Attractive new pre-sale condos are now available.

If You're Eyeing the Next Frontier

Amador Causeway stretches into the Pacific with new marinas, boutique hotels, and breathtaking views. It’s Panama’s emerging waterfront—get in before everyone else discovers it. Incredible pre-sale opportunities ahead; we loved Amador.

If You Want Branded-Residence Confidence

Playa Bonita brings resort living with institutional backing. The Westin Residences offer full-service management, resort amenities, and global brand recognition. It’s a turnkey STR model where marketing, management, and maintenance are handled for you. Ideal if you want income without hands-on involvement. Hot deal in the works.

If You Want Beach Lifestyle with Brand Recognition

Margaritaville brings its signature beach vibe to Panama’s Pacific coast. Beach clubs, pools, and restaurants create built-in appeal, while the brand’s global following drives demand. STR-friendly and fully managed, it’s an effortless entry into resort ownership. Inside track on top deals coming soon.

If You're Positioning for Coastal Growth

Carasol and the other mega master-planned communities along the Pacific corridor represent Panama’s next wave. These large-scale, phased projects include beach clubs, commercial zones, and long-term infrastructure. Get in early for significant upside as each phase delivers. Our insider report on where to buy is coming soon.

If You Want Innovation and Incentives

Panamá Pacífico spans 1,400 hectares of the former Howard Air Force Base. Clean, modern, and business-friendly, it offers tax advantages for companies and investors. Long-term rentals cater to professionals and expat families relocating for work. A true live-work community that delivers consistent mid- to long-term returns.

🧭 Your Two Paths Forward

You've got options depending on your risk tolerance and involvement level.

Pre-sales give you modern design, developer financing, and turnkey delivery. You're buying into proven builders with track records. Less work, more predictability. Perfect if you want a lifestyle asset that's ready to rent or enjoy from day one. We scouted the best for you, and forgot the rest.

Resales unlock value-add potential. Older condos with solid bones, often 20–30% below replacement cost. You renovate smart, reposition, and capture serious upside. This is where hands-on investors build real equity. Our boots-on-the-ground insider can put you on the best opportunities.

Both paths work. It's about matching strategy to your bandwidth, and connecting with our local insider developer and agent contacts.

🌍 You're Not Alone in This Move

Everywhere we went—from Casco rooftops to Costa del Este boardrooms—the same profile kept appearing: investors like you.

Americans, Canadians, Europeans, South Americans. They're converging on Panama at a pace not seen before.

Here's what's driving them:

You're getting comparable quality at half the price. The lifestyle and infrastructure you'd pay $600K for in Miami? You're buying it here for $250K.

Your cost of living drops 40–60%. Save huge on housing, healthcare, taxes, insurance. That means you can afford to visit more, stay longer, or even relocate to work remotely, without living paycheck to paycheck.

Your healthcare becomes world-class and affordable. Bilingual, modern hospitals at 60–70% less than U.S. costs. This isn't a backup plan. It's an upgrade.

Your passport gains optionality. Friendly Nations, Qualified Investor, Pensionado, Digital Nomad visa. There's a path for your profile, whether you're 35 or 65.

Your portfolio diversifies on a dollar-based foundation. For U.S. investors, Panama eliminates currency risk. You earn in dollars, spend in dollars, exit in dollars. For European and other foreign investors, a strong home currency makes Panama even more affordable, driving diverse global demand that supports property values.

You're not early. But you're not late either. You're right on time.

🛂 Your Residency Options (When You're Ready)

Maybe you're just buying rental income. Or maybe you're thinking bigger? Plan B, tax strategy, global mobility? It is all possible here.

Panama makes both paths surprisingly simple:

Friendly Nations Visa – Invest $200K in property, get permanent residency. Available to U.S., Canadian, and most European passport holders.

Qualified Investor Visa – Put $300K into real estate, get fast-track approval in 30 days. One of the fastest residency programs in the hemisphere.

Pensionado Visa – If you have $1K/month in lifetime income (pension, annuity), you qualify for residency plus discounts on healthcare, dining, and utilities.

Digital Nomad Visa – Earning remotely? The 9-month renewable visa lets you test Panama before committing capital.

You don't need to decide today. But knowing the door is open changes how you think about this investment.

💵 What Your Life Actually Costs Here

Over 30 days on the ground, the math became undeniable:

• Fine dining: $25–$35 per person

• Uber across town: $3–$8 per ride

• Dental cleaning with X-rays: $125 total ($65 + $60)

• Monthly groceries for two: ~40% less (non-imported goods)

• Gym membership: $50/month

• Domestic help: $15–$20 per visit — or about $500/month for full-time, six days a week

It’s that time of year I dread as an investor — annual tax and insurance bills. Painful. And somehow, more painful every year.

Here’s where Panama really shines: the biggest savings that still blows my mind is how low the holding costs are just to break even on an asset. Property taxes run 0.25–0.35% of value, and insurance averages around 0.1%.

That means your break-even point is dramatically lower — and your cash flow starts working for you much faster.

You’re not sacrificing lifestyle or investment potential. You’re upgrading both — at roughly half the cost.

Your investment dollar goes further, your rental income stretches longer, and your time here feels like a vacation, not a budget compromise. And if you ever decide to spend more time in Panama, those savings only multiply.

🩺 Your Healthcare Just Got Better—and Cheaper

We toured The Panama Clinic, sleek, modern, fully bilingual, and spotless. Located inside the Pacific Center in the Paitilla district, it is designed for comfort as much as care and even accepts select U.S. insurance plans, including some Medicare Advantage options.

Just around the corner, Pacífica Salud Hospital Punta Pacífica stands as the only Johns Hopkins–affiliated hospital in Central America, delivering the kind of care you would expect in Houston or Boston at 60–70% less.

Nearby, Clínica Hospital San Fernando adds depth to this healthcare triangle. Founded in 1949 as Panama’s first private hospital, it continues to earn international accreditation and remains a trusted institution among locals and expats alike.

Three world-class hospitals, all within about a mile of each other.

But here is the clincher: Panama is not just offering lower costs. It is fast becoming a global hub for medical tourism, particularly in stem cell and regenerative therapies. Clinics here attract patients from North America, Europe, and Latin America for treatments in joint regeneration, autoimmune conditions, and neurological recovery, often at a fraction of U.S. prices.

As demand for advanced medical treatments grows, so does the appeal of owning property nearby. For investors, that means STR and lifestyle properties in this corridor now benefit from both lifestyle infrastructure and proximity to a booming global health sector. We will put you on the inside track to unique med-tourism STR plays, we toured them all!

This is not “medical tourism lite.” It is medical parity, world-class care at prices that make sense. If healthcare quality is part of your Plan B for yourself, aging parents, or future flexibility, Panama just moved to the top of the list.

🧭 What We're Bringing You Next

We built relationships with the key people who matter: premier developers with track records, brokers who know which buildings perform, attorneys who structure deals correctly, and property managers who actually answer the phone.

We identified which pre-sales are credible and which to avoid. We walked resale rehab opportunities with real margin potential. We mapped every coastal project from Carasol to Santa Maria.

Why?

Because you shouldn't have to spend months figuring this out. You should be able to see exactly where your strategy fits, which opportunities match your risk profile, and who to trust with your capital. We want to give your diligence a head start.

That's what our scouting missions will deliver—the neighborhoods, the projects, the vetted partners, and the properties that make sense for STR investors, pied-à-terre buyers, and Plan B seekers.

From licensed STR plays in Casco Viejo to executive mid-term rentals in Costa del Este. From waterfront villas along Amador to value-add rehabs in El Cangrejo. Some incre

We found something for every investor profile, because we were looking for you.

🧩 Your Next Move

Panama City isn't just another market on a spreadsheet. It's one of the last places where dollar stability, lifestyle value, and real returns still align.

It's stable. It's accessible. And it's full of possibility—not someday, but right now.

If you've been searching for a market that checks the boxes most investors say don't exist anymore—this is it.

We cannot wait to share more. Stay tuned.

Happy scouting,
Andy Thoms
Editor, STR Scout

Scout STR Deals. Connect with Local Insiders. Conduct Thorough Due Diligence.