An Oceanview Condo for $1,000 a Month

As my wife Rita and I get back into our post-COVID sampling of life in other countries around the world, we decided it would be a good idea to spend the winter somewhere warm. After considering several options, we decided to check out Panama. Although we've changed planes in the Tocumen International Airport many times, we had never before taken the time to see what the country has to offer.

We decided to book an Airbnb in Panama City for one month, then transfer to the beach at Playa Coronado for another six weeks. 

We found a modern furnished one-bedroom condo to rent for just over $1,000 a month. We're on the 26th floor with a beautiful view of Panama Bay and Casco Viejo. We have access to a nice pool and gym, but what we are really enjoying is our easy access via an elevated walkway to the malecón.

The malecón is a walkway and bike path that follows the shoreline of the bay for about two and a half miles. It has manicured grassy areas, several outdoor exercise areas, basketball and tennis courts, and much more. One of the things we like best is if we head west, the walkway terminates at the edge of Casco Viejo, a UNESCO World Heritage site. We're walking at least three miles in the morning, and the last two days have included exploring the Old Town as part of our routine.

Another wonderful sight (to me) from our window is the Mercado de Mariscos—a seafood market with fresh seafood of all types available daily. Today we bought two pounds of shrimp and a four-pound filet of sea bass for a total of $15. Needless to say, we will be frequent customers during our time here.

Even better, just across the street from the fish is a marvelous enclosed air-conditioned mercado with fruits, vegetables, beans, grains, pork, beef, chicken, and other grocery items—all much fresher and cheaper than in the well-stocked modern grocery stores. We filled a shoulder bag with fruits and veggies for just $13.70. Between the great outdoor exercise and fresh healthy food, in just five days we have each lost four pounds!

Panama City really has a lot to offer. It has the big, modern skyscrapers, the old-world French Colonial charm of Casco Viejo, the bustling mercados you find in the smaller villages around Central and South America, and several large malls with all of the modern shops and North American brands you would find in Miami.

My wife was a realtor for 30 years, so she always looks at property prices wherever we go. We were surprised to find there are some very nice modern, furnished apartments in buildings with great amenities and views in the $235,000 to $350,000 range.

Even though we don't consider ourselves to be "city people," I have to admit Panama City has us thinking, "Could we live here?" What we've seen so far, and what we know about Panama's easy residency programs, pensionado benefits, and year-round warm weather has us thinking, yes!