Pros and Cons of Living in Panama as a Black Person | The Truth Black Expats Don’t Tell YOU

Panama is being sold all over the internet as a paradise for Black Americans. Still, this video shows that paradise always comes with fine print, and sometimes that fine print hits you emotionally, financially, and culturally in ways nobody warns you about. Some people find freedom here, others feel something quietly “off,” and both experiences are real. So I want to hear from you: if you had the chance to leave the United States for Panama or anywhere else, what would matter more to YOU, lower costs and sunshine, or cultural comfort and belonging? Drop your honest thoughts below, because the real truth about living abroad only shows up when people stop sugarcoating it.

i like Panama but dont need it to become trendy like Costa Rica. meaning live like the locals

When someone visits Panama you bring your own experiences with racism with you. This experience with racism will be different in Panama. Try to leave your prior experience where it came from. As a foreigner, you will have enough on your plate with having to learn Spanish and a different way of doing things. Yes, racism is everywhere. Accept this and get on with it. Try and be flexible. It will not be easy so do not make harder than it already will be. You are not a victim in Panama.

White Americans live off of fixed incomes too...🙄

If you come with the attitude because your black your going to be treated differently. Then your wish will come true. If you come with understanding your in a different culture and country need to understand their cultures and customs. Your racism has no meaning. Both White and Black Americans get treated mostly equally because your a foreigner not black or white. So using your color as excuse is your problem not Pamama problem.

Lived in Chiriqui Panama by Boquete in the hills for over 4+years, and find absolutely nothing appealing about this society. After the vacation honeymoon phase wears off (Year 1) you realize how underwhelming, overpriced, overexxagerated, stressful & absolutely BORING this nation truly is, and how little it actually offers, and how LOW QUALITY-HIGH COST the "Panamanian Expat Lifestyle" truly is in reality, not the lies & myths being marketed by relocation scams.

Corruption, "Juego Vivo" culture, petty theft, and scams or "Gringo Tax" are the overwhelming majority of everyday reality, extortion, scams & theft is a "Cultural Norm" in a society engulfed by systemic poverty. Worst is the poverty is inescapable outside of Gated Communities or Guilded Condo Towers. Walk 2 blocks in any direction and 3rd World Poverty slaps you in face EVERYWHERE you go in this despotic society. Broken sidewalks, horrible dilapidated buildings, prison bars on every window/home, roads like a war zone, tin roof shacks everywhere, nonexistent civic pride or maintenance, failing infrastructure, open sewage, trash everywhere like a landfill. It just all adds up to a MISERABLE EXISTENCE in absolute isolation, a complete lack of any notable "Quality Lifestyle" and groundhog day boredom & stressful survival/existence every single day, Panama truly has NOTHING TO OFFER, its by majority a 3rd World Swamp.!

We hated it after 6-8 months, and had we not purchased a home would have immediately left, many days we considered just abandoning our Boquete home and leaving, but knew our $400k assets would absolutely be stolen, as you cannot trust anyone in this Society of Thieves, rule #1 in Panama "TRUST NOONE". Sad but very true. The horror stories to these regards are abundant and all true.

Long story short we have "Suffered & Endured" 4 long years, trying to find the next "Gringo Sucker" to purchase our home, and it took 4 long grueling miserable, stressful, frustrating and boring years, BUT finally we found someone as stupid as we were to purchase our home, and FINALLY WE ARE ESCAPING the fake paradise of lies,and modern day Florida Swampland for unfortunately misled retirees, most who rapidly experience a "Sunk Cost" reality.

Only thing we recommend is DO NOT DRINK THE PANAMA KOOL-AID this society is absolutely miserable, offers little to nothing in lifestyle, is wholly based in systemic poverty in 90% of the nation, and is nothing but marketing lies. Thankfully we have our tickets booked, and finally made our escape from the nightmare, and we are GONE BABY GONE, as fast as we can straight to Europe and back to the modern world. We survived the despotic swamp for 4.5yrs, and have nothing good to say about any of the experience, except a good lesson in WHERE NOT TO LIVE.

PANAMA IS A HUGE MISTAKE!!! One we feel very fortunate to have escaped! Just wait until the 2027-2030's Civil Disorder & Protests, you haven't seen anything yet. Destabalization is about to become a vivid reality in the dysfunctional society called Panama. Seriously look at the economic, legal trends, unemployment, income inequality, CRIME-gangs/narco violence and statistics, its about to get significantly worse. 2026 is the year to "Bail" as fast as you can from Panama, nothing good is coming next few years as the Nation itself is in serious jeopardy, economics dont lie, Relocation Companies & Marketing Agencies do about everything.

"STABILIZING?" Panamanian Debt & Bonds are now Globally Junk Rated. Social Dissatisfaction is at its highest levels in 40yrs, crime & violent crime is skyrocketing, unemployment 16%+ and much higher in the interior regions. Organized Gang & Narco activities are at all time highs, not seen since Noriega days. The Copper Mine is "Re-opening" and expanding in 27'-or Panama as a nation goes "Bankrupt". Pension Reform 2027 stripping more money from an already destitute people, and increasing retirement ages. US Military resurgence in occupation of the canal zone; to protect US Infrastructure needs, why? Canal experiencing drought and reduced portings causing massive financial shortcoming in Civil & Social Budget for such things like Security, Infrastructure & Education. Hard left organizations like Suntracs gaining strength & support, who utilize domestic terror agendas, holding the nation hostage for months at times. Rolling infrastructure failures everywhere now, power & water outages are now very common constantly, and some areas without water for weeks-months, electricity outages multiple times a week for hours (FAILING INFRASTRUCTURE). Legal changes in Corporate Structures, Visa Rules/Costs, and detrimental legal landscape changes 2027-future, ending any & all financial benefits for investment, and creating one of the most Totalitarian Scrutinized Banking Structures in the region, in an otherwise worthless Transactional Logistics Society.

Sure you can "Hope" but reality has a funny way of destroying many "Hopes & Dreams" of those who dont pay attention to relevant facts, especially in chaotic developing regions. Good Luck. We took our "Escape Hatch" and BAILED. Enough is enough. Moving forward nothing is appealing or looks good for Panama, and a plethora of bad is rapidly approaching, in a society where the overwhelming majority 80%+ live in extreme poverty by westernized standards, and have absolutely nothing to lose. Not a safe bet, with lots of inherent RISK!

(Panama is a Hard Pass)-avoid at all costs 100 places 99 of them are better than Pana-Scam.

Why would people think it's easy to get a job as a foreigner in another country. It's the same way Ian the US

Prices are rising, more and more people move here and now the prices are at all time highs, realtors have told me while I was looking they do not have the time anymore to show multiple units to one client as they will not have the property available if I delay. Now that is a tactic to try to get a rent or purchase as Relators get 1 months rent as commission if they rent. But I have witnessed myself all the prioerties I wanted we rented the next day. Rents from Sept to now have gone up..unfortunately the deals are gone in the City. Unless you want to sacrifice view and area. Yes prices in some areas are less expensive, but be realistic its not Cheap its affordable if you are realistic. Remember supply and demand! Less supply higher prices, and thats where we sit today. Watch investment videos on property in Panama City that will prive what I say. Eventually as I witnessed in Costa Rica the cost to live will be no different if mass people move here..we are our worst cost of living problem.

This really good perspective!

African people! Skin is brown, not black.😅

This sounds like international STEERING.