Thread: Costa Rica Vs. Panama - Comparisons and Experiences

Since Costa Rica is our neighbor and it was my first thought on moving to Latin America, let's compare.

I personally do like Costa Rica and have now traveled there several times, I feel I would still rather be in Panama. My experience has been that Costa Rica is much more laid back and relaxed. Costa Rica is not quite as "military" as Panama is. The two major drawbacks I felt in CR were the price of food/booze and decent infrastructure including roads and internet.

I only been there a couple times but I can tell you a lot of CR people have moved from CR to the Bocas area . All have complained about the higher cost of CR as one of the reasons for leaving .

Waaay more police in Panama, which is a good thing.

In Costa Rica, there's less cops so there's more crime.

In Panama City at night, there's a police in almost every corner
of the city.

CR: Tourism industry BLOWS AWAY Panama. I don't even know if Panama will ever catch up.

Panama: Business environment is 10X more inviting and welcoming that CR.

Matt

Here is a Don Winner article:http://www.panama-guide.com/article....91124152751969

I personally did a lot of research myself before choosing Panama and my primary concern was a country with an economic future. Panama does stand out. So many Latin and Carib countries have really had a hard time economically. Panama is still moving, although at a slower pace, it's still going forward.

---------- Post added at 10:05 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:00 PM ----------

Originally Posted by No-Non-Sense-Matt

Panama: Business environment is 10X more inviting and welcoming that CR.

Matt

The biz environment here is amazing and VERY friendly.

Here are some minimum wage stats from a few years back
Living in Central America

And tomorrow I plan to include Costa Rican costs on my new paga
Living in Panama

I lived in Costa Rica for a year and met a Sofia Loren lookalike who
turned out to be a bruja. I am afraid to travel north of Panama.
La Brujeria exists in central america. I am not joking.

---------- Post added at 09:40 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:46 AM ----------

Just got some figures today for cost of living in Costa Rica
http://www.artistas-americanos.com/p...a%20costs.html
Other countries costs Mexico, Guatemala, and Panama available for comparison.
However, statistics dont really mean that much. I can live as cheaply in Boston as I do in Chile. Depends on your lifestyle. The beauty of living in Central America is that you have more choices as to lifestyle. You can live in a poor barrio quite cheaply and still live a nice life. Up North you could not survive in that same poor barrio.
Living in Panama

Forgive the typos. My keyboard hates my fingers.

Originally Posted by No-Non-Sense-Matt

Waaay more police in Panama, which is a good thing.

In Costa Rica, there's less cops so there's more crime.


Matt

Have to disagree with that point. It depends on what the police are busy doing. In Panama there are checkpoints everywhere, even the interior country roads. I'd rather have them patrolling the streets in high crime areas, not harassing the people looking to hand out tickets or take bribes. It wasn't like this 2 years ago. Will it subside? Let's hope.

I understand where you're coming from... IT IS an adjustment for everyone to see the cops being "so busy".

That being said: the cop presence is a big reason why crime here is lower. When I was in Costa Rica, I talked to a lot of people and they all said that the cops there are virtually non-existent... the crimes are becoming more violent... and it's getting to the point of vigilante justice.

I'll take a few inconvenient checkpoints over anarchy any day of the week.

Matt

Originally Posted by No-Non-Sense-Matt

I understand where you're coming from... IT IS an adjustment for everyone to see the cops being "so busy".

That being said: the cop presence is a big reason why crime here is lower. When I was in Costa Rica, I talked to a lot of people and they all said that the cops there are virtually non-existent... the crimes are becoming more violent... and it's getting to the point of vigilante justice.

I'll take a few inconvenient checkpoints over anarchy any day of the week.

Matt

I hear you. As long as the cops are busy deterring crime versus trying to raise tax revenue, then I am all for that. I'm not sure how "show me your papers" checkpoints deter home invasions, thefts or robberies which are the real threats here in Panama. I disagree with you that less police presence will lead to anarchy in Panama. Do you really want to live in a police state? I sure don't.

Let's agree to disagree then.

If you haven't done so already -- I suggest you go to Costa Rica and see how not having a police presence that's working for them over there.

I'm grateful that they're doing the best to deter what has been escalating crime scenes in Panama.

And if you've got your papers in order -- there's no reason they should ask for bribes.

Matt

Originally Posted by No-Non-Sense-Matt

Let's agree to disagree then.

If you haven't done so already -- I suggest you go to Costa Rica and see how not having a police presence that's working for them over there.

I'm grateful that they're doing the best to deter what has been escalating crime scenes in Panama.

And if you've got your papers in order -- there's no reason they should ask for bribes.

Matt

I've been to CR many many times and never had any problems with crime. It totally depends on where you go. I actually like CR a lot. There was not much police presence and no first hand crime in the areas I frequented. Perhaps because I was in a more middle class area?

If you have to throw cops on every street corner to deter crime then something is seriously wrong with your society and the root of the problem needs to be fixed.

We are not really disagreeing. I just prefer to live in a place that does not require a huge show of police force while you don't seem to mind it. Just different preferences.