On this episode of Modern Aging, we chat with Jim White of Route to Retire about retirement in Boquete, a small town in the mountains of Panama. Jim retired at age 43 and moved to Boquete, Panoma with his family in 2019. If you are looking for places to retire to, this episode is a must listen! Jim talks about all the reasons why he and his family chose to move to Boquete, Panama.
One of the compelling reasons to love Boquete is the amazing weather. It’s hot in Panama, but up in the mountains in Boquete, where Jim and his family lives, it is a comfortable 75 degrees everyday with cool breezes. What’s cool about Boquete is that you can choose exactly where you want to live based on the temperature that you like. Jim lives about 4000 feet above sea level. If you like warmer weather, you can simply choose a home a bit more down the mountain.
Of course, the cost of living is another important factor to consider when choosing a place for retirement. It is good to hear from Jim that living in Boquete, Panama is much lower than the cost of living in the U.S. To put this into perspective, if you go to a fancy restaurant in Boquete, it is comparable to going to a mid-level restaurant in the U.S. In terms of utilities, most places in Boquete are fully furnished with utilities! There are other places in Panama that have an even lower cost of living, but given the amazing weather and close proximity to the big city, David, it is worth it.
If the low cost of weather and amazing weather is compelling to you, you’re going to want to hear about banking, culture, visas, and a whole lot more about Boquete, Panama. Take a listen to Jim and Risa’s conversations to see if Boquete, Panama is your dream retirement location.
What’s In This Episode
1:10 Why Boquete, Panama.
1:39 Weather
2:50 Cost of Living
3:55 Utilities and Rent
5:25 Food
6:48 Restaurants
7:56 Transportation
9:11 Closest big City
9:25 Supermarkets and groceries
10:29 Fun Activities
12:10 Animal Rescue Organizations
12:44 Money and Banking
15:30 Cellphones and cellphone plans
16:24 Using google voice abroad
17:42 Visas
18:30 Pensionado Visa
19:15 Friendly Nations Visa
19:54 Culture and Community
20:47 Challenges
22:09 Quality of Life
