Money & Costs

A custom post type for publishing relevant data about Panama, including provinces, districts, demographics, economy, tourism, and key local insights.

Popular Questions

Panama’s sales tax is called ITBMS (Impuesto de Transferencia de Bienes Muebles y Servicios). The standard rate is 7% for most goods and services. Some categories use higher rates: 10% for hotels and alcoholic beverages, and 15% for tobacco products. Certain essentials like basic food, medicine, and healthcare are exempt.
Tipping in Panama is appreciated but generally not as mandatory or aggressive as in the United States. In restaurants, 10% is the standard if service is not already included. For taxis and casual services, rounding up is common. Hotel staff, tour guides, and drivers usually appreciate small tips for good service.
Panama does not have one single nationwide minimum wage. The minimum wage varies depending on the region, industry, job type, and company size. As of 2026, many wages range from around B/.1.69 to B/.3.13 per hour, while domestic workers have monthly minimums starting around B/.320–350 per month.
Yes, Panama uses US dollars as its main currency, alongside its own coins called Balboa.
Panama uses the Panamanian balboa (PAB) and the US dollar (USD), with the US dollar being the main currency in everyday use.

About Panama Facts

Panama Facts is a service by PanamaScanner, created to help travelers, expats, and curious minds find quick, clear, and useful information about Panama.

Here you’ll find reliable answers to common questions about travel basics, money, safety, weather, transportation, culture, and daily life in Panama.

Our goal is simple: help you save time, make better decisions, and understand Panama with information that is easy to scan and easy to use.

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