Expatriation Panama - tax comparison
🇵🇦

Panama

VS
Expatriation Switzerland - tax comparison
🇨🇭

Switzerland

Panama vs Switzerland

Complete comparison for your tax relocation

Data up to date as of January 15, 2025
Top income tax bracket
25%
🇵🇦 Panama
vs
11.5%
🇨🇭 Switzerland
Monthly cost (single)
900 €
🇵🇦 Panama
vs
2 800 €
🇨🇭 Switzerland
Safety
6/10
🇵🇦 Panama
vs
7/10
🇨🇭 Switzerland

Taxation

🇵🇦Panama
🇨🇭Switzerland
Top income tax bracket25%11.5%
Corporate tax25%8.5%
Capital gains10%0%
VAT7%8.1%
Tax treaty with FranceNoYes
Special regimeTaxation territorialeForfait fiscal (imposition d'apres la dépense)
Wealth taxNoYes
Territorial taxationYesNo
🇵🇦

Taxation territoriale

Duration: Illimitée (systeme fiscal national permanent)

Le Panama applique un systeme de taxation purement territoriale : seuls les revenus de source panaméenne sont imposés. Les revenus générés à l'étranger sont totalement exonérés, y compris les dividendes, intérets et plus-values d'origine étrangere.

🇨🇭

Forfait fiscal (imposition d'apres la dépense)

Duration: Illimitée, tant que les conditions sont remplies

Régime réservé aux ressortissants étrangers qui s'installent en Suisse sans y exercer d'activité lucrative. L'impot est calculé sur la base des dépenses annuelles du contribuable, et non sur ses revenus réels.

Cost of living

🇵🇦Panama
🇨🇭Switzerland
Monthly cost (single)900 €2 800 €
Monthly cost (couple)1 400 €4 200 €
City center rent700 €2 000 €
Outside city rent400 €1 500 €
Private health insurance70 €350 €
Public healthcareAccessibleAccessible

Estimated total monthly budget (single, with city center rent)

🇵🇦 Panama1 600 €/mo
🇨🇭 Switzerland4 800 €/mo

Panama is approximately 3 200 € cheaper per month in total.

Quality of life

🇵🇦Panama
🇨🇭Switzerland
Average temperature27°C10°C
Safety6/107/10
Health index62/10070/100
Internet60 Mbps180 Mbps
Timezone vs Paris-6h+0h
French-speaking communityVery smallLarge
LanguagesEspagnol, AnglaisFrançais, Allemand, Italien, Romanche
CurrencyBalboa / Dollar US (PAB/USD)Franc suisse (CHF)
Corruption index36/10082/100
Democracy index7.05/109.14/10

Settling in

🇵🇦Panama
🇨🇭Switzerland
Residence permit delay2 months12 months
Company creation6 days10 days
Bank accountEasyModerate
Political stability6/109.5/10
Ease of business86th worldwide36th worldwide

Summary

🇵🇦

Panama

  • Top IT: 25% | Corp. tax: 25%
  • Cost of living: 900 €/mo
  • Safety: 6/10 | Health: 62/100
  • Regime: Taxation territoriale (Illimitée (systeme fiscal national permanent))
View full profile Panama
🇨🇭

Switzerland

  • Top IT: 11.5% | Corp. tax: 8.5%
  • Cost of living: 2 800 €/mo
  • Safety: 7/10 | Health: 70/100
  • Regime: Forfait fiscal (imposition d'apres la dépense) (Illimitée, tant que les conditions sont remplies)
View full profile Switzerland

Comparative analysis: Panama vs Switzerland

Which country has lower taxes?

In terms of taxation, Suisse is generally more advantageous. The top marginal income tax rate is 11.5% compared to 25% in Panama. Corporate tax stands at 8.5% versus 25%. Capital gains are taxed at 0% in Switzerland versus 10% in Panama.

Which country is cheaper to live in?

The cost of living is lower in Panama. A single person spends about 900 EUR/month excluding rent, compared to 2 800 EUR/month in Suisse. City center rent averages 700 EUR versus 2 000 EUR.

Which country is safer?

Suisse scores higher on safety (7/10 versus 6/10). In terms of healthcare, Suisse leads with an index of 70/100 compared to 62/100 for Panama.

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Disclaimer

The tax information presented is based on estimates from public sources (PwC, OECD, government sources). It does not constitute tax or legal advice. Tax rules change regularly and your personal situation may significantly affect the calculation. Consult a qualified professional before making any relocation decision.