Isn’t Panama crime-ridden?
Not to American ex pats.
Wonderful climate, beautiful beaches, a lower cost of living, good food and friendly people.
Think of FL but with both oceans a couple of hours drive apart.
That’s Panama.
Relative to what? Chicago is crime-ridden, and lots of middle-class people live there still.
I have a feeling that, as long as you stay inside the "gated community", things would probably be safe, since the government of Panama has a big interest in making expats feel safe.