How much does it cost to have a cell phone in Panama?
Col Davis Stevenson RET
Cell phones in Panama cost about the same as here in the USA. You can have an expensive phone on a monthly contract. I find that I have a rather inexpensive phone for which I purchase a card that has a certain number of minutes on the card. These cards can be purchased at most supermarkets, gas stations or from vendors on the street. The sale of this type of card is going on all the time. The reason for this type of service is that the average citizen cannot afford the cost of a...
Cell phones in Panama cost about the same as here in the USA. You can have an expensive phone on a monthly contract. I find that I have a rather inexpensive phone for which I purchase a card that has a certain number of minutes on the card. These cards can be purchased at most supermarkets, gas stations or from vendors on the street. The sale of this type of card is going on all the time. The reason for this type of service is that the average citizen cannot afford the cost of a contract but they can go into a store and buy $5.00 worth of minutes or a larger amount is so inclined.
Posted April 17, 2013
Lourdes Townshend
Panama is one the most technologically advanced countries in technology in Latin America. As for cellular phones, you can go with the one of your choice. Beginning at the airport, there are stores available that can guide you as to if your current cell phone can be switched to be used in Panama. Sometimes its just matter of buying a "chip"..with a local phone number. It´s your choice if you want to go...
Panama is one the most technologically advanced countries in technology in Latin America. As for cellular phones, you can go with the one of your choice. Beginning at the airport, there are stores available that can guide you as to if your current cell phone can be switched to be used in Panama. Sometimes its just matter of buying a "chip"..with a local phone number. It´s your choice if you want to go with a local company to purchase a contract with unlimited time, or just purchase a calling card ($2, $3, $5 or $10) with minutes and certain promotions, available almost everywhere. I know many foreigners who do just that..and it´s a very simple inexpensive transaction.
Posted July 17, 2013
Wee-Yiong Fung - Prestige Panama Realty
The cost of a cell phone in Panama starts at $25 and goes up from there.
There are 4 main companies that provide cell phone service in Panama: Claro, Cable & Wireless Panama, Movistar and Digicel.
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The 2 best are Claro and Cable and Wireless. You have 2 options with these companies:
1. Prepaid: you buy the...
The cost of a cell phone in Panama starts at $25 and goes up from there.
There are 4 main companies that provide cell phone service in Panama: Claro, Cable & Wireless Panama, Movistar and Digicel.
The 2 best are Claro and Cable and Wireless. You have 2 options with these companies:
1. Prepaid: you buy the phone ($25 or more), the chip ($2.14, which is going to be your number), and the minutes ( cards with talking minutes from $2 to $20)
Cell Phone Chip Prepaid Minutes
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2. Contract: the least expensive contract starts at $9.99 and if you wish to have access to the internet, then it costs an additional $9.99. Thus, you will have around 200 minutes and be able to navigate the internet. The cell phone that comes with your plan for free has a value of $100 to $150.
Recommendation: if you are staying for a couple of days or weeks, get the prepaid.
Posted July 17, 2013
Suha Gomez - Palm Travel and Co.
Cellular phones in Panama are very easy to get as these are considered a necessity. Companies such as Movistar, Claro, Digicel and + Movil supply phone services and equipment for every budget. If you prefer having a pre-paid cell, the cards are sold everywhere, from the supermarket and restaurants to small stores. There are also annual contracts you get with the companies which give you some benefits, such as changing the phone every year when renewing the contract.
Cellular phones in Panama are very easy to get as these are considered a necessity. Companies such as Movistar, Claro, Digicel and + Movil supply phone services and equipment for every budget. If you prefer having a pre-paid cell, the cards are sold everywhere, from the supermarket and restaurants to small stores. There are also annual contracts you get with the companies which give you some benefits, such as changing the phone every year when renewing the contract.
Posted October 1, 2014
David De Franco Levi - DEFRANCORP- Business Consultants
Personally, I pay US $65 a month for my cell phone plan in Panama. I get about 5 gig of data and almost unlimited calls within Panama. Apart from that, you can have an unlimited data plan for, I believe, around $15 a month, where they charge you between 2-3 cents per minute for local calls. If you want to make a call outside of Panama, I would recommend using a landline. Personally, I...
Personally, I pay US $65 a month for my cell phone plan in Panama. I get about 5 gig of data and almost unlimited calls within Panama. Apart from that, you can have an unlimited data plan for, I believe, around $15 a month, where they charge you between 2-3 cents per minute for local calls. If you want to make a call outside of Panama, I would recommend using a landline. Personally, I use Skype or Google Hangouts. Google Hangouts has a new service, which is very cheap. I have heard of other people who use Magic Jack, which I’m told doesn’t cost anything to make each call. I understand that once you pay for the Magic Jack itself, you can make unlimited calls and the other advantage with Magic Jack if that if you're from the US, it gives you a US phone number.
Posted June 16, 2015
Mirhanna Sandoya - Lucero Homes Golf & Country Club
Let’s say you’re in Panama and you don’t want to have to pay a monthly fee for your cell phone service, and you just want to buy a phone. You can buy prepaid cards that you put into your phone, and then you can just make calls, and when you’re done with it, then you can buy a new one. Your phone will be basically the same price as in the United States. The most expensive phone will be around US $990, which is the new iPhone. There are also very, very cheap...Let’s say you’re in Panama and you don’t want to have to pay a monthly fee for your cell phone service, and you just want to buy a phone. You can buy prepaid cards that you put into your phone, and then you can just make calls, and when you’re done with it, then you can buy a new one. Your phone will be basically the same price as in the United States. The most expensive phone will be around US $990, which is the new iPhone. There are also very, very cheap phones starting at around $30. If you want to have a postpaid plan that gives you 100 call minutes, 2GB of mobile Internet, and 50 text messages, you can get one for the price of $14.99 per month plus taxes. It’s the postpaid plan that we have, and it’s especially good for foreigners because you don’t need to have a job to qualify for this plan; you just need to show your passport. I know this because I’m married to a foreigner, and that’s the plan that he has until he gets his full time residency. So that’s what he pays- $14.99 per month plus taxes, and for this, he has minutes, mobile Internet and text messages.
(Claro sim card graphics, Panama, pictured.)
Posted December 16, 2016
Kathya de Chong - Alto Boquete Condominios
The approximate rate for cell phone contracts in Panama is around US $30 a month. This amount includes limited mobile data, 100 minutes of calls within Panama, and the monthly payment for the cell phone unit. You can get the newest smartphones within these postpaid plans. If you want to make a call outside of Panama, that would cost extra. Here in Panama, we have four companies that offer the strongest services in the market- Telefonica, Movistar,...
The approximate rate for cell phone contracts in Panama is around US $30 a month. This amount includes limited mobile data, 100 minutes of calls within Panama, and the monthly payment for the cell phone unit. You can get the newest smartphones within these postpaid plans. If you want to make a call outside of Panama, that would cost extra. Here in Panama, we have four companies that offer the strongest services in the market- Telefonica, Movistar, Claro, and Digicel. The cell phone coverage in Panama is very good, but then again, if you are in the middle of the mountains, the coverage may not be that good. In most areas where people live and where there are more houses, these companies are always expanding their coverage.
Posted August 9, 2017