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Home Services in Panama City
Home services in Panama City come to you, and nearly all of them run on WhatsApp. Send photos of the problem, agree a fixed price, then book the visit. Expect Spanish, expect cash or Yappy, and expect a surcharge in Costa del Este and Punta Pacífica.
Before you call
What to Know
HIRING HELP
Three days a week is the line
Someone working under three days a week for you falls outside Panama’s domestic worker definition. At three days or more, you must register as an employer with the Caja de Seguro Social. The 2026 legal minimum is $350 a month.
COST
Priced by the job, not the hour
Hourly rates are uncommon here because the work is not standardized. A technician quotes a fixed amount once the problem is understood. Budget $18–25 per split AC unit, $30–60 for a routine plumbing call, and $40–100 for pest control.
QUOTES
Send photos before anyone drives out
The standard flow is a WhatsApp message with photos, then a free quote, then a scheduled visit. Get the number agreed in writing before work starts. Punta Pacífica and Costa del Este carry an openly disclosed zone surcharge, often around $5.
DEPOSITS
Keep your AC cleaning receipts
Landlords commonly deduct AC cleaning, painting, and fumigation from the security deposit at move-out. No statute assigns AC maintenance, so your lease decides. Clean the units on a schedule and keep every receipt. Your deposit itself is held by MIVIOT, not the landlord.
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does AC cleaning cost in Panama City?
Expect $18–25 per split unit up to 24,000 BTU at list price, and less on daily-deal promotions. Punta Pacífica, Costa del Este, and similar districts usually add about $5 per unit. Panamá Oeste can add more. Most technicians quote per unit, so count your units before you ask for a price.
Do I have to register my cleaner with social security?
It depends on how often they work for you. Panama’s social security system excludes anyone doing domestic work fewer than three days a week for the same employer. At three days or more, registration is the employer’s responsibility, not the worker’s. Be careful, though. If you are that person’s main source of income, a lawyer may treat them as a regular employee.
Who pays for repairs, me or my landlord?
Your lease decides, because Panamanian law does not assign routine maintenance. In practice, structural problems, wiring, and plumbing are normally the landlord’s responsibility, and you have a right to habitable premises. Routine upkeep like AC cleaning usually lands on the tenant. Get it written into the contract before you sign, since there is no standard arrangement.
When do I have to pay the décimo?
Panama’s thirteenth month is paid in three installments: April 15, August 15, and December 15. It is calculated as monthly salary times months worked, divided by twelve. Domestic workers are entitled to it. Missing a date is a labor violation, and the August installment is the one people forget.
How do I know an electrician is actually licensed?
Electricians in Panama carry a certificado de idoneidad from the Junta Técnica de Ingeniería y Arquitectura. You can look up whether a professional is registered. Plumbers, cleaners, and handymen have no equivalent license. Any business, however, should hold an aviso de operación, which is a fair thing to ask about.
Do I tip a plumber or an AC technician?
No. Panama’s roughly 10% tipping convention applies to restaurants, salons, spas, and barbers, not to trades. Nobody expects a tip on a service call. A cold drink on a hot afternoon is welcome, and rounding up is fine, but neither is expected.
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