Panama City › Shopping & retail
Malls, markets, and mailboxes
Shopping in Panama City
Shopping in Panama City spans Albrook’s 700 stores, Multiplaza’s luxury wing, and the bargain sidewalks of Avenida Central. Sales tax is only 7%. Amazon now ships many items here directly. For everything else, expats still use a casillero, the Miami mailbox service.
Before you buy
What to Know
MALLS
Each one has a job
Albrook is the biggest and sits on the Metro’s Line 1 terminus, so it is the default without a car. Multiplaza in Punta Pacífica holds the luxury brands. Soho is smaller and more exclusive. Metromall in Juan Díaz tends to price lower.
IMPORTS
A Miami mailbox still earns its keep
Amazon ships plenty of items to Panama now, but most other US retailers do not. A casillero gives you a Miami address, then consolidates, flies, and clears your packages. Rates run roughly $1.75 to $4.25 per pound. Home delivery usually adds about $10.
CUSTOMS
Duty starts above $100
Shipments under $100 enter free of import duty. Above that, duty and 7% ITBMS apply, calculated on cost plus insurance plus freight. Your shipping charge sits inside the taxable base. Confirm current courier limits with the Autoridad Nacional de Aduanas before a large order.
DRESS CODE
Shorts will get you turned away
Banks, hospitals, and government offices in Panama refuse entry in shorts and flip-flops, and they enforce it. Business casual is the norm in public. Plan at least one shopping trip for long trousers and closed shoes before your first bank appointment.
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I order from Amazon in Panama City?
Amazon now ships a large share of its catalog to Panama directly. Check the product page for a line confirming it delivers to your address, since eligibility is set item by item. Electronics and other high-value goods are still blocked more often than not. At checkout, Amazon collects an Import Fees Deposit, an estimate of duty and tax, then clears customs on your behalf. If the actual duty comes in lower, Amazon refunds you the difference. For anything Amazon will not ship, and for every other US retailer, you still need a casillero.
Watch out for volumetric weight. What is it?
Most couriers bill on dimensional weight rather than what the scale says. A light bulky item like a pillow, a monitor box, or paper towels can cost several times its actual weight. Some services advertise a higher flat per-pound rate with no volume charge for exactly this reason. Ask each provider directly, since the policies differ.
At what value do I start paying customs duty?
Shipments valued under $100 are exempt from import duty. Above that, duty applies at rates that vary by product code, plus 7% ITBMS. The calculation uses cost plus insurance plus freight, so the shipping you paid is inside the taxable amount. Panama’s customs authority publishes the official tariff schedule if you need a specific product’s rate.
Are electronics cheaper in Panama than in the US?
Panama is cheap by Latin American standards, thanks to the dollar, a 7% sales tax, and Colón Free Zone distribution. Against the US, though, it is closer to parity. US prices frequently win during major sale events. Panafoto is the main electronics chain, with Multimax and several mall-based competitors alongside it.
Where do I buy furniture and appliances without paying mall prices?
Jamar and Furniture City cover mid-market furniture. El Costo and the independent shops in Calidonia handle the budget end. Higher-end furniture clusters near Multiplaza around Vía Brasil and Calle Israel. For appliances, Rodelag and Ryanco tend to beat the hardware chains. Novey, Do It Center, and Cochez cover hardware and building materials.
Is Zona Libre de Colón worth the trip for personal shopping?
Usually not. The free zone’s tax exemption applies to merchandise destined abroad and to transactions between zone users. It does not follow goods into the domestic market. Bring something back into Panama and normal duty and ITBMS apply. It is also a wholesale environment about two hours away on the Atlantic side.
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