Panama City
Santa María
Santa María is Panama City's newest exclusive gated golf community, built around a Jack Nicklaus-designed course directly beside Costa del Este. It's aimed at buyers who want a country-club address inside the city rather than a coastal or mountain retreat, and it has become one of the city's most expensive places to live in the process.
- Entry price
- $1.03M
- Upper range
- $1.45M
- Projects
- 1
Before you shortlist anything here
Titled land is the norm here. Santa María is a fully platted, formally developed gated community, and legal guides to Panama property list it among the areas where foreigners most commonly buy titled property outright. That's a general pattern for the community, not a guarantee for any one project or unit. Ask for the finca number and have an attorney confirm it at the Registro Público before you pay a deposit.
How to check which one you’re being offered →What it costs to live in Santa María
Santa María runs among the most expensive neighborhoods in Panama City. Two-bedroom rentals typically run $2,200–$3,500/month, with larger properties from about $3,000 for a condo to $5,000-plus for a house (TheLatinvestor). Purchase prices start around $650,000 and run up to $5 million for the community's larger houses and apartments. HOA fees across the community run roughly $1.50/m²/month; see the Empire Residences project page for how that translates to a specific unit size.
Who Santa María suits — and who it doesn’t
Golf-focused buyers who want to live inside a country club rather than near one; buyers who want a new, highly amenitized gated community over an older, established neighborhood; executives and families who work in or near Costa del Este and want a short commute at a premium price point.
This is genuinely one of the most expensive residential areas in Panama City, and pricing reflects that: entry purchase prices start around $650,000, well above the citywide norm, and HOA fees add a meaningful recurring cost on top. It's also a newer community, so it doesn't have the longer resale history of an older neighborhood, and we don't have independent data on resale liquidity or rental yield here specifically. Being car-oriented and gated, it doesn't suit buyers who want a walkable town feel. For that, Costa del Este next door has more of an actual street grid and public plaza.
Getting there and getting around
Santa María sits about 15 minutes from central Panama City, directly beside Costa del Este, off the Corredor Sur. It's a car-oriented gated community rather than a walkable town center, though residents share Costa del Este's nearby retail, dining, and schools. Tocumen International Airport is roughly 15–20 minutes further via the Corredor Sur, similar to Costa del Este's own distance.
Projects in Santa María
1 listed
FAQ
Is Santa María the same as Costa del Este?
No. They're distinct, neighboring gated communities in Panama City. Santa María is the newer, golf-focused development; Costa del Este is the older, more established one with its own plaza and street grid. Residents of Santa María share some of Costa del Este's nearby retail and schools without living inside that neighborhood.
Is land in Santa María titled?
Titled land is the norm here. It's a fully platted, formally developed gated community, and legal guides to Panama property list it among the areas where foreigners most commonly buy titled property outright. Still, confirm the finca number for any specific unit with an attorney before you pay a deposit.
What's the cost of living in Santa María?
Among the highest in Panama City. Two-bedroom rentals run roughly $2,200–$3,500/month, purchase prices start around $650,000 and run up to $5 million, and HOA fees add roughly $1.50/m²/month on top.
How far is Santa María from central Panama City and the airport?
About 15 minutes from central Panama City by car, and roughly 15–20 minutes further to Tocumen International Airport via the Corredor Sur.
What are typical HOA fees in Santa María?
Roughly $1.50 per m² per month across the community. That scales with unit size, so a larger residence carries a meaningfully higher monthly fee than a smaller one.
Is Santa María walkable?
No. It's a car-oriented gated community built around a golf course, not a walkable town center. Costa del Este next door has more of an actual street grid if walkability matters to you.
Sources
- TheLatinvestor — Property Foreign Ownership, Panama City — checked 2026-07
- TheLatinvestor — Updated Rents in Panama City (2026) — checked 2026-07
- Panama Equity — Discover Santa Maria Panama — checked 2026-07
Want the Santa María shortlist with title status attached?
A broker will follow up. You’ll get the paperwork status first.
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