San José×Panama City
Three numbers. The ones that decide the meeting.
When the world meets at work.
Read the day in both zones.
Crossing the border. Money, language, plugs.
Money changes hands at the border: San José uses the CRC (₡) and Panama City uses the PAB (B/.). Conversations can stay in Spanish, which is official in both countries. Cars drive on the right in both, so rentals feel familiar.
- Country
- Costa Rica
- Capital
- San José
- Currency
- Costa Rican colón (CRC · ₡)
- Language
- Spanish
- Calling code
- +506
- Drives on
- Right
- Country
- Panama
- Capital
- Panama City
- Currency
- Panamanian balboa (PAB · B/.)
- Language
- Spanish
- Calling code
- +507
- Drives on
- Right
Quick answers. Before you book the call.
What's the time difference between San José and Panama City?
San José is 1 hour ahead of Panama City. San José runs on GMT-6 and Panama City on GMT-5. The gap can shift by an hour when either side enters or leaves daylight saving — the live clocks above always reflect the current offset.
When's the best time to schedule a meeting?
There are 7 hours where both cities are inside a 09:00–17:00 workday. Aim for the middle of that window so neither side is starting or closing out.
Does daylight saving time change the difference?
Yes, if either city observes DST. When one side shifts and the other doesn't, the gap changes by one hour. The DST badges under each clock show whether each zone is currently shifted and when the next transition lands.
How far is San José from Panama City?
About 512 km as the crow flies (great-circle distance). A non-stop commercial flight cruises that in roughly 1h 6m, not counting airport time, winds, or routing around restricted airspace.
Can I send this meeting time as a calendar invite?
Yes. Pick a time on the slider above, open the meeting card, customize the title and duration, then download the .ics file. It imports cleanly into Google Calendar, Outlook, and Apple Calendar with the correct timezone attached.
What currency do San José and Panama City use?
San José uses the Costa Rican colón (CRC, ₡); Panama City uses the Panamanian balboa (PAB, B/.). Check the live rate before transferring money or paying with a card abroad — most banks add a 1–3 % FX margin on top of the mid-market rate.
How do I call San José from Panama City?
Dial the international prefix used by your carrier (often 00), then +506, then the local number — drop any leading zero of the city or mobile code. For free calls, WhatsApp, Signal, and FaceTime work over Wi-Fi regardless of country code.
What language is spoken in San José and Panama City?
Both Costa Rica and Panama count Spanish among their official languages, so business meetings often skip translation. San José also has no other official tongue; Panama City adds no other official tongue.
Do San José and Panama City drive on the same side of the road?
Yes — both drive on the right. Rental cars feel identical between the two.