Area guide · Panama City
Living in Obarrio: the Banking District's Residential Neighborhood
Bella Vista district (corregimiento), Panama City. We follow the neighborhoods of the Bella Vista local council: Obarrio and Campo Alegre, the strip between Calle 50 (Av. Nicanor de Obarrio, to the south) and Vía España (to the north), from Avenida Federico Boyd (west) to Vía Brasil (east), with Avenida Samuel Lewis through the middle. South of Calle 50 are Marbella and Avenida Balboa (another guide); west of Federico Boyd, Bella Vista Viejo and La Cresta (Bella Vista guide); north of Vía España, El Cangrejo; east of Vía Brasil, San Francisco; and to the southeast, across the Matasnillo river via Vía Israel, Punta Paitilla (another guide). Portals sometimes list this strip as El Cangrejo or Bella Vista.
What is it like to live in Obarrio?
Obarrio is the banking-district neighborhood in the Bella Vista district: formerly called Juan Franco, it was built on the grounds of the old racetrack and today mixes office and residential towers between Calle 50, Avenida Samuel Lewis and Vía España.
This guide also covers Campo Alegre (Calle Elvira Méndez, Aquilino de la Guardia, the Santuario Nacional), the neighboring area to the west that shares its local development board. Housing is almost all 2- and 3-bedroom apartments in 15- to 30-story buildings (Galería Uno, Sunrise Tower, Diana Tower, Urbana, Miyaki, The Palm), plus a few houses and duplexes.
It suits people who want to walk to work on Calle 50: Vía Argentina Metro ~0.5 km away, restaurants and banks on every block, Parque Harry Strunz at its center and three private hospitals ~1 km away.
Pros
- Walk to work: Calle 50 and the banking district are in the neighborhood, with banks and restaurants on every block.
- Vía Argentina Metro ~0.5 km away and many MiBus routes along Calle 50 and Vía España.
- Spacious apartments: 120–250 m² 3-bedrooms at ~$1,600–2,100 a month in listings.
- Two chain gyms, Parque Harry Strunz and three private hospitals ~1 km away.
- A wide choice of restaurants, from pubs to signature cuisine.
Things to know
- Heavy traffic and scarce parking during office hours on Calle 50 and Samuel Lewis.
- A mixed office and residential area: on weekdays there is heavy office-worker traffic and construction.
- Few green areas: Parque Harry Strunz is the neighborhood's only park.
- No full schools inside the area (the nearest are ~1–1.3 km away).
Our take
Who is Obarrio for?
It suits people who work on Calle 50 or in the banking district and want to walk to the office, and small families looking for spacious apartments downtown.
The trade-off: what you gain and what you give up
Work, Vía Argentina metro (~0.5 km), restaurants and three private hospitals about 1 km away. What you accept: traffic and little parking during office hours, a busy weekday atmosphere and only one park (Harry Strunz).
Cost of living
A 2-bedroom typically rents for $1,375–$1,725 a month and a 120–250 m² 3-bedroom for $1,600–$2,100 (October 2026), good space for the money downtown.
For utilities, a 2-bedroom apartment running air conditioning 8 hours a day in two rooms (3 people) would pay about $188 a month for electricity, water, 300 Mbps internet and gas, based on the current official rates used in our utilities calculator. Without A/C the figure drops sharply.
Getting around
Vía Argentina metro ~0.5 km away and many MiBus routes on Calle 50 and Vía España. Vía Brasil connects to the Corredor Sur and San Francisco.
TuHogar en Panamá analysis using listing prices from November 2026 (sources in the prices section) and transport data checked on OpenStreetMap, MiBus and the Metro. We are not brokers: confirm each case before signing.
Reference prices · November 2026
Apartments for rent in Obarrio: prices
| Type | Asking range /month | Most common |
|---|---|---|
| 1-bedroom apartment | $970 – $1,650 | ~$1,075 – $1,500 |
| 2-bedroom apartment | $1,290 – $1,900 | ~$1,375 – $1,725 |
| 3-bedroom apartment | $1,380 – $2,240 | ~$1,600 – $2,100 |
Apartments and houses for sale in Obarrio: prices
| Type | Asking range |
|---|---|
| 1-bedroom apartment | $144,000 – $273,000 (typical ~$158,000–204,000; median ~$189,000 (35 listings).) |
| 2-bedroom apartment | $178,500 – $354,000 (typical ~$198,000–275,000; median ~$249,500 (68 listings).) |
| 3-bedroom apartment | $220,000 – $405,000 (typical ~$245,500–337,500; median ~$285,000 (90 listings), the most plentiful supply in the neighborhood. Examples: Terrazas de Obarrio (197 m², to remodel) $219,500; The Palm (165 m²) $230,000; Diana Tower (136 m²) $265,000.) |
| 4-bedroom house or duplex | $491,000 – $900,000 (Median ~$725,000 (13 listings).) |
| Asking price per m² (2-bedrooms) | $1,460 – $3,690 / m² (Middle 80 % of listings (our own calculation); median ~$2,423/m².) |
Asking-price ranges from Casas24 (Encuentra24 network) listings in the "Obarrio" location, checked on November 7, 2026; duplicate listings counted once; range = 10th–90th percentile and typical = 25th–75th. We excluded offices, retail units and mislabeled listings (San Francisco, El Cangrejo, Punta Pacífica and others). The portal's "Campo Alegre" location has almost no listings. They are not closing prices or an appraisal.
Sources (listings checked in November 2026): Casas24 – apartamentos en alquiler en Obarrio (7 nov 2026), Casas24 – apartamentos en venta en Obarrio (7 nov 2026), Casas24 – casas en venta en Obarrio (7 nov 2026), Junta Comunal de Bella Vista – Barrios (Obarrio y Campo Alegre).
Getting around Obarrio
- Metro: Vía Argentina station (Line 1) is ~0.5 km from central Obarrio and Iglesia del Carmen ~1 km (closer from Campo Alegre). Fare B/. 0.35.
- Buses: routes C641, C941, V180, V201 and V531 run along Calle 50 (Calle 50, Plaza New York and Edificio Inteligente stops), and Vía España also has long routes such as Tocumen–Vía España–Albrook (routes per OpenStreetMap). Fares are paid with the Metro card.
- Car: Calle 50 and Vía España cross the area west to east and Vía Brasil links it to the Corredor Sur and San Francisco. Rush-hour traffic and parking are the banking district's big problem.
Utilities in Obarrio
- 💡Electricity
- Naturgy (Edemet)
Naturgy (Edemet): the Bella Vista district, where Obarrio and Campo Alegre are, appears on its official list of concession areas. - 🚰Water
- IDAAN (often included in the condo HOA fee)
- 📶Internet & phone
- +Móvil (Cable & Wireless Panamá) · Tigo Panamá
Panama's two operators; fiber depends on the building: check your address with each. - 🔥Gas
- Tropigas · Panagas
25 or 100 lb cylinders (Tropigas, Panagas). Tall towers often have central gas run by the building or do not allow cylinders: ask the management. - 🗑️Garbage collection
- AAUD (Autoridad de Aseo)
Panamá district: the garbage fee comes on the IDAAN bill.
Estimate my monthly cost Utilities guide: how to set up electricity, water, gas and internet →
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Properties in Obarrio
There are no published properties in Obarrio yet.
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Condo buildings (PH) and gated communities in Obarrio
Each building and gated community has its own page with verified amenities (pool, gym, 24-hour security, gatehouse, backup generator…), map, nearby places and the homes brokers list there.
- PH Diana Tower — Condo building (PH)
- PH Galería Uno — Condo building (PH)
- PH Marfil — Condo building (PH)
- PH Metric — Condo building (PH)
- PH Miyaki — Condo building (PH)
- PH Mónaco — Condo building (PH)
- PH River Park — Condo building (PH)
- PH Sunrise Tower — Condo building (PH)
- PH Terrazas de Obarrio — Condo building (PH)
- PH The Millenium — Condo building (PH)
- PH The Palm — Condo building (PH)
- PH Torre Cosmos — Condo building (PH)
- PH Urbana — Condo building (PH)
Places in Obarrio
Schools, supermarkets, clinics, transport and more: each category has its own page and each place its own page with prices (when published), hours, sources and map.
Schools in Obarrio
- Escuela Japonesa de Panamá — Japanese school (grades 1–9, Japanese curriculum), founded 1974. Fees: ask the school.
- Colegio De La Salle — Catholic, daycare to 12th grade, Dual Diploma. Fees: ask the school. ~0.4 km from the center.
- Chikitopia — Early education from 3 months to 5 years. Tuition: check. ~0.3 km from the center.
- Wall Street English Calle 50 — English for adults and teens. Mon–Fri 8:00–20:00, Sat 8:00–17:00. ~0.4 km from the center.
Supermarkets in Obarrio
- Riba Smith Multiplaza — Imported/gourmet supermarket at Multiplaza. Mon–Sat 7–22, Sun 8–22.
- Super 99 Vía Porras — Sun–Thu 6 am–11 pm; Fri–Sat until midnight. ~1 km from the center.
- Supermercados Rey Vía España (El Cangrejo) — Rey on Vía España. Hours: check. ~0.6 km from the center.
- Super Xtra Obarrio (Vía España) — Chain supermarket on Vía España. Hours: check. ~0.5 km from the center.
- Super Sobeys (Obarrio) — Neighborhood supermarket on Av. Abel Bravo. Hours: check. ~0.4 km from the center.
Transport in Obarrio
- Estación Vía Argentina (Metro Línea 1) — Line 1; ~1.3 km from Multiplaza and ~2.3 km from the JW Marriott (straight line). Fare $0.35.
- Estación Iglesia del Carmen (Metro Línea 1) — Line 1; ~1.8 km from Hospital Punta Pacífica (straight line). Fare $0.35.
- Parada MiBus UNHIPA (Vía España) — Vía España: C641 Albrook–Cincuentenario–Panamá Viejo, C941 Albrook–Calle 50–Vía Porras–Vía España, V531 Vía España express–Pedregal Metro. ~0.4 km from the center.
- Parada MiBus Plaza Concordia (Vía España) — Vía España: C641 Albrook–Cincuentenario–Panamá Viejo, C941 Albrook–Calle 50–Vía Porras–Vía España, V180 Vía España–Los Andes Metro, V531 Vía España express–Pedregal Metro. ~0.6 km from the center.
- Parada MiBus «Calle 50» (Campo Alegre) — MiBus stop: routes C641, C941, V180, V201 y V531. Fare with Metro card. ~0.8 km from the center.
- Parada MiBus «Plaza New York» (Calle 50) — MiBus stop: routes C641, C941, V180, V201 y V531. Fare with Metro card. ~0.5 km from the center.
- Parada MiBus «Edificio Inteligente» (Calle 50) — MiBus stop: routes C641, C941, V180, V201 y V531. Fare with Metro card. ~0.4 km from the center.
- Parada MiBus «IDAAN» — MiBus stop: routes V180, V201 y V531. Fare with Metro card. ~0.5 km from the center.
- Parada MiBus «Obarrio» (Vía España) — MiBus stop: routes C641, C941, V180, V531, Vía España–Albrook directo y Tocumen–Vía España–Albrook. Fare with Metro card. ~0.7 km from the center.
Gyms & sports in Obarrio
- Bio Ritmo Multiplaza — Premium gym at Multiplaza. Mon–Fri 5–22, Sat–Sun 7–19. Price on its website.
- PowerClub Vía Argentina — Mon–Fri 5 am–10 pm; Sat 6–6; Sun 8–5. Price: ask. ~0.3 km from the center.
- Smart Fit Galerías Obarrio — Chain gym. Mon–Fri 5:00–23:59. Black Plan $34.99 + ITBMS/month. ~0.6 km from the center.
- PowerClub SOHO (Obarrio) — Chain gym at SOHO Mall. Mon–Fri 5:00–22:00. Membership: check. ~0.3 km from the center.
Parks & recreation in Obarrio
- Parque Andrés Bello — The neighborhood's central park: courts, playgrounds and dog area. Free. ~0.0 km from the center.
- Parque Harry Strunz — Park with courts, playgrounds and exercise machines. Free. ~0.3 km from the center.
Clinics & health in Obarrio
- Hospital Pacífica Salud – Punta Pacífica — Private hospital affiliated with Johns Hopkins Medicine International; 24/7 adult and pediatric ER (204-8184).
- The Panama Clinic — High-complexity private hospital; 24-hour adult and pediatric ER (310-1121).
- Hospiten Paitilla (Hospital Paitilla) — Private hospital (Hospiten) with 24 h adult and pediatric ER. ~0.5 km from the center.
- Farmacias Arrocha Plaza 58 (Obarrio) — Chain pharmacy, daily 7:00–22:00. ~0.1 km from the center.
- Farmacias Arrocha Vía España (Campo Alegre) — Chain pharmacy, daily 7:00–21:30. ~1.0 km from the center.
- CliniLab Sucursal Calle 50 — Clinic and lab on Calle 50. Hours: check. ~0.6 km from the center.
- IVI Panamá (clínica de fertilidad) — Fertility clinic. Mon–Fri 8:00–20:00. ~0.3 km from the center.
Restaurants in Obarrio
- Madero — International and Spanish. ~$24 per person (Degusta). ~0.2 km from the center.
- The Wallace — Irish pub and international. ~$25 per person (Degusta). ~0.3 km from the center.
- Frank's Place — American and signature cuisine. ~$31 per person (Degusta). ~0.5 km from the center.
- Ají Limo — Peruvian and grill. ~$28 per person (Degusta). ~0.3 km from the center.
- Ciao Ragazzi (Hotel Sortis, Obarrio) — Italian and pizzeria. ~$26 per person (Degusta). ~0.2 km from the center.
- Vinoteca — Italian. ~$38 per person (Degusta). ~0.4 km from the center.
- Beirut (Área Bancaria) — Lebanese and Indian. ~$26 per person (Degusta). ~0.7 km from the center.
- La Vespa Trattoria — Italian. ~$33 per person (Degusta). ~0.6 km from the center.
- Athanasiou (Downtown at Obarrio) — Pet friendly (Pet Friendly Panamá). Price: check. ~0.2 km from the center.
- Athen's Pizza (Calle 57, Obarrio) — Pet friendly (Pet Friendly Panamá). Price: check. ~0.3 km from the center.
Pet friendly
- Parque Harry Strunz — Park with courts, playgrounds and exercise machines. Free. ~0.3 km from the center.
- Frank's Place — American and signature cuisine. ~$31 per person (Degusta). ~0.5 km from the center.
- Ciao Ragazzi (Hotel Sortis, Obarrio) — Italian and pizzeria. ~$26 per person (Degusta). ~0.2 km from the center.
- Athanasiou (Downtown at Obarrio) — Pet friendly (Pet Friendly Panamá). Price: check. ~0.2 km from the center.
- Athen's Pizza (Calle 57, Obarrio) — Pet friendly (Pet Friendly Panamá). Price: check. ~0.3 km from the center.
Banks in Obarrio
- St. Georges Bank – Calle 50
- Banco General – Vía España (El Cangrejo)
- Caja de Ahorros – Vía España (Vía Argentina)
- Banistmo – Vía España (Vía Argentina)
- Global Bank – Vía España (Vía Argentina)
- Banesco – Vía España (Vía Argentina)
- Credicorp Bank – Vía España (El Cangrejo)
- Banco General – Avenida Samuel Lewis (Obarrio)
- Banistmo – Avenida Samuel Lewis (Obarrio)
- Global Bank – Torre Global Bank (Calle 50)
- Credicorp Bank – Plaza Credicorp (Calle 50)
- BAC – Calle 53 Este (Obarrio)
🐾 Pet friendly
Pet-friendly Obarrio
Obarrio is a neighborhood of towers, but it works with a dog: Parque Harry Strunz, on Calle 50, allows leashed walks, and Pet Friendly Panamá has verified several pet-friendly restaurants (Frank's Place, Ciao Ragazzi at the Sortis Hotel, Athanasiou at Downtown at Obarrio and Athen's Pizza on Calle 57). Some buildings accept pets under their bylaws (Sunrise Tower mentions it in its listings): if you need a dog-friendly apartment, tell us in your request.
- Parque Harry Strunz
- Frank's Place · 🐾 Pet Friendly Panamá
- Ciao Ragazzi (Hotel Sortis, Obarrio) · 🐾 Pet Friendly Panamá
- Athanasiou (Downtown at Obarrio) · 🐾 Pet Friendly Panamá
- Athen's Pizza (Calle 57, Obarrio) · 🐾 Pet Friendly Panamá
Neighboring areas
Living in Bella Vista
Bella Vista district (corregimiento), Panama City. We follow the neighborhoods of the Bella Vista local council: Bella Vista Viejo (Calles 42 to 47 and the Calle Uruguay area up to Calle 50) and La Cresta–Pasadena (north of Vía España, up to the University of Panama and Vía Transístmica), with the Iglesia del Carmen. The towers facing Avenida Balboa and the Cinta Costera, and Marbella, are in our Avenida Balboa guide; east of Avenida Federico Boyd, between Calle 50 and Vía España, Obarrio begins (Campo Alegre and the banking district), and to the north, El Cangrejo. To the west, past Calle 42, is Calidonia.
Living in El Cangrejo
Bella Vista district (corregimiento), Panama City. The El Cangrejo neighborhood lies between Vía España (southeast), Vía Transístmica or Av. Simón Bolívar (west) and Av. Ramón Arias and Vía Brasil (north), with Vía Argentina running through it. The strip between Vía España and Calle 50 (Campo Alegre, the banking district and Obarrio), which portals sometimes list as El Cangrejo, has its own guide: Obarrio; La Cresta and Bella Vista Viejo are in the Bella Vista guide. South of Calle 50 our Avenida Balboa guide begins; east of Vía Brasil, the San Francisco one.
Living in Avenida Balboa
Bella Vista district (corregimiento), Panama City. This guide covers the strip between Calle 50 (Av. Nicanor de Obarrio) and the sea: Avenida Balboa and its waterfront towers, the Cinta Costera and Marbella, with Parque Urracá. The inner streets of Bella Vista Viejo (Calles 42 to 48 and the Calle Uruguay area) and La Cresta have their own guide: Bella Vista. Practical limits: Calle 50 and Vía España to the north (Obarrio, the banking district, Campo Alegre and El Cangrejo, in the same district, are not included: Obarrio and El Cangrejo have their own guides), the Matasnillo river and Punta Paitilla (which has its own guide) to the east, Panama Bay to the south and Calles 38 to 40 Este and Hospital Santo Tomás to the west. The official boundary with Calidonia is Calle 42, but the towers on the avenue between Calles 38 and 42 are marketed as Avenida Balboa or Bella Vista and are included too.
Rent in Avenida Balboa · Buy in Avenida Balboa · Area guide →
Living in San Francisco
San Francisco district (corregimiento), Panama City. This guide covers the San Francisco neighborhood (Calles 63 to 78 between Vía Porras and Vía Israel), Carrasquilla south of Vía España, Villa Lilla, Altos del Golf and Loma Alegre. Practical limits: Vía España and Pueblo Nuevo (north), Coco del Mar and Atlapa (east), Vía Israel, Multiplaza and Punta Pacífica (south) and Obarrio and Vía Brasil (west). Punta Pacífica, Punta Paitilla and Coco del Mar (with Viña del Mar, across Avenida Cincuentenario) have their own guides, as does Parque Lefevre (Chanis, Santa Elena, Panamá Viejo), which borders it to the northeast.
Living in Punta Paitilla
San Francisco district (corregimiento), Panama City. We follow the "Punta Paitilla" and "Paitilla" neighborhoods in the city planning office's (DPU) 2025 zoning of San Francisco: the peninsula south of Vía Israel, from the Matasnillo river and the end of Avenida Balboa (west) to Calle Otilia Jiménez Sarmiento and the Boulevard Punta Pacífica entrance (east), with the bay to the south. It includes the strip between Calle Ramón H. Jurado and Calle Otilia Jiménez Sarmiento (Pacific Center and Plaza Pacífica), which the DPU's August 2025 erratum places in Paitilla even though people usually call it Punta Pacífica; that is why those places appear in both guides. We also list the three public schools on the north side of Vía Israel, which the Ministry of Education and the press place "in Paitilla". Coco del Mar, in the same district and further east, has its own guide. To the west, across the Matasnillo, are Marbella and Avenida Balboa (another guide); to the north, Obarrio and San Francisco; to the east, Punta Pacífica.
Rent in Punta Paitilla · Buy in Punta Paitilla · Area guide →
Obarrio FAQ
How much does it cost to rent in Obarrio?
In listings checked on November 7, 2026, a 2-bedroom apartment asked ~$1,375–1,725 a month (median ~$1,590), a 3-bedroom ~$1,600–2,100 and a 1-bedroom ~$1,075–1,500. These are asking prices, not closing prices.
How much does it cost to buy in Obarrio?
In listings, a 1-bedroom asks ~$158,000–204,000, a 2-bedroom ~$198,000–275,000 (median ~$2,423 per m²) and a 3-bedroom ~$245,500–337,500; 4-bedroom houses and duplexes run ~$491,000–900,000.
Is Obarrio the same as the banking district?
Almost: the banking district covers Obarrio and Campo Alegre, between Calle 50 and Vía España, in the Bella Vista district. This guide covers them together, as the local council groups them. South of Calle 50 are Marbella and Avenida Balboa, and north of Vía España, El Cangrejo.
Is there a Metro station in Obarrio?
The nearest station is Vía Argentina (Line 1), on Vía España, ~0.5 km from central Obarrio; from Campo Alegre, Iglesia del Carmen is closer. MiBus routes C641, C941, V180, V201 and V531 run along Calle 50.
Which company supplies electricity in Obarrio?
Naturgy (Edemet): the Bella Vista district, where Obarrio is, appears on its official list of concession areas. Water is supplied by IDAAN and garbage is collected by AAUD (the fee comes on the IDAAN bill).
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