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A low cost of living is one of the most important factors for retirees who move overseas.
You might want warm weather and a beach nearby, or city amenities and nightlife. Perhaps you prefer small-town living in a country within easy reach of the folks back home, or you dream of experiencing a medieval village in Europe…whatever you’re looking for, one thing is always going to top your list of concerns, and that’s the cost.
The truth is you can live a richer life overseas, for less than what you’re currently spending at home. You can save money on everything from housing and utility bills to transportation expenses. You will be surprised at the high quality of life you can have with a modest income.
But it’s not just bills. Our expert expats consider how much you can save on retiree discounts (if they exist), and weigh up the costs of common medical procedures, visits to the doctor, and what a dentist is going to charge you for a crown. There’s also the often-unconsidered costs—like traveling around your new home and exploring neighboring towns. After all you’re there to have fun.
If you’re looking for a change of scenery, with an inexpensive lifestyle, friendly people, and great food—then retiring overseas is for you. Find out more about the best retirement havens in the world–where your dollar will stretch further…in places where you’d actually want to live.
Affordability is often the single-most influential factor in choosing an overseas retirement destination. After all, who wants to spend their golden years counting pennies and wondering how far the next Social Security check will stretch? That’s the beauty of travel, and International Living’s Annual Global Retirement Index—you have the power to choose...
It's largely thanks to these folks that Guatemala has such a rich and unique culture. And it's this culture that entices many of the expats who have made their homes here. "I love how different it is, and I want it to stay that way, too," says Jean Johnson who lives in the colonial city of Antigua. "It's like traveling into some epic or bygone landscape," says Portland-native John Kin, of traveling around the highlands.
"One of the best things about living in Spain is the simplicity," says Fiona Lennol. "Less is expected of you. You're not required to have a fancy car or a big house. You can be yourself and just enjoy life. When you wake in the morning to blue skies and sunshine the day is already good.
For the last seven years, my husband Gary and I have been enjoying a snowbird lifestyle. For six months each year, we wave goodbye to family and friends in cold, snowy Canada and set out for our home in Panama’s Chiriquí province.
Part of the reason my wife and I chose to begin our Costa Rican adventure in the Central Valley town of Grecia was its proximity to San José and the airport, as well as the beautiful scenery and temperate climate.
By now it’s no secret that Ecuador is a very affordable place to live. In fact, my life in the little mountain town of Cotacachi is so inexpensive that I can support my family of four as a part-time freelancer.
As I drive east out of San Jose and its suburbs, the gridlock, gleaming shopping malls, and dense urban development of Costa Rica’s capital slowly melt away. Within 30 minutes I’ve found myself in the countryside, following a winding road that hugs a mountainside as it descends into the valley below.
When my wife Jen and I decided to move to Costa Rica, like many, we thought we’d end up living in a beach area. However, we wanted to start the...
Sailing into the sunset to start a new life in a tropical paradise is the stuff of many retirees' dreams. However, sometimes the fear that they'll also be leaving behind First World amenities holds them back. But there's a place where you can forget those worries...Cebu City, on the island of Cebu in the Philippines, is that place.
My husband & I will be visiting Costa Rica beginning Sept 18th. We would like to meet with some US expats who have made the move. Our plan is to move within the next year. We will be in San Jose for 3 days then over to the Pacific coast. We'd love to meet some potential new neighbors currently living in Costa Rica...