Best Places In The World To Retire

There are not really water disruptions per se but in La Paz, depending on your neighborhood, there are situations where you may have water every other day but people have storage tanks on the roof, which are called tinacos. In our house, where we live, we have two tinacos on the roof of the house and two tinacos on the roof of the office. Lots of people have pumps or cisterns so when the water comes in they store it. After all, let’s not forget that we are living on a desert and we...

There are not really water disruptions per se but in La Paz, depending on your neighborhood, there are situations where you may have water every other day but people have storage tanks on the roof, which are called tinacos. In our house, where we live, we have two tinacos on the roof of the house and two tinacos on the roof of the office. Lots of people have pumps or cisterns so when the water comes in they store it. After all, let’s not forget that we are living on a desert and we preach conservation.   

 

(Rooftop water collection, Mexico, pictured.)

I agree with everything Ian and JB said. Your cost of living in Bocas del Toro will vary according to your personal tastes. I know people living very comfortably on $1,000 a month including rent and folks who spend much more, eating out at fancy restaurants every night, buying expensive American brands instead of local, driving an SUV etc.

 

One thing I 'd like to add though is that prices are going up. A water taxi ride to Carenero that was 50 cents 10 years...

I agree with everything Ian and JB said. Your cost of living in Bocas del Toro will vary according to your personal tastes. I know people living very comfortably on $1,000 a month including rent and folks who spend much more, eating out at fancy restaurants every night, buying expensive American brands instead of local, driving an SUV etc.

 

One thing I 'd like to add though is that prices are going up. A water taxi ride to Carenero that was 50 cents 10 years ago is now $1.00.  Air Panama just raised their air fare round trip from Panama City to here from $235 to $250, Even some of the local restaurants are now more expensive than they used to be and the highest priced hotel ten year ago was $70. Now there is an all inclusive that starts at $400 a night. If you want to live in Bocas and own Real Estate, I would buy now. Prices are likely the lowest they will be, right now, with so much for sale.

My understanding is that, for some states such as California, you can file as a non-resident and be eligible for an exclusion from state income taxes as well. Some states allow the exclusion, and some states don’t, so you need to check the law in your particular state. 

In Managua, Nicaragua, you will see couture, and you will see expensive sports cars.  However, the country of Nicaragua is such an agrarian society that once you step minutes outside of Managua, it’s as if you are stepping from one century to another.  The same is true of the other more urban areas of the country.  And the further away from Managua or these other areas you go, the centuries continue to roll backwards.

In Managua, Nicaragua, you will see couture, and you will see expensive sports cars.  However, the country of Nicaragua is such an agrarian society that once you step minutes outside of Managua, it’s as if you are stepping from one century to another.  The same is true of the other more urban areas of the country.  And the further away from Managua or these other areas you go, the centuries continue to roll backwards.