Best Places In The World To Retire

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Recently Answered Questions

How does the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) affect me if I move to Mexico?

Don Nelson - TaxMeLess

Expat destination, Rocly Point, Mexico – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

You must report any Mexican bank accounts, stock brokerage accounts, etc., if the combined highest balances of all accounts during any calendar year is $10,000 or more. You must file form 114 on line in order to avoid potential penalties are $10,000 per year. This form is simple and is filed on line. Easy for any expat to fill out.

(Expat destination, Rocky Point, Mexico, pictured.)

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What does it cost for a vacation rental in Placencia, Belize?

Veronique McKenzie - CTTBeliZe

mirasol apartment placencia belize – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

Placencia is a melting pot of everything, so we have it all. You can get a small cabin for US $500 a week. It would be a studio cabin that has a little kitchen, double bed, and a little balcony with full view of the sea.

If you want something more sophisticated, you can get a one-bedroom for $1,500 per week with a small pool, and you could be on the beach, too. There is another one that I rent for $1,500 a week where you get two bedrooms, a full...

How are Americans in Nicaragua treated? How are expats in Nicaragua treated generally?

Carlos Roman Gutierrez Solis - Casa Granada Properties

Just like anywhere else, you have to keep your eyes open in Nicaragua because anybody anywhere can do something not really nice to you. But generally, Americans and other expats are welcome in Nicaragua.

The influence that we get from European and American visitors in Nicaragua is very important and provided us with a lot of ideas of how to improve and live better in our own country. Expats give us the fresh ideas and the motivation to do more for our...

How good are the medical centers, hospitals and health clinics in Portugal, and how close are they?

Juan Matias - BLUE Boutique Hostel & SUITES

View_of_Hospital_São_José_from_Castelo_de_São_Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

The healthcare in Portugal was a sensitive issue for us for many years because until we joined the European Union we were an undeveloped country. We came from the two world wars then we went through a dictatorship then there was a revolution and the Communists took over and that made our country even poorer. As a result, Portugal’s medical facilities were not top of the line 30 years ago. But then we joined the European Union and as we joined the European Union, there are certain rules with which we had to comply, and the quality of our medical systems was one of them. At that moment, there were two or three really famous Portuguese businessmen who invested heavily in medical facilities and systems, so today, and for the past 10 years, we are at the same level as any other civilized European country. So we have very good medical facilities at the moment. We are on par with France, Great Britain, etc.

There was a trend 10 years ago when there was a big boom in the construction of private hospitals. In the last 10 years, the Social Democratic Party took over, and one of their measures was to develop the public medical system, so they built all these new hospitals and clinics. I come from a middle-high class family and I use the public medical system. I compared the public and private system because I have private medical insurance and I have a public hospital near by and I use both. I didn’t used to go to the public system because of it having bad reputation in the old days. But the other day, I had a problem with my son and I took him to the public hospital and I was impressed because I got better service than at the private hospital. I don’t know if it was a coincidence but the hospital was brand new with a very quick reply. I went in and out in an hour and sometimes that doesn’t happen in hospitals around the world. So I am very, very impressed with our public medical system at the moment.

(View of Hospital São José from Castelo de São Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal, pictured.)

How's the standard of living in the Pedasi, Azuero, Panama area?

Liatte Nicole Miller

standard of living in Pedasi Azuero Panama – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

The standard of living in Pedasi can be pretty varied. You can live inexpensively, if you eat at local restaurants and rent a house. It is the exact opposite if you have a million dollar house on the beach and eat at the more “expensive” restaurants. Still, it is cheaper than living in the United States, Canada, Europe and even Costa Rica.

It’s pretty calm when you live in Pedasi. As we say here, it is tranquilo. Pedasi is a nice, cute, beautiful town with...

What do I need to know about international pet shipping, international pet travel, and international pet transport?

Robert Irvin - The Oaks Tamarindo Condominiums-- Costa Rica

Pet passport – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

I’ve had a number of clients, owners, and tenants in the Oaks Tamarindo who have moved dogs to Costa Rica. You can get a pet passport, which can be easily found on the Internet. In fact, I’ve found it for a number of clients.

International pet shipping, pet travel and pet transport in Costa Rica is not an issue. Getting a pet passport in Costa Rica is easy, but it may be different in other countries.

(Pet passport, pictured.)

Recently Posted Expat Stories

Beach Bicycle Cruising in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize

Karen Merritt's pink bicycle in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

Here is a picture of my Barbie doll pink Beach Cruzer. She's only 6 months old, but she looks ancient. I've already had Man with his dog on the beach at San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

Man with his dog on the beach at San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

to replace a main spring bolt and tube in the front tire, and I haven't yet replaced my basket, but I need to do that soon too due to the nuts rusting. Between the heavy salt air and the unforgiving cobblestones in and around town, it's no wonder.

You must wonder what people do for fun in Ambergris Caye. Well, riding my bike --most days...

The Big Mac Index (or How Far Does Your Dollar Go In Another Country?)

Even if you move to another country, you will find many things that remind you of the United States. You will see Walmart, McDonald’s, Costco, Home Depot, Pizza Hut, Coca-Cola, Lego, L'Oréal, Nike, and many other familiar names everywhere.

One of those familiar names will show you the value of your US Dollar. You can compare the economies of different countries by comparing the price of a world famous sandwich.

The Big Mac...

Elephant polo in Thailand – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

After a year of retirement in Turkey and 6 months back in Australia, I decided on Thailand and have been here 11 months. My one-year 'Retirement Visa' is up for extension in a month and is a straightforward process [HA!!]

Bangkok was dreadful, the "Concrete City" of choking traffic and humid heat. No thanks. Next was Chiang Mai, a smaller Bangkok. No thanks. A friend from OZ has lived in Chiang Rai in the extreme north of the country, for 12 years so the next and last...