Best Places In The World To Retire

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Recently Answered Questions

What would my neighbors be like in Chapala and Ajijic, Mexico?

Lee Steele

In the Lake Chapala area (especially Ajijic) there are several "gated communities", mostly populated by Gringos. Personally, if I had wanted to live in a Gringo gated community, I would have just stayed in the States. We prefer to live "among the locals". Home in gated community, Lake Chapala, Mexico – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

Home in gated community, Lake Chapala, Mexico – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

Here in Mexico, your neighbors are the best crime-prevention method. The local Mexicans look out for each other (and you).

What's the cost to rent an apartment in Cayo, Belize, including San Ignacio and Belmopan?

Franklin Syrowatka - Better Homes Belize

Neighborhood in San_Ignacio, Cayo, Belize – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

I am no real estate specialist but I think the cost to rent an apartment here in Cayo starts at around US $200 to $300 a month. This will be a one-bedroom apartment. Do not expect to see big apartment buildings here in Cayo. The houses are up to three stories high and have usually between two and six rental units.

(Neighborhood in San Ignacio, Cayo, Belize, pictured.)

What are the worst places in the world to retire?

Neil Stein - Panama Paraiso

Neil Stein riding a bike in El Valle de Anton, Panama – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living I have not been back to Europe for many years. But when I was there, it was already expensive and I think it is even more expensive now. Many places are expensive. I have also lived in Australia for five months and in New Zealand for two months and both these places have gotten expensive now. I think it also depends on your budget but I love Australia and New Zealand.

For me, the worst places to retire would be any place that is cold; any place where the weather drops below...

How much does it cost for a gardener in Portugal

Marcia Schwuchow

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

We have a one acre property in the countryside 30 minutes from Lisbon. We pay our local gardening team 10 Euros per person per hour (about US $11). Usually two of them come for two to three hours once a month throughout the year.

(Alentejo, Portugal, pictured.)

What are the construction standards in the Panama City, Panama area of Marbella?

Jose Broce - Broce-Pinilla & Asociados

Marbella, Panama buildings under construction – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

Buildings in Marbella, Panama are well built.

The finishing is not up to US standards because the practice here is that the finishing would be up to the person who will buy the property just so that they can finish the building as they want. It is not up to US standards but it is better than any other Latin country.

The structures are of the highest standards you can get. We have huge structures here in Marbella and they are all high-quality builds.

What is the cost for health insurance in Nicaragua and how does it work?

Mike Cobb - ECI Development

There are two ways to address the question of health insurance in Nicaragua. There is health insurance in Nicaragua and there is also health insurance for expats. Most of the hospitals in Nicaragua have a health insurance plan. Vivian Pellas Hospital has a program where people pay US $50 or $100 per month for various levels of discounts and free services when needed. My family has BUPA insurance, which provides expat insurance all over the world. Our plan gives us...

Recently Posted Expat Stories

Those B! banks!

BANKING-- despite all their assurances that you have set up all the correct procedures and accounts, there WILL be problems. Not in your host country, but 'back home'. These will take the form of excessive fees, limitations on the maximum allowed currency, changes in their regulations, both Governmental and internal bank rules, staff changes, lock-outs for internet transactions and many, many others.

Should you try snail mail it may take weeks of effort; I once took a certified bank check wih...

Hospital Insurance in Panama

My husband is 73 and he was on several medications over the last few years in America. We have been in Panama only 10 months and he has cut his medications in half. He feels better, has more energy and feels less stressed. We attribute our good health to foods, climate, and less stressful lifestyle here. He has lost over 12 pounds, walks often and enjoys our life here.

We were paying almost $700 per month additional to Medicare for supplemental...

Altos del Maria— Shangri-La Enchantment in Panama

One can look at a map of Panama and see it as would an early engineer, as an earth moving project. There, where the raised land is as narrow as a sandbar on the globe, and the two giant fraternal land masses balance on either side of the equator, Panama is like the stretched middle of a twisted water balloon, and anyone with an imagination tuned to navigation, would place an inland waterway there to connect the oceans, dug to accommodate the cargo of deep-hulled ships. But when one...