Best Places In The World To Retire

The cost to rent a home in Chapala or Ajijic really depends on what you are looking for. You can find a 2 bedroom with roof terrace, garden, garage, and 2 big living rooms for US $400 a month. There are also options for less money and smaller.

 

Your choice of town can influence the rental costs and 5-bedroom mansions with pools are also available.

 

There are a huge...

The cost to rent a home in Chapala or Ajijic really depends on what you are looking for. You can find a 2 bedroom with roof terrace, garden, garage, and 2 big living rooms for US $400 a month. There are also options for less money and smaller.

 

Your choice of town can influence the rental costs and 5-bedroom mansions with pools are also available.

 

There are a huge variety of house styles to choose from and many real estate companies and rental agencies to help you find what you need.  Seasonal expats who stay for 6 months of the year can affect the rental prices for short term leases and so the high season or low seasons may affect choices.

 

Many Mexican families from Guadalajara and outside have weekend homes at the lake which means at the weekend the lakeside can be much more vibrant and busy with visitors.

 

(Terrace for viewing Lake Chapala, Mexico, pictured.)

In Portugal, we have the national health insurance and the national health system, which is not terribly efficient and it has long waiting lists so it is advisable for people to have private health insurance, which is not expensive.

 

There are some very good private clinics and hospitals here in the major centers of Portugal. I have a health insurance policy for myself, for my wife, and my three children even though they are adults now. It costs me...

In Portugal, we have the national health insurance and the national health system, which is not terribly efficient and it has long waiting lists so it is advisable for people to have private health insurance, which is not expensive.

 

There are some very good private clinics and hospitals here in the major centers of Portugal. I have a health insurance policy for myself, for my wife, and my three children even though they are adults now. It costs me €200 (US $218 or £147) a month and it covers basically everything except dental.

 

(Logo for Pacific Prime, private medical insurance offered in Portugal, pictured.)

Nicaragua has the least issue of illegal drug trafficking of any Central American country and probably even any South American country. The Nicaraguan government is extremely pro-family and anti-drugs, so we do not have any of the gangs that are known in Honduras, Mexico, El Salvador, or Guatemala. As expats, we haven’t seen much illegal drug trafficking here in Nicaragua. Since Nicaragua is a poor country, a lot of people just cannot afford to do drugs.

Nicaragua has the least issue of illegal drug trafficking of any Central American country and probably even any South American country. The Nicaraguan government is extremely pro-family and anti-drugs, so we do not have any of the gangs that are known in Honduras, Mexico, El Salvador, or Guatemala. As expats, we haven’t seen much illegal drug trafficking here in Nicaragua. Since Nicaragua is a poor country, a lot of people just cannot afford to do drugs.

There are quite a few programs for retirees regarding real estate purchases and real estate taxes in Panama.. You have a 20-year property tax exemption on new construction. It does not apply on the land, but it does apply to the construction. A lot of homeowners take advantage of that. It has to be new construction and it can be transferred to a new owner for the remaining time of the 20 years.  
 
These laws have been...

There are quite a few programs for retirees regarding real estate purchases and real estate taxes in Panama.. You have a 20-year property tax exemption on new construction. It does not apply on the land, but it does apply to the construction. A lot of homeowners take advantage of that. It has to be new construction and it can be transferred to a new owner for the remaining time of the 20 years.  
 
These laws have been continuously renewed, but they can change at any time. It’s not to say that they’re forever. Panama has the red carpet rolled out for foreign investment and it makes good business sense to keep these laws on the books. 

 

(Western Azuero Peninsula, Panama, pictured.)

One of the things that I like about fishing in Belize is that catch and release is being promoted and practiced here.

 

One of the biggest things for us here in Belize right now is sport fishing and bone fishing. Getting a Grand Slam in Belize is pretty easy and it is quite a great experience. People go out around the world looking for tarpon, bonefish and permit, whereas there are areas here in Belize where you can get all of them in one place,...

One of the things that I like about fishing in Belize is that catch and release is being promoted and practiced here.

 

One of the biggest things for us here in Belize right now is sport fishing and bone fishing. Getting a Grand Slam in Belize is pretty easy and it is quite a great experience. People go out around the world looking for tarpon, bonefish and permit, whereas there are areas here in Belize where you can get all of them in one place, which is every fisherman’s dream.

 

We also have sport fishing for marlin. We have about four fishing tournaments being held here in Belize every year. It is not that much advertised as most places in the Caribbean, but Belize competes as one of the best places for tarpon, bonefish (pictured), and permit for catch and release fishing.