Best Places In The World To Retire

The cost of living in Chapala and Ajijic is so variable- it depends on the size of your home. For example, for our home of approximately 6,000 square feet, electric bills used to be approximately 3,500 pesos (US $170) every two months.  We now have solar, so the bill is considerably less than that at approximately $65 pesos every two months. We have air conditioning, but we only use it in one area and for only two months in the entire year (May & June, when it’s...

The cost of living in Chapala and Ajijic is so variable- it depends on the size of your home. For example, for our home of approximately 6,000 square feet, electric bills used to be approximately 3,500 pesos (US $170) every two months.  We now have solar, so the bill is considerably less than that at approximately $65 pesos every two months. We have air conditioning, but we only use it in one area and for only two months in the entire year (May & June, when it’s very hot). Before the solar system, we also brought the electric cost down by rewiring the house, and got rid of that big old flat screen TV that was drawing tons of wattage. 

 

On the flip side, we know people that live in smaller 1,200 square foot, 2-bedroom homes that pay 75 pesos (less than US $4) a month on electric bills.  Cost includes normal home appliances along with water pressure systems, washers & dryers.

 

It’s variable on lifestyle, but you can spend 1,500 pesos (US $75) on groceries for two people a week in Chapala.  Typical lunch for two would cost about 200 - 300 pesos (US $10 – US $15) more or less, depending on where you go. We recently went out for a steak dinner and paid 900 pesos (US $45) for three people (steak dinner with salad & drinks).

 

Housing in Chapala and Ajijic is great. Like most places in the world, price of homes depends on location. A small two-bedroom home/condo can cost around US $150,000 and up, compared to a three-bedroom hillside home with a pool that will cost US $400,000 and up.  Consider all the factors of purchasing property - older homes could need work (electrical and plumbing). 

 

Real estate in Chapala and Ajijic is interesting because there are no two houses alike (not taking into consideration gated communities). With that, there can be a US $100,000 dollar-home next door to a US $400,000-dollar home.  As you head east or west from the central area of Ajijic, home prices will drop … location, location, location. 

 

(1,300 square foot home built for light and cross breezes, Ajijic, Mexico, pictured.)

Getting a cell phone in Portugal could be free if you are on a contract or a postpaid plan. Otherwise, it could cost anything from zero to € 1,000 (US $ 1,100 or £ 740). An iPhone 6S costs around €800 (US $ 880 or £ 590) at the moment. The latest Samsung would cost you about the same amount, more or less. Cellphone service is cheap. You can get unlimited calls for just €7.50 (US $8.25 or £ 5.50) a month.

 

Generally,...

Getting a cell phone in Portugal could be free if you are on a contract or a postpaid plan. Otherwise, it could cost anything from zero to € 1,000 (US $ 1,100 or £ 740). An iPhone 6S costs around €800 (US $ 880 or £ 590) at the moment. The latest Samsung would cost you about the same amount, more or less. Cellphone service is cheap. You can get unlimited calls for just €7.50 (US $8.25 or £ 5.50) a month.

 

Generally, telecommunications is neither cheap nor expensive.  You can get a full package, which includes your fixed line phone that also includes your cable TV with a couple hundred channels, a couple of mobiles for that package, and unlimited calls to European landline numbers in the evenings and weekends for around €30 (US $ 33 or £ 22) to €40 (US $ 45 or £ 30) a month. You can also add special services like unlimited calls to Europe during the day, which is great if you have business calls, for an additional €5 (US $5.50 or £ 4) a month. You can personalize the package according to your needs.

 

(Vodafone logo in Portugal, pictured.)

 

For the most part, expats in Belize are treated by the people in Belize the way they also treat the locals.

 

Here's an example of what not to do.  We had some people who we helped relocate to Belize and they were very Type A personalities; very out there, pushy and aggressive. They wanted everything to be done now.

 

I wanted to tell them, “Take a deep breath.”

 

They went to...

For the most part, expats in Belize are treated by the people in Belize the way they also treat the locals.

 

Here's an example of what not to do.  We had some people who we helped relocate to Belize and they were very Type A personalities; very out there, pushy and aggressive. They wanted everything to be done now.

 

I wanted to tell them, “Take a deep breath.”

 

They went to Immigration to get a stamp on their passport and they were frustrated that there was a line, and they were outspoken about it. They weren’t nice. So when they got up to the counter, a little sign went up at the window that said, “Gone for 15 minutes.”

 

They were really mad because they took all this time in line. The guy behind the counter was essentially communicating, “I don’t want to deal with them,” so he left for 15 minutes.

 

If you go to Belize and you are nice to people, you acknowledge them, and treat them with respect, they will treat you the same way. So remember, wherever you move to, you bring yourself with you… so bring the right person with you!

Marbella, a district in the city of Panama, Panama does not have traditions that are different from the rest of Panama City. Marbella is like the center of Panama City and anybody who lives there has access to everything within a five-minute walk. You will find everything from hospitals, supermarkets, malls, and special events.

 

Events that are held in Panama City are usually held in Marbella, because it is right in the middle of Panama City. If there...

Marbella, a district in the city of Panama, Panama does not have traditions that are different from the rest of Panama City. Marbella is like the center of Panama City and anybody who lives there has access to everything within a five-minute walk. You will find everything from hospitals, supermarkets, malls, and special events.

 

Events that are held in Panama City are usually held in Marbella, because it is right in the middle of Panama City. If there are any traditions in Panama City and if you live in Marbella, you will be able to easily participate because you will be close to everything.

There are a variety is issues which could give rise to avoid retiring overseas.  Of those reasons, herein are my “top 3” worst reasons to retire overseas:

 

HEALTHCARE

 

While some jurisdictions may, in fact, have superior healthcare facilities to those in the United States, the healthcare services of many countries are far inferior to those in America.  Consistent access to quality medication at affordable...

There are a variety is issues which could give rise to avoid retiring overseas.  Of those reasons, herein are my “top 3” worst reasons to retire overseas:

 

HEALTHCARE

 

While some jurisdictions may, in fact, have superior healthcare facilities to those in the United States, the healthcare services of many countries are far inferior to those in America.  Consistent access to quality medication at affordable rates can, surprisingly, be more challenging than you may realize.  Also, when you are of retirement age and experience a serious medical challenge, it can be extremely expense, if not life threatening, to travel (or be transported) to a neighboring country which has qualified physicians needed to properly treat your ailment.  While you may do your best to choose a favorable jurisdiction for your golden age, countries which boast low-cost retirement havens often lack proper medical facilities.

 

FAMILY AND FRIENDS

 

Assuming you have children, you may find yourself missing out on watching your grandson’s first baseball game or granddaughter’s communion.  Lifelong friends, who are also of retirement age, may not have the resources to come and visit you but once every few years.  Unless you are part of a small community to provide you with the emotional support needed to maintain a healthy emotional state of mind, it is easy to become increasingly depressed living isolated from family and friends.  Are you mentally and emotionally prepared to communicate with your closest of friends and family via video or social media?  When you no longer wish to travel back to the United States, there may be extended periods of time when no comes to visit you either.

 

FINANCES AND EXCHANGE RATES

 

Lack of finances ranks among the primary causes of tremendous stress.  Unless you have reasonably substantial savings for your retirement, you may find yourself in an extremely uncomfortable position overseas.  Adding insult to injury, if you wished to work part-time to generate some additional income, most retirement visa’s do not allow for any formal work to be undertaken by a retiree as it places unnecessary burdens on the local community whom often struggle with finding work for their families.  Additionally, currencies and exchange rate are subject to slow degradations as well as massive swings.  Meaning, you may have moved to a country wherein you enjoyed a favorable exchange rate when you arrived but find yourself getting far less ‘bang for your buck’ as time moves on.