Best Places In The World To Retire

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Recently Answered Questions

How’s the weather in Mexico? What’s the average temperature in Mexico?

Richard Kemper

dock on Lake Chapala – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

I live in Ajijic, a very popular expat area near Lake Chapala. One of the reasons it’s so popular is the great weather we have here.

The average temperate is probably 82. It’s not hot enough for air conditioning and you do not need heating at all. Two years ago, it got to the point where I had to put an extra blanket on the bed at night and I had to wear a long sweatshirt during the day. That is about as cold as it gets. It was very unusual. It got to 38 or 39...

How's the standard of living in Granada, Nicaragua?

John-Marc Gallagher - GPS Real Estate

The standard of living in Granada, Nicaragua Granada, Nicaragua bedroom of luxurious home – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

Granada, Nicaragua bedroom of luxurious home – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

is subjective. It’s completely different for the native Nicaraguan, who makes $600 to $1,000 a month, as compared to the standard of living for the expat.

The standard of living in Granada, Nicaragua Granada, Nicaragua bedroom of luxurious home – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

is subjective. It’s completely different for the native Nicaraguan, who makes $600 to $1,000 a month, as compared to the standard of living for the expat.

Even discussing the standard of living for the typical expat in Granada, Nicaragua is all over the board because there are expats who are living solely on Social Security, all the way to expats who are multi-millionaires who have homes in three different locations of the world and where their home in Granada is just one of their homes, and they spend a couple months here, a couple months, for example, in Ecuador, some time in Spain, etc.

Discussing the standard of living in Granada, Nicaragua is not like discussing the standard of living in the United States, for example, in Miami. In Granada, there is no average per se because of the interesting diversity of the people living here.

Relative to what you could buy in and what standard of living you would be able to attain in Granada as opposed to the United States, your money stretches a lot farther here in Granada, as a Third World country. In Granada, your basic supplies or basic “basket” (what they call in Spanish, your “canasta”) defines what it costs to live at the sustenance level. This includes things like eggs, milk, cheese, butter, rice and beans. The basic basket is much less expensive in Granada than in the US. But even above that, the cost for items such as rent, movies, dinners, all are much more affordable in Granada than in North America.

Here are some examples. The cost to build a luxury house in the US is about US $150 per square foot. You can build the same luxury house in Granada for $55 - $60 per square foot. You go out to dinner and a movie in the US for $125 and here in Granada, the same would cost you $40 - $60.

The cost for medical attention is much, much Metropolitan Hospital in Managua, Nicargua, arial shot – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

Metropolitan Hospital in Managua, Nicargua, arial shot – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

less in Granada as compared with the US. Let’s consider, for example, elective cosmetic surgery, because its something your insurance wouldn’t pay for. In the US, it may cost you $2,500 to have your eyelids done. Here, it will cost you $450. A colonoscopy in the US would cost you $1,800 to $3,500. If your insurance covers it, it may cost $2,500, so with a deductible, you may pay $500 out of pocket. In Nicaragua, a colonoscopy is $350 total, without insurance. Here in Nicaragua I just pay for items like colonoscopies in cash (no insurance) for the same amount I would have to pay with insurance in the US. Then, I get to keep whatever my monthly insurance cost in the US would be—many, many thousands of dollars per year.

In Granada, we live very well. If you’re living on $3,000 a month in Granada, you can afford to have a maid and a gardener / driver. You would pay each of them $200 per month. So, if you want to go out at night and you don’t want to have to drive, you can have your driver take you. And, you can have a maid all day for 5 – 6 days a week who also cooks your meals for you.

Even though you may not need as much money to live in Granada as compared with the US, your standard of living is higher in Granada. You can afford the help, either because you need it, or you just want to have a more relaxed lifestyle.

In general, what do I need to know about FBAR (Foreign Bank Account Report)?

Jay Butler - Asset Protection Services of America

According to the Foreign Bank and Financial Authority (FBAR) regulations, the IRS must allow individuals to open private offshore bank accounts. So long as the aggregate value of all foreign financial accounts does not exceed $10,000 (USD) at any time during the calendar year, the assets need not be reported. Be mindful of interest bearing accounts, for if your total offshore accounts exceed $10,000 (USD) the IRS requires you to report it or risk facing a maximum penalty of five years in...

What electrical current or voltage is used in Portugal? Will my electrical appliances work in Portugal?

Carol Bartlett Ribeiro - Carol Bartlett Ribeiro, Property Consultant

Old style wood burning stove in a Portuguese kitchen – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

The voltage here in Portugal is the same as you have in the States, and unlike England where you have 3 plugs. You can take the hair drier you use in the US and plug it right into the wall in Portugal and it will work, whereas, if you take your hair drier from the US to Portugal, you will need an adapter.

Previously if you put a washing machine on and a hair dryer everything would blow up because the homes couldn’t accommodate too much of an...

How do I become a permanent resident living in Panama?

Rafael Alvarado - Rafael Alvarado / Attorney / Real Estate Broker

In order to become a permanent resident here in Panama you can decide between multiple visa options. The best decision will depend on your actual status: age, whether or not you are retired, etc...

What are the expats like in Placencia, Belize?

David Keener - Vision Properties Belize

Expats picnicing on the beach in Placencia, Belize – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

A lot of the expats in Placencia are retirees or they have second homes, so they split half their time in the States and half their time in Placencia. Most of the retirees in Placencia are age 45 and up. They are part of the older, retiring, or second-home expat crowd.

In general, the retirees in Placencia are very nice people. Belize attracts friendly, warm, and open personalities. This is part of the Belizean culture, so like-minded people just gravitate towards that.
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Recently Posted Expat Stories

Working with INTUR (Nicaragua Ministry of Tourism) at AARP

I was pleasantly surprised and honored to Kent Payne and Catalina Gordon of Nicaragua Instituto Nicaraguense de Turismo INTUR – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

Kent Payne and Catalina Gordon of Nicaragua Instituto Nicaraguense de Turismo INTUR – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

be asked to attend the AARP conference in Boston, MA just this past week, May 7th.

We had the pleasure to attend the conference and join thousands of attendees as they took a look at new opportunities of how to live life past 50 years.

Pictured are me (the old one) and Catalina Gordon who lives in Managua and works the government's Instituto Nicaraguense de Turismo INTUR. We handed out lots of advertising (called...

In Panama, the government doesn't allow insurance to be written for individuals over 62. That makes health care an important issue. Yes, it is cheaper than in the USA. However, the type of insurance available with MS Chiriqui Hospital in David has changed! (David is the closest large city to Boquete. The picture to the right is of the author, Linda Jensen.)

When we originally signed up for coverage we paid $147 per month and it had a term...

New Metro (Subway) in Panamá

Public transportation in Panamá made history last April 5, 2014 with the inauguration of the first metro (subway) in Central América.

Above and beyond all expectations, the construction of the modern metro was made in 38 months. It has 20 trains of 3 wagons each, accommodating 600 people per train.

But the most amazing thing is that the President of Panamá, Mr. Ricardo Martinelli, a nice and simple fellow,...

Best Places In The World To Retire

Recently Answered Questions

How’s the weather in Mexico? What’s the average temperature in Mexico?

How's the standard of living in Granada, Nicaragua?

In general, what do I need to know about FBAR (Foreign Bank Account Report)?

What electrical current or voltage is used in Portugal? Will my electrical appliances work in Portugal?

How do I become a permanent resident living in Panama?

What are the expats like in Placencia, Belize?

Recently Posted Expat Stories

Working with INTUR (Nicaragua Ministry of Tourism) at AARP

The Need For Insurance Lives On In Panama

New Metro (Subway) in Panamá

Best Places In The World To Retire