Best Places In The World To Retire

If you’re renting from a local Mexican, in a middle or middle-upper class neighborhood in the Yucatan Peninsula, you can expect to pay anything from 2,000 (US $125) to 5,000 pesos (US $312) a month to rent an apartment. This would be about right in any of the 3 states – Campeche, the city of Merida, or in the Caribbean in Playa Del Carmen.
 
It bothers me to see a gringo rent a house for US $1,500 when the neighbor next door will rent it for US $500. I’ve also...

If you’re renting from a local Mexican, in a middle or middle-upper class neighborhood in the Yucatan Peninsula, you can expect to pay anything from 2,000 (US $125) to 5,000 pesos (US $312) a month to rent an apartment. This would be about right in any of the 3 states – Campeche, the city of Merida, or in the Caribbean in Playa Del Carmen.
 
It bothers me to see a gringo rent a house for US $1,500 when the neighbor next door will rent it for US $500. I’ve also seen a gringo rent an apartment for $500 and turn around and rent it to a friend or put it on Air B & B and charge $1,500 for it and pocket the difference. This is pretty prevalent in any tourist destination in Mexico where you’re going to have a gringo renting; it’s a very common occurrence that gringos do. You don’t see it that much with Mexicans. Sometimes they do it but you get a more honest and fairer deal when dealing directly with a Mexican; even if they see if you’re a gringo.
 
I’ll give you an example from where I live in Merida. Two to three bedroom homes rent for a range of 1,500 pesos (US $93.75) to 5,000 (US $312.5). A single floor, 2-bedroom unit could be 1,500 pesos (US $93.75) to 2,000 pesos (US $125). That’s for my area, which is a little middle-upper class. Then again, if you go to Playa Del Carmen, which is on the Caribbean, if you rent from a Mexican where the Mexicans live and not where the tourists live, you can have find a 2 or 3-bedroom home for 5,000 pesos (US $312.5), sometimes furnished. These are single-family residences. Apartments can run the same depending on their location. Sometimes the privilege of renting an apartment is sometimes maybe better access to some public transportation or some amenities like a pool or some other things I can think of as the only plus. But if it’s an apartment, you’re usually going to find it furnished.  They usually include all utilities except electricity.

 

(Caribbean condos in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, pictured.)

There are lots of taxis that are readily available in Coronado, Panama. They pass by the streets, especially close to the grocery stores. They are available during the day, just circling around. You can go outside of your house and put your arm up and get a taxi.

The cost of the taxi is US $2 to $3 per trip, if it is not far. It shouldn’t be more than $5, if it is within Coronado. For example, if you want to go from your apartment to the grocery store, it will cost...

There are lots of taxis that are readily available in Coronado, Panama. They pass by the streets, especially close to the grocery stores. They are available during the day, just circling around. You can go outside of your house and put your arm up and get a taxi.

The cost of the taxi is US $2 to $3 per trip, if it is not far. It shouldn’t be more than $5, if it is within Coronado. For example, if you want to go from your apartment to the grocery store, it will cost about $3 to $4. You can just call for a taxi or go down to the street in front of your building or out of your house and wait for one to pass by.

 

Different countries have different rules about needing a second passport to retire or work abroad. In Panama you do not need a second passport to work or retire. You will, however, need a permanent resident visa to live here long term. You can also get a work permit if you have skills that are in short supply here -- eg. engineering or computer programming..
 

Different countries have different rules about needing a second passport to retire or work abroad. In Panama you do not need a second passport to work or retire. You will, however, need a permanent resident visa to live here long term. You can also get a work permit if you have skills that are in short supply here -- eg. engineering or computer programming..
 

There are lots of good opportunities for volunteer work here in Belize. The humane society is very active in Belize, especially in Placencia. Rotary is very active in Belize, also especially in Placencia. There are also church groups. There are also a lot of volunteers from the States that come down and do missionary work, and medical work here in Belize. They'll come down and do work for a week for free. They have dental missions, eye exams and all that is for free.
 
There...

There are lots of good opportunities for volunteer work here in Belize. The humane society is very active in Belize, especially in Placencia. Rotary is very active in Belize, also especially in Placencia. There are also church groups. There are also a lot of volunteers from the States that come down and do missionary work, and medical work here in Belize. They'll come down and do work for a week for free. They have dental missions, eye exams and all that is for free.
 
There are art festivals held here in Belize, which are events which people can volunteer to help set up or get involved selling tickets. A lot of expats, no matter who they are or where they come from, do something new or do something different to help out, so there's always volunteer activity available in Belize.