Best Places In The World To Retire

How much do healthcare and medical services cost in Chapala and Ajijic, Mexico?

Richard Tingen - Coldwell Banker Chapala Realty

Seguro Popular – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

Here in the Chapala / Ajijic area, I a doctor would probably charge between 500 and 1000 pesos (US $28 to $55) for a consultation. Personally, I had a cardiologist in Guadalajara that charges me 800 pesos, but he’s a topnotch cardiologist.

Medical care here is very inexpensive. There is a medical insurance here called Seguro Popular, which was instigated by one of our former presidents.

One of my...

Here in the Chapala / Ajijic area, I a doctor would probably charge between 500 and 1000 pesos (US $28 to $55) for a consultation. Personally, I had a cardiologist in Guadalajara that charges me 800 pesos, but he’s a topnotch cardiologist.

Medical care here is very inexpensive. There is a medical insurance here called Seguro Popular, which was instigated by one of our former presidents.

One of my sales people found that his wife had a lump on her breast and had no insurance. He went to Seguro Popular, registered, and in 3 days they had removed the lump and did a biopsy within a week and it didn’t cost him any more than probably about $100 for the whole treatment plus the medication that she had to take after that treatment.

The same coverage is available to expats. They would have to register and get the insurance and of course, they’re going to ask you for your visa.

In our case, as a business, we’re obligated to ensure our employees in Seguro Social, which is another benefit that they would get. Not everybody has Seguro Social, but if you don’t have Seguro Social, you have Seguro Popular. You can get Seguro Popular or you can go directly into the Hospital Civil. The Civil Hospital in Guadalajara is an amazing and great, great hospital, and you don’t even have to have any insurance at all and they will take care of you there. It’s really good care. A paint contractor I know who does a lot of work for us needs a kidney transplant and he is going to go to the Seguro Social hospital. His brother is going to donate him a kidney, and it will cost him very little, if anything. This hospital in Guadalajara happens to be one of the best transplant hospitals in the whole country for kidneys.

Another thing that’s very interesting that not so many people know is that any woman or child that has cancer gets free treatments through the social security hospitals. They will even rebuild a breast free. It doesn’t cost them anything.

(Doctor and patient in the Seguro Popular program, pictured.)

Is Coronado, Panama safe?

Sarah Booth - Panama Holiday Homes & Buyer's Consultant with My Panama Real Estate

As a mid-40 year old, single, blonde woman living in Coronado, Panama for almost 10 years, I have never had a safety problem. It is even safer here in Coronado than in Canada, where I come from.

It is certainly nice that I have a gate to my house because it is a deterrent but it does not keep everybody out. Most houses here have bars on the windows because we want to be sure of our security. If your place looks like it doesn't have easy...

Is Portugal Safe? What is the crime rate in Portugal?

Carol Bartlett Ribeiro - Carol Bartlett Ribeiro, Property Consultant

A village in Baganca, Portugal – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

We do have crime in Portugal, but it’s not violent crime. One of the reasons that there are so many Brazilians and so many South Africans coming to Portugal now is because Portugal is so much safer than their countries.

The crime rate has gone up in Portugal. Do you have houses burgled in Portugal? Yes, we do. But people are not violent. It’s not like in many other countries where they would probably shoot you first and steal from you...

We do have crime in Portugal, but it’s not violent crime. One of the reasons that there are so many Brazilians and so many South Africans coming to Portugal now is because Portugal is so much safer than their countries.

The crime rate has gone up in Portugal. Do you have houses burgled in Portugal? Yes, we do. But people are not violent. It’s not like in many other countries where they would probably shoot you first and steal from you afterwards. But they do have people breaking in and they have probably youngsters on scooters who rush past you and grab your handbag. But compared to many other countries, the crime rate overall is very low.

There are certain areas of Lisbon that are poor areas and in which the crime rate is quite high. Portugal has to be very careful because of its long coastline makes it a natural transit point for drugs. The influx of drugs that also comes from Morocco also causes crime. Unfortunately, gone are the days when most of the Portuguese could leave their keys in the front door and that’s absolutely fine; you can’t do that today, so you do have to be aware. But every foreigner that I know here says that when they come home late, they don’t feel intimidated and nervous like they would in other places. As far as statistics go, I know that the crime rate has gone up but its not astronomical like a lot of countries.

In England, in London, I’ve never had any incidents there but my mother’s house was burgled and totally wrecked. In Brazil, I was attacked on a Saturday coming back from the supermarket. I’ve never, fortunately, had anything like that happen here in Portugal.

A lot of people ask, “Carol, where would you like to go back to live?” To answer, I think it’s easier to say where wouldn’t you like to live and that would mainly be because of security and I don’t have that feeling at all here in Portugal. And I have to say most of my friends who are foreigners and Portuguese say the same thing. They all feel safe in Portugal.

(A village in Baganca, Portugal, pictured.)

What's it like to retire in Nicaragua?

Immanuel Zerger - Solentiname Tours - Discover Nicaragua

Metrocentro Managua Shopping Center Nicaragua – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

Retirement in Nicaragua is beautiful. You wake up with a sunny day and have your morning coffee. Everything is close by; you can go to the supermarkets and the groceries, which is just two blocks away. You can have lunch at home or eat at a restaurant nearby.

There are many activities that you can do in Nicaragua. You can arrange some excursions with your neighbors. You can do some fitness activities, play golf, go for yoga lessons, learn Spanish, or go to...

Where do the expats in Belize meet? Where are the Belize expat communities?

Boris Mannsfeld - Boris Mannsfeld & Associates

Swimming pool in Belize with a woman in a lounge chair – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

There are different towns where expats end up living in Belize. Placencia, Hopkins, and San Pedro are just some of the main areas where there are expat communities.

Placencia is a 16-mile long peninsula in Belize. You will see the Caribbean on one side and the lagoon on the other. On the other side of the lagoon is the mainland, and a short distance further you can see the Maya Mountains. There are lots of expats moving here permanently and others make Placencia their second...

There are different towns where expats end up living in Belize. Placencia, Hopkins, and San Pedro are just some of the main areas where there are expat communities.

Placencia is a 16-mile long peninsula in Belize. You will see the Caribbean on one side and the lagoon on the other. On the other side of the lagoon is the mainland, and a short distance further you can see the Maya Mountains. There are lots of expats moving here permanently and others make Placencia their second homes. Some expats move to Placencia to set up businesses. There was a guy who came to my office today was looking to set up a business here. Placencia is probably the second biggest business tourist destination in Belize, so it draws more tourists.

San Pedro, which is on the island of Ambergris Caye, which is up North, is the number one tourist destination in Belize. I myself had come down here twenty years ago and the first trip I did to Belize was to San Pedro and I had a great time. A lot of expats have moved there, too. Again, they’ve set up second homes, they run the bars and the restaurants, etc. We have a lot of American and Canadian expats here. We are getting some more Europeans expats recently.

Then you have the Cayo district, within which is San Ignacio, the main town in the district. The Cayo district is in the western part of Belize on the border of Guatemala, in the mountainous area so it is cooler up there and a little more green. People want their own space in Cayo. You can live close to the river and grow organic vegetables. Some expats retire there. They are mostly Americans and Canadians and a few Europeans. People retire in Cayo because they want to live close to the jungle, they live on the river, they live off the land and become healthy. They do not lead the tourist life that the other two destinations I have mentioned have.

Up to the Mexican border, just below the Mexican town of Chetumal is Corozal, where you will also find some expat communities who are mostly Americans. I think one of the main reasons why people move up there is because it is cheaper to live up there. Even the land is cheaper. So Americans who don’t have the time and money can move to Belize and set up a life that is cheaper than that in the US, while being in the tropics. Across the border, in Mexico, there is a Walmart and other amenities that some Americans cannot live without. That’s why Corozal is termed the cheapest place to live in Belize for expats. The town is pretty and there is no mountain there, so it is flat. It is not the beautiful Belize that most people envision but it’s cheaper than other places in Belize.

Hopkins is between Placencia and Belize City and there are some expats over there. There are some new developments there, too, mainly condominium projects.

What should I be most concerned about regarding retiring abroad?

Alan Filliger - Alana la Casa del Arte

I think the most important things to be concerned about regarding retiring abroad is your honesty in answering the question: Can I handle change. When you decide to retire abroad there will be many changes in your life.

You may not see your family and old friends as much; you will need to get used to a different pace of life; it will take time to figure things out, meet new friends, locate stuff you need, get things done (and this can have a tendency...

Recently Answered Questions

How much do healthcare and medical services cost in Chapala and Ajijic, Mexico?

Is Coronado, Panama safe?

Is Portugal Safe? What is the crime rate in Portugal?

What's it like to retire in Nicaragua?

Where do the expats in Belize meet? Where are the Belize expat communities?

What should I be most concerned about regarding retiring abroad?

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