What are the worst places in the world to retire?
Linda Jensen
With some of the fantastic deals available in foreign countries people really need to do their home work before deciding to live there.
Some countries are not foreign friendly in that there is political unrest, anti-American sentiment and difficult languages to deal with. Money exchanges add to the likelihood you can be taken advantage of.
Sometimes laws are at odds with a foreigner's comprehension. A person should do some homework to...
With some of the fantastic deals available in foreign countries people really need to do their home work before deciding to live there.
Some countries are not foreign friendly in that there is political unrest, anti-American sentiment and difficult languages to deal with. Money exchanges add to the likelihood you can be taken advantage of.
Sometimes laws are at odds with a foreigner's comprehension. A person should do some homework to make sure they enter a foreign country with the proper documents.
Climates and diseases are reasons one country is wonderful for retirees and tourists and others are not so popular. Safety is a concern on the minds of many people when they travel. Thinking about safety you want to make sure the country is not rife with political unrest; active volcanoes, has earthquakes, landslides, floods, hurricanes or typhoons. This covers a large number of the places that people often consider retiring in.
If you like cold you will find a place that is cold is often quite expensive to live. Often they are remote, heating is costly, clothing is expensive and unless you are extremely rugged it is not place people want to visit.
What makes say Brazil not as popular as Panama for most Americans it that, while it is beautiful, there is often political unrest. There are floods, landslides, and even resentment of Americans. A place to visit, not to live.
The cost of living is to high to afford Denmark, or many other European countries. 
America doesn't have any place I could find with the amenities, and comfort of Panama.
America doesn't have any place I could find with the amenities, and comfort of Panama. The worst places to live are places with extreme weather, high cost of living, too remote or have serious political unrest.
Posted May 30, 2013
David Smith - Farmland Assets
The first country that comes to mind when thinking about the worst places in the world to retire is North Korea. :)
The worst places in the world to retire would be places with lots of social and political upheaval, crime and corruption.
If your physical safety is in question or in jeopardy, why would you go to retire there? Places in this hemisphere with high crime rates include Honduras, Guatemala, and El...
The first country that comes to mind when thinking about the worst places in the world to retire is North Korea. :)
The worst places in the world to retire would be places with lots of social and political upheaval, crime and corruption.
If your physical safety is in question or in jeopardy, why would you go to retire there? Places in this hemisphere with high crime rates include Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador, which has manifested itself in the recent influx of minors coming into the United States. In my opinion, these would be among the worst places in the world to retire.
Also, in Latin America, when one thinks of crime, political and social unrest, one would think of Venezuela, which would also not be a good place to live or retire. If there’s an unstable government, that tends to trickle down to all aspects of life. It causes a lot of corruption, and that’s something else that one needs to think about when retiring, although in many cases, it’s just something you have to live with in certain respects.
For the most part, if you think about Panama and Nicaragua and some of the other countries, corruption doesn’t seem to affect daily life in a negative way.
In addition, the extent to which how much corruption there is in a country or area affects you depends on your activities. For example, if you’re talking just about retiring in a country and you don’t have to work or deal with a lot of commerce or deal with the government, you would be isolated from corruption, so it wouldn’t affect you.
Posted August 9, 2014
Sieg Pedde - Helix Courier Limited
When considering the worst places in the world to retire, I would definitely not include Panama in whatever list I come up with. For me, I would not want to retire in the Middle East and some formerly communist bloc countries. Certainly, you don’t want to live in a place that has a lot of unrest, whether it’s top-down unrest where you have an overreaching government that’s trying to corrupt everyone, make them like everybody else and...
When considering the worst places in the world to retire, I would definitely not include Panama in whatever list I come up with. For me, I would not want to retire in the Middle East and some formerly communist bloc countries. Certainly, you don’t want to live in a place that has a lot of unrest, whether it’s top-down unrest where you have an overreaching government that’s trying to corrupt everyone, make them like everybody else and prevent them from doing things that they wish to do, or the other type of unrest which is bottom-up. The latter is just as bad. At some point, you have that proverbial 
straw that breaks the camel’s back and people say, “Okay, I’ve had enough of this” and they rebel. You certainly don’t want to get in the way of that sort of thing either, because we want to retire in a place that is peaceful.
straw that breaks the camel’s back and people say, “Okay, I’ve had enough of this” and they rebel. You certainly don’t want to get in the way of that sort of thing either, because we want to retire in a place that is peaceful. I am a product of a family whose history started in Prussia, in area of Europe where there was a lot of unrest, death and misery in the family. Personally, I don’t want to repeat that experience. I want to go somewhere where I can live in peace and where I can do more or less what I want to do. I think the direction would be towards Central America primarily because I know more about it than any other places in the world. Of course, Panama would be at the top of the list.
Posted September 1, 2014
Neil Stein - Panama Paraiso
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I have not been back to Europe for many years. But when I was there, it was already expensive and I think it is even more expensive now. Many places are expensive. I have also lived in Australia for five months and in New Zealand for two months and both these places have gotten expensive now. I think it also depends on your budget but I love Australia and New Zealand.
For me, the worst places to retire would be any place that is cold; any place where the weather drops below...
I have not been back to Europe for many years. But when I was there, it was already expensive and I think it is even more expensive now. Many places are expensive. I have also lived in Australia for five months and in New Zealand for two months and both these places have gotten expensive now. I think it also depends on your budget but I love Australia and New Zealand.
For me, the worst places to retire would be any place that is cold; any place where the weather drops below 60 degrees Fahrenheit. I got spoiled in Hawaii because I need a warm climate all year round, I need the ocean and I get that here in Panama. So for me, out here in Panama is ideal. Any place that has cold weather, for me, is out of the question, especially being that I have only one long-sleeved shirt to my name and I have no jackets whatsoever.
Posted October 2, 2014
Roger J. Pentecost - Boquete Valley of Flowers Condos
I would say the worst places to retire would be anywhere where my life is endangered all the time, and that could be anywhere; from Jamaica to Brazil to South Africa or any African country at the moment and to the Far East. I know Dubai and a few other places are fine for a while, but we have seen the volatility of the world that may change this. Unfortunately, these places have some attributes that I do not think can be compensated for. Other places...
I would say the worst places to retire would be anywhere where my life is endangered all the time, and that could be anywhere; from Jamaica to Brazil to South Africa or any African country at the moment and to the Far East. I know Dubai and a few other places are fine for a while, but we have seen the volatility of the world that may change this. Unfortunately, these places have some attributes that I do not think can be compensated for. Other places are too expensive unless you have unlimited wealth. We can exist here in Panama at a budget of US $4,000 or $6,000 in a style that would cost us $20,000 per month if we lived in Canada or France. We have horses, gardeners, and people who tend horses, etc. Therefore, lifestyle can be very comfortable and very inexpensive here in Panama and there is the infrastructure to support the lifestyle. We have airports that work. We can fly direct from Panama City to Toronto and we change flights once to fly to Panama straight from New Delhi.
I know I would not consider Costa Rica because it is more dangerous over there and it is more expensive. In Costa Rica, it is very expensive to buy homes, cars, or even liquor. Security is an issue. I know people who have left Costa Rica for security reasons, for example a person who had military training but decided to leave because he feels that the place is getting dangerous. I would say the same about Brazil, Nicaragua, Jamaica, and one or two of the other Caribbean islands.
A friend of ours here in Panama sold a fabulous million-dollar home in the American Virgin Islands because of the lawlessness of the country, even though it is, I believe, some sort of protectorate of the US. The law is almost non-existent. You can be robbed at gunpoint, and the government is very corrupt. Our friends sold their nice home in the American Virgin Islands and came to live in a lesser place here in Panama.
Australia is also another place that is not good to live in, unless you are very wealthy and do not mind traveling a long way to go anywhere. New Zealand is now incredibly socialistic and controlled. You will see New Zealanders who have left there now, talking about how expensive it is and how poor the services are there. They say garbage pickup is done once every two weeks in New Zealand. We get garbage picked up twice a week here in Panama.
(Keep New Zealand Beautiful logo, pictured.)
Posted October 21, 2014
Don Nelson - TaxMeLess
From a tax point of view the worst places to retire are those with even higher taxes than the US. The best places are those with little or no income taxes. The best place to look for the tax structure of almost any country in the world is at Wikipedia on the web . Just type in "List of Countries by Tax Rates."
From a tax point of view the worst places to retire are those with even higher taxes than the US. The best places are those with little or no income taxes. The best place to look for the tax structure of almost any country in the world is at Wikipedia on the web . Just type in "List of Countries by Tax Rates."
Posted November 16, 2014
Kristin Wilson - Orbis Relocation
Making a list of the worst places to retire is a different process than listing the best places because the best are all about you. We can think about this by looking at people's jobs, for example. One guy is an artist, and the other is a lawyer. Each could say that their job is the best job for them. They're not going to be able to interchange jobs very easily, for the most part. That's why picking a country is so intertwined with your personality, your goals, and your...Making a list of the worst places to retire is a different process than listing the best places because the best are all about you. We can think about this by looking at people's jobs, for example. One guy is an artist, and the other is a lawyer. Each could say that their job is the best job for them. They're not going to be able to interchange jobs very easily, for the most part. That's why picking a country is so intertwined with your personality, your goals, and your budget. The country I put on my list as one of the worst places to retire is Russia because it's expensive to live there, it's cold, and they a lot of laws and rules. Legislation could change and everybody would have to leave. Lately, there are a lot of Russians who want to leave their country and go somewhere else for a better cost of living and a better climate.
Other worst places to retire would include be anywhere that is prohibitively expensive, really cold or otherwise have a bad climate, a drought like some places in Africa, somewhere where it's going to be uncomfortable and also places that are not safe. There are a few places that are probably obvious that you wouldn't want to go, which would include anywhere where there's a war, or there's terrorist or militants or is politically unstable. Those would not be ideal places to settle down. These would include a lot countries in Africa or the Middle East. For example, I've never been to the UAE but I'm always reading articles about foreigners getting arrested for doing things like posting a photo on Facebook or doing something that we normally classify as nothing to be concerned about. I would personally not want to go to a place where I would be afraid that by living my daily life I would somehow break one of their laws. I wouldn't want to go to a place where there is a lot of oppression of women, for example.
I would think like you're pretty good choosing almost anywhere in the Americas, but you're going to want to stay away from the places with the highest crime rate, such as Honduras and Guatemala. I know people love Guatemala. There are so many beautiful things about it but it's not the safest place to go compared to the other options that you have. In Mexico, for example, there's a clear division of cities that are safer to go to than others.
You want to consider the cost of living, the climate, and safety. You should probably be more cautious in choosing most of the countries in the Middle East, many of the countries in Africa and probably not countries like Honduras that have a high murder rate. Try to avoid places like that. For the most part, anywhere else is going to be okay as long as it's set within your criteria for your ideal life and your budget.
(With the Poker Stars on the Isle of Man, Kristen Wilson travels the world, pictured.)
Posted August 19, 2015
JIMJFOX
Worst places to retire?Firstly, I note that many responders have replied to a different question- that of living abroad, not retiring abroad. Retirement for those relying on [usually, modest] pension funds poses a different set of issues. My 'standard of living' had to be drastically reduced- but I found many positives from this, including ego-reduction (!) and simplification. Consumerism is now a non-event and life is better for it; the more 'stuff', the more...
Worst places to retire?Firstly, I note that many responders have replied to a different question- that of living abroad, not retiring abroad. Retirement for those relying on [usually, modest] pension funds poses a different set of issues. My 'standard of living' had to be drastically reduced- but I found many positives from this, including ego-reduction (!) and simplification. Consumerism is now a non-event and life is better for it; the more 'stuff', the more problems.
Taxation, for instance, is likely to be a non-issue without significant income. As the majority of expats are non- US citizens they are not liable for tax on worldwide income AFAIK.
Age- if you are not of retirement age [generally 65+] then your comments may not be entirely relevant. Some countries do not allow retirees to work since this takes jobs from their citizens. Property ownership can again be an issue but it's less common than the jobs issue...
As others have noted, countries that are especially corrupt, lawless and violent are non-starters except for those with a love of danger! My personal number one problem is the Islamic world; as an infidel you will most certainly be at risk in Saudi Barbaria where a casual remark or on-line post will result in jail or worse. I note Saudi law has been updated to make atheism a crime equivalent to terrorism. Women in particular are discriminated against most viciously- don't go! UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and others are heading the way of anti-west sentiment...
Even in the so-called 'moderate' Muslim countries the risks are increasing daily with jihad on the rise; so many people don't understand what is going on, despite daily attacks all over the world. They are being lied to by politicians and media, accepting the official line about the 'religion of peace'. The Islamic world is in turmoil and exporting its problems- times they are a'changing.
In an earlier piece I wrote of Turkey and its many attractions. Loved living there but the AKP government promotes Islam and opposes secular values, leading to astonishing anti-Semitism. Therefore one begins to fell less secure and wary of what you say in public places, or to people you consider friends.
Even here in Thailand Islam is on the move, from the 'insurgency' in the south to recent bombings in Bangkok and two resort islands. That said, the way things are going in Europe one wonders what the future holds...
Climate- warmth and sunshine are well and good but often tropical areas are worse than cooler places; constant sweating and tropical diseases are not to be ignored. Air conditioning is an expensive alternative to putting on extra warm clothing! Again, increasing age or infirmity must be considered with health costs.
Conclusions- the list of places ideal for retirement is shrinking. Security, corruption, cost-of-living, oppressive regimes... perhaps Cuba might be the next Panama!
(Turkish flag, pictured.)
Posted August 24, 2015
Ross - Abroad We Go
People might not love this answer, but I think that, for me, the United States would be the worst place in the world to retire. I love the United States, but if I retire there, that’s not retirement. I would just be extending what I’ve been doing within the same lifestyle up to that point, in the same circle of family, friends and things that I’m used to. In addition, living in the United States is also very expensive.My idea of the retirement that I...
People might not love this answer, but I think that, for me, the United States would be the worst place in the world to retire. I love the United States, but if I retire there, that’s not retirement. I would just be extending what I’ve been doing within the same lifestyle up to that point, in the same circle of family, friends and things that I’m used to. In addition, living in the United States is also very expensive.My idea of the retirement that I want is one that’s full of new nuances, cultures, tastes, sounds, music and sights that I’ve never seen, heard or experienced before.
The worst place in the world to retire is where you have spent 30, 40, or 50 years of your life working. As an example, if you’re Canadian, Canada may be the worst place in the world for you to retire.
(Ross with new found Quechua friends in Ecuador, pictured.)
Posted October 20, 2017