Best Places In The World To Retire

I live in southern Mexico in San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas.  I have been living full time in Mexico for 10 years. I lived in Quintana Roo for 8 years on the beach in a small fishing village on the coast south of Tulum.  I moved 2 years ago to Chiapas to escape the heat and isolation.

 

The cost of living here is much less than in Quintana Roo, especially the tourist centers of Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum etc.; easily...

I live in southern Mexico in San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas.  I have been living full time in Mexico for 10 years. I lived in Quintana Roo for 8 years on the beach in a small fishing village on the coast south of Tulum.  I moved 2 years ago to Chiapas to escape the heat and isolation.

 

The cost of living here is much less than in Quintana Roo, especially the tourist centers of Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum etc.; easily one fourth or one third of the USA.  On the coast south of Cancun the cost is only about half of the USA.   Utilities are about 1/3 of US and if you are not on the coast  or near the frontier border you can get a fee simple title to own property.

 

The Mexican government pays for public education out of federal tax funds and not from taxing property owners.  Property taxes are only a couple of hundred dollars a year anywhere in Mexico because of this (not on the coast or near the border).  Skilled labor costs are maybe 20% of US.  Carpenters, plumbers, masons, electricians, all trained and certified.  Non-skilled laborers who can do small jobs around the house (painting, scraping, sanding etc.) are about $1 dollar an hour here. I have a part- time gardener who works 8 hours 3 days a week for $100 USD per month.  This is non-skilled labor, as would be cleaning, cooking, laundry etc.  This seems to be the same theme in all non-tourist areas of Mexico, and after reading stories on this website the non-tourist areas,(i.e., not Cancun, Playa del Carmen), the cost of living is very similar.

 

 

Here in Chiapas we have rich black volcanic soil and at 7,000 feet altitude almost no insects, so the market produce (fruits and vegetables) are absolutely delicious and naturally organic because fertilizer and pesticides are generally not used nor necessary.  I hope this is helpful to anyone considering moving to Mexico. 

 

(Chiapas, Mexico, pictured.)

Hopefully a Belize lawyer or accountant will stop by to answer this question.  You should absolutely NOT trust an answer on a tax issue from anyone else.

Hopefully a Belize lawyer or accountant will stop by to answer this question.  You should absolutely NOT trust an answer on a tax issue from anyone else.

In Bocas del Toro, there is a large variety of expats from all over the world.  Due to the central location of Panama along with the medical care and retiree benefits, many people are retiring from countries such as France, Spain, Argentina, Canada, United States, Germany, and many more.  Because Panama has a long history of foreign visitors from the Panama Canal, they are very friendly towards foreigners and they understand the economic growth that stems from expats who come to...

In Bocas del Toro, there is a large variety of expats from all over the world.  Due to the central location of Panama along with the medical care and retiree benefits, many people are retiring from countries such as France, Spain, Argentina, Canada, United States, Germany, and many more.  Because Panama has a long history of foreign visitors from the Panama Canal, they are very friendly towards foreigners and they understand the economic growth that stems from expats who come to Panama. 

One of the best reasons to retire in Portugal is the safety. Where I live here in Portugal, I can go to the café or to the supermarket around the corner and I don’t have to lock my front door. The neighbors know each other and if anything happens, everybody watches for each other. In contrast, in England, everybody keeps to themselves. They don’t trust anybody because of the crime. We don’t have that here in Portugal because you know your neighbors. In England, you...

One of the best reasons to retire in Portugal is the safety. Where I live here in Portugal, I can go to the café or to the supermarket around the corner and I don’t have to lock my front door. The neighbors know each other and if anything happens, everybody watches for each other. In contrast, in England, everybody keeps to themselves. They don’t trust anybody because of the crime. We don’t have that here in Portugal because you know your neighbors. In England, you can live on the same street and not know your neighbor next door. 
 
Another good reason to retire in Portugal is the lower cost of living. My daughter lives in England but she comes here four times a year and she is constantly amazed by the prices here in Portugal. It’s very cheap.
 
The quality and taste of food in Portugal is another factor for retiring here. Food here has a flavor. We have very good cuisine. The fish is unbelievable. Meat is very good as well. You only need to You just haves to know where to buy your food. Once you know that, you will have food that is very tasty. 
 
Healthcare in Portugal is good. I would recommend the private health system here in Portugal because of the good quality and fast service. Relative to the US, healthcare I Portugal is extremely inexpensive and it’s possible to get insurance for a couple in good health, without pre-existing conditions for around €60 to €100 (US $65 or £44 to US $109 or £73) a month. If you have insurance and you go to see a doctor, it would cost €30 to €40 (US $33 or £22 to $44 or £29).
 
The weather is great in Portugal. During December, we have sunshine and the temperature is 20 degrees Celsius (68 Fahrenheit). That is winter, so it’s great. We are not on the Mediterranean but we are by the Atlantic Ocean so we have mild temperatures. We don’t get snow or frost. In the winter, the temperature goes down to about 10 to 20 degrees Celsius (50 to 68 Fahrenheit).
 
The lifestyle here in Portugal is very nice as well. People are very friendly. There are a lot of outdoor activities so you don’t spend too much time at home. You can definitely keep yourself busy by going to the beach, golfing, horseback riding, playing water sports, etc.  
 
So to me, those are the best reasons to retire in Portugal; the safety, everything being cheaper here, the food, healthcare, great weather, and the wine. What else do you want in life?

Of course, the best place in the world to retire to for YOU is different from where it is for ME. If that were not so, you'd be sitting in my living room right now with a cup of tea reading a book after a pleasant walk in our little village of Cerro Punta!

 

I've lived in three countries - the United States, France, and Panama - and visited many more. Any citizen of, say, the United States or Canada knows there is an astonishing variety of locations in the one...

Of course, the best place in the world to retire to for YOU is different from where it is for ME. If that were not so, you'd be sitting in my living room right now with a cup of tea reading a book after a pleasant walk in our little village of Cerro Punta!

 

I've lived in three countries - the United States, France, and Panama - and visited many more. Any citizen of, say, the United States or Canada knows there is an astonishing variety of locations in the one country, and to say "Canada is a great country to retire to" begs the question of where in that country. The same is true of any country in the world, even one as relatively small as Panama, which is about the same in size as South Carolina.

Still, I found governmental bureaucracy in France, that is to say, the Eurozone, not well disposed toward helping foreigners retire happily. The paperwork was forbidding, and the officials unhelpful, sometimes incorrect, and often rather rude.  I speak French fluently, and shudder to think of how they might treat foreigners who are unable to talk in French. Where I lived in southern France was beautiful, and the neighbors delightful, but France, as a government, seemed uninterested in encouraging me to stay.

 

Panama, on the other hand, is well-disposed toward a comfortable retirement. It is a dollar-based economy, which is especially handy for U.S. citizens. A permanent retirement visa is not hard to acquire, but it's not necessary for U.S. citizens; just every six months stamp out at a border and turn around and get stamped back in again, and you're good for another six months. The pace of life (except for the cities) is much more relaxed. The food is delicious and fresh. Restaurants abound. Here in the Tierras Altas of the Chiriqui province, the landscapes are stunning, and, if you're a hiker or even just a leisure-walker, you will find yourself in paradise. Even after living here for two and a half years I still often exclaim aloud in wonder and delight as I walk around the village and the surrounding countryside. The Panamanian people are universally friendly and pleasant. Crime and pollution (except in the cities) are nearly nonexistent. Medical services are, in my view, of better quality than in the States, and at a far lower cost. The cost of living is far lower, with the exception of imported items. And, as a professional writer, I must add that I find this land to be incredibly inspiring; if you pursue some artistic means of expression, I daresay you will have the same experience.