Best Places In The World To Retire

I happen to be a little bit of an expert on this particular subject because I’ve lived in 10 Latin American countries, and I’ve travelled through Asia. I was on the road for 8 years, and lived in 16 countries. I’ve stayed in over a dozen expat communities for 3 months, 6 months, and 2 years, so I know a bit about that. Of all the places I’ve been, which is extensive, I think San Miguel is at the top of the list. That’s why I live here.

 

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I happen to be a little bit of an expert on this particular subject because I’ve lived in 10 Latin American countries, and I’ve travelled through Asia. I was on the road for 8 years, and lived in 16 countries. I’ve stayed in over a dozen expat communities for 3 months, 6 months, and 2 years, so I know a bit about that. Of all the places I’ve been, which is extensive, I think San Miguel is at the top of the list. That’s why I live here.

 

I went to Boquete, Panama, when it was still a quiet little town and quite lovely. It was a little bit boring, but it takes time to settle into the community. I’ve lived in villages, but I didn’t stay there for too long. I went back later because I was looking for a place to live. Boquete is an expat nightmare. The locals have been ripped off, and they tried to be nice because it’s a livelihood, but they weren’t happy about it, and I couldn’t blame them. A lot of the expats were kind of disrespectful. They just don’t get it.

 

San Miguel is the opposite. San Miguel in the 40’s and more in the 50’s started to get expats coming from the GI Bill. I actually went to the Instituto Allende in 1974, so I’ve known about San Miguel for a long time. It has a very long history. But people are people, and you’re going to get everything that you get anywhere else, but generally speaking, I think that there is exceptionally good rapport between the Mexicans and the foreigners that has existed for a long time. There are many, many, many charities in which expats participate.  The foreign community also gives; it doesn’t only take. I think it’s exceptional.

 

(Residential street in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, pictured.)

The best place in the world to retire is the place that feels the best to you.  The only way to know that is to rent for 3-6 months and try living on for size.

 

A new country is like a new pair of shoes; it takes a while to know if they really fit or not.   For most North Americans, the geographic diversity of Latin America, and the similar time zones make it a highly desirable place to explore and evaluate.   

The best place in the world to retire is the place that feels the best to you.  The only way to know that is to rent for 3-6 months and try living on for size.

 

A new country is like a new pair of shoes; it takes a while to know if they really fit or not.   For most North Americans, the geographic diversity of Latin America, and the similar time zones make it a highly desirable place to explore and evaluate.   

The cost of living in Coronado, Panama is vastly different depending what you are comparing it to or where you used to live before.  If you come from Europe, New York, LA or Tokyo, you will find it amazingly cheap.  However, if you come from Mississippi or Nebraska, you might find land prices and real estate high.

 

I think one of the best ways to compare the cost of living between places is to take a few items that are in almost everyone knows the...

The cost of living in Coronado, Panama is vastly different depending what you are comparing it to or where you used to live before.  If you come from Europe, New York, LA or Tokyo, you will find it amazingly cheap.  However, if you come from Mississippi or Nebraska, you might find land prices and real estate high.

 

I think one of the best ways to compare the cost of living between places is to take a few items that are in almost everyone knows the prices so you can get an accurate depiction of what it would be like.

 

The closest movie theater to Coronado in Westland Mall.  All day Wednesday it plays movies for US $3 per person.  Beer in most restaurants are from $1.50 to an expensive $3.00.  

 

Most of the houses that are selling currently are in the $300,000 range.  There are much more expensive houses in the millions and of course, but there are also some options for even brand new homes for $120,000.

 

Recently, I spoke to a developer who is promoting a beachfront condo in which he asks for 30% down in 3 installments for a $190,000 condominium and they would finance the remaining 70%.  The monthly payment would be $900 per month.  

 

You can find all types of restaurants as well; a full plate lunch for $3.50 up to $35 per plate at the most expensive place in the area.  

 

 

The expats in Ambergris Caye have a fairly interesting dynamic that has changed substantially since when I first got here. When I first got here, any time an expat came to Ambergris Caye, you basically met them.
 
To give you an idea of how much that has changed, I will tell you a story. A few weeks ago, I met somebody who has been on the island and I asked him how he was doing and how long he’s been here. He told me that he had been here for 3 or 4 years, and I have never...

The expats in Ambergris Caye have a fairly interesting dynamic that has changed substantially since when I first got here. When I first got here, any time an expat came to Ambergris Caye, you basically met them.
 
To give you an idea of how much that has changed, I will tell you a story. A few weeks ago, I met somebody who has been on the island and I asked him how he was doing and how long he’s been here. He told me that he had been here for 3 or 4 years, and I have never met him before. In the early 2000s that was unheard of. Back then, if an expat came to Ambergris Caye, you met them pretty much within a couple of weeks and it was never a couple of years.
 
Most of the people who are here in Ambergris Caye are here in order to have a laid back atmosphere. We really get to see a more interesting side of people than you might in some other places, not necessarily in Belize, but in their home countries. One of the things that I really like about Belize and Ambergris Caye in general is that there is essentially nobody who drives a Mercedes Benz here. Nobody wears Armani suits. Everybody just wears t-shirts, shorts, and flip flops, so you really have no idea who you are talking to or who they are or what their status is. That gives you a much better feeling for who people are in reality.
 
For the most part, people here are very laid back and you really get to see a good side of people, which is probably the best side of people in this atmosphere here. The people here are very likeable, very friendly, and very outgoing.
 
We have a population that is maybe not as welcoming to newbies or to new expats as they could be but the people who behave like this is a fairly small group. Overall, people are welcoming and always willing to answer questions and to assist new people to the island.
 
If you are coming to Ambergris Caye to retire, you can do a lot of different things, whether it be helping animals through SAGA (which is our humane society) or helping women or children, or reading books at the library, joining various groups such as the Lions Club, the dart team, soccer team, etc. There are lots of different activities going on here in Ambergris Caye and that is why there is always a need for volunteers who have the time or who can donate.

 

(Enjoying the Caribbean during lunch, Ambergris Caye, Belize, pictured.)

If you go by boat to all these beaches that I described above, you will cut your travel time by half. That is because if you are driving in San Juan Del Sur, you have to go out of your way and the roads could be in bad shape, so you have to go slow and be careful while driving. If you are going by water, you could just go full throttle and you’ll reach your destination faster.