What Groups Could You Start
Dont wait for people to come to you. They wont. Instead, if you cant find any groups that focus on your passions, start one or two or three!
For example, one of my personal passions is train travel. So, a couple years ago, I decided to start a group on Meetup for people who loved to travel by train. Weve traveled to Austria, France and all over Switzerland. I cant overemphasize how much a part of my life this group has been.
The Safest And Best Places For Retirees To Live Outside The Us
The majority of the worlds safest and most secure countries are located in Europe. One is in North America, but it isnt Mexico, which comes in at No. 137, eight places behind America. Two are in Asia, two are islands without a home continent, and two are in Asia. The Safest and best places for retirees to live outside the US are listed below. Read also 10 Expert-Approved Tips For Retirement Planning
Why Should I Retire To France
France is the good life defined. The food, the wine, the art, the shopping, the history This country boasts the most beautiful and romantic city on Earth plus the best of country living and dramatic Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts. On top of all this, France is home to the worlds best health care, the worlds best infrastructure, top international schools, and a relaxed way of life And, in some parts of the country, the very good life can be very affordable, as well.
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How Are Americans Retiring In Portugal
Thanks to Portugals attractive Golden Visa Program, American expats can get temporary residency permits in as little as 3-6 months, provided that they make a qualifying investment.
The easiest way to invest is to buy a property worth at least 500,000 in Portugal, maintain the investment for five years, and then achieve Portuguese citizenship. Key Portugal Golden Visa benefits included free movement within Europes Schengen Zone, affordable investment options with high returns potential, and the opportunity to live as a resident in Portugal.
Learn more about this option in our ultimate guide for the Portugal Golden Visa Program.
Another way Americans are retiring in Portugal is that they can also apply for Portugals D7 Visa program. The D7 visa allows foreign citizens who wish to retire and live in Portugal to do so, provided that they live on their own income or pension. The D7 residence permit is an excellent option that provides special tax status for a ten-year income tax break, plus full residency rights in Portugal.
Take a look at ourPortugal Golden Visa Ultimate Guide
- Cost of living: 89
Dubai Retirement In Style In The Sunniest Destination
No, Dubai is not a country, but being such a prominent expat hotspot and with its Dubai Retirement Programme being well underway, it takes a deserved place in our ranking of the best retirement destinations.
Dubai has something of a reputation for opulence, and this is no more obvious than in how expensive it can be. The cost of property is on par with some western European countries such as Germany, for example, but the cost of living is higher.
The weather in Dubai is exactly what you might expect: sunny, dry and very, very hot. Temperatures drop to a cool 12 degrees C in the winter and rise to the mid-40s in summer. Almost everywhere is air-conditioned, but you better be ready for that summer heat.
The country is an expat melting pot around 90% of its population are foreign-born residents. Consequently, life here is tailored for expats and their needs. You will find anything you want in terms of facilities and healthcare, and all of it is high-end and modern.
One massive benefit of Dubais soaring wealth is its infrastructure. Everything you need is within easy reach, shopping and hospitality scenes are top-notch, with endless activities and entertainment options.
Highlights:
Read more about expat life in Dubai in our Living In Dubai guide.
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Whats The Best Country For Us Expats To Retire To
According to various studies, including International Living, Portugal is ranked as the best country for US expats to retire to. Its friendly population, welcoming community of American expats, excellent weather, safety records, and affordable cost of living are all big draws for retirees. You can move to Portugal for retirement by either applying for the D7 retirement visa program or a Golden Visa.
Where Should I Retire In Ireland
-County Clare
County Clare is one of the best-kept secrets in Ireland. Its where the Irish themselves go when they need a vacation. Found in the Mid-West Region along the countrys west coast, its bordered by dramatic cliffs that look out broodingly over the Atlantic Ocean
Here, the true Irish spirit courses through the small coastal towns and lively villages that make up the county On top of its charming locals, culture, and history, Clare entices people in with its natural beauty: long, white-sand beaches with surfable waves, rolling sand dunes, and patchwork green fields. The world-famous Burren National Park, a special region of glaciated karst landscape, is found here.
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Costa Rica The Switzerland Of Central America
Costa Rica roared ahead of other American countries, even beating better-known European hotspots in terms of popularity. Plus, Costa Rica holds its own in terms of stunning natural beauty, beaches, and healthy lifestyles.
Although its the most expensive South or Central American country, its noticeably cheaper than the European countries that surround it on our list.
You could find a lovely detached house in Jaco for around $98,000 or a secluded villa for around $500,000.
Retirement visa income requirements are considerably lower than in Spain and Italy and, better still, you dont have to pay income tax!
If all this sounds too good to be true, it nearly is.
The only thing Costa Rica really falls down on is its national infrastructure. There are plenty of unmade roads across the country, but this isnt a massive deal, and the amazing scenery certainly compensates for the extra time you might spend on the road!
Highlights:
- Pensionado Visa requires an income of just $1000 a month.
- No taxes on pension or investment income.
- Live green more than 98% of its energy is renewable.
Read more about retirement in Costa Rica, the pros and cons, the cost of living, residency options and more in our Living In Costa Rica guide.
How Do You Want To Change The World
As an older adult, its easy to sit around complaining about how the world is going to hell in a handbasket. Its harder but SO much more productive to actually get out there and do something about it.
Best of all, the people who share your worldview often become close friends. After all, you dont just share a hobby you also share your desire to make the world a better place.
Are there local charities that you could get involved in? If so, what are you waiting for? If not, why not start a group yourself and start giving back?
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Pick Where To Retire Abroad
Before you retire and decide to embrace expat life, do your research to find the place thats perfect for you. Costa Rica, Malaysia, Ecuador, Panama, and Mexico are all great options. From vibrant cities to tropical beaches, these five countries boast a low cost of living and affordable healthcare.
But, most importantly, they all encourage a laid-back lifestyle where youll be able to enjoy your retirement in relaxation.
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Puerto Vallarta Region Mexico
Mexico is always one of the top choices for retirees because its inexpensive, beautiful, the winters are warm and its close to the U.S., a nice convenience for visiting family and friends. The fact that its popular is in itself a selling point there are at least 50,000 Americans and Canadians living there right now. The appeal of Puerto Vallarta is that its friendly with a nice small-town feel, Budd said. One retiree told AARP that it reminds him of the U.S. in the 50s, with big plazas where people hang out. Its also worth noting that its a very safe city, located far away from the crime in Mexico that is rampant along the U.S. border.
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Why Should I Retire To The Dominican Republic
If your heart is set on the Caribbean but you thought you couldnt afford it, we have good news The Dominican Republic has everything you want at a price you cant say no to.
White-sand beaches, swaying palm trees, warm turquoise water, year-round sunshineyoull find these things in abundance here in the DR. This small nation boasts about 800 miles of coastline, all of it sandy and welcoming
What Is The True Cost Of Living When Retiring Abroad
Dont assume that every other country is going to be a lower-cost place for you to live. Keep in mind that there are issues that affect the cost of living that go beyond the price of housing or the cost of a restaurant meal.
For example, your new retirement destination might make you vulnerable to currency fluctuations , the cost of airfare to travel home and inflation.
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How Can I Retire In Europe
Both Spain and Portugal offer highly-popular Golden Visas schemes, where you can get European residency in a few short months, provided that you make a qualifying investment first. For example, for 500K, you can buy a home in Spain and move there. In Portugal, investment options start from 280k, depending on what route you pick. After five years, you can qualify for a Portuguese passport.
Do I Feel Comfortable In The Other Country
Moving to another country is not to be done lightly. Take a few extended vacations to tour the area and get acquainted with the country where you want to stay in retirement. What speaks to you about this place?
Do you love the scenery, the culture, the food, the music, or the people? Can you see yourself feeling comfortable and content here? Does this other country give you a sense of a new beginning, new adventures, new places to explore and new things to learn?
Make sure you feel like you can fully be yourself and thrive to your full potential when retiring abroad.
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Best Places To Retire In The World
If you could retire anywhere in the world, where would it be? Just forget those nagging little issues like cost of living, taxes, health care, Social Security, low crime rates, etc., sit back and dream. Anywhere in the world? Well, we did just that. We dreamed. And heres our list of best places to retire.
Tahiti
We are constantly flummoxed that Tahiti never seems to appear on a list of 10 best places to retire. It is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia. The countrys capital is Papeete, which is located on the northwest coast of the island and has the only international airport in the region. Its official language is French although many people speak Tahitian.
The islands wet season is November to April and January is its wettest month with an average of 13.2 inches of rain. Tahitis average temperature ranges between 70°F and 88°F with little seasonal variation. In other words, the temperature is almost always nice.
The nation is part of French Polynesia and Tahitians are French citizens. As you might guess, its most significant industry is tourism though black pearl farming also produces a substantial amount of revenue.
Belize
Belize offers miles and miles of beautiful beaches, lush tropical forests and even mountains. Baby boomers who retire there find they can keep themselves occupied with fishing, hiking, biking, trekking, swimming and the dozens of other outdoor activities available in this country.
How We Compile The Annual Global Retirement Index
Each year, we use our ever-expanding network of editors, correspondents, and contributors all over the world to give us the on-the-ground information and recommendations we need to put our index together
All these people were once in your shoes. All of them wondered if they could nd a better life abroad. Many of them were former International Living readers who took the plunge, and now want to share their love for their new home with the world. These are the people we draw upon to put together our index each year.
We rank and score each of the 25 countries in the Index across the following 10 categories:
Note: Weve given Nicaragua and Bolivia low scores in the Opportunity and Governance categories. Theyre still viable retirement locations, but because theyve experienced political instability in recent years, proceed with caution.
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The 7 Best Places To Retire Outside The United States
09/20/2022
Many Americans want to retire abroad, whether its to enjoy a higher quality of life or discover a new culture.
In fact, according to a survey by the Aegon Center for Longevity and Retirement, over 1 in 10 US workers aspire to retire abroad.
But with so many options for where to call home once you officially reach retirement, the question of where to go is a big topic to explore.
To help you out, we highlight the seven best places to retire outside the United States.
Heres a quick look at the rundown:
To provide some fundamental factors that may drive your decision when considering moving abroad, well detail important information on each countrys cost of living, healthcare system, safety, and retirement visa requirements to help you choose the right place for you.
Lets dive in!
What Kind Of Lifestyle Do You Want In Retirement
There are so many things that I love about the Exotic Marigold Hotel movies. One of my favorites is watching how the various characters respond to being thrown into an entirely new culture. Some of the characters dive in and find themselves having a great time. Others are more cautious or even hostile to the local way of doing things. There is nothing wrong with any of the characters in the movie. They just see the world in different ways.
Here are a few questions that you can ask yourself as you look for a retirement destination that fits your lifestyle:
- How adventurous am I? Will I hate it if the hot water stops working for a day or two?
- Do I enjoy learning new languages and experiencing exotic cultures?
- Are there specific activities that I love to take part in? Will they be available locally?
- Which comforts can I survive without? Which ones are essential?
- Am I patient? Can I put up with small inconveniences?
- Do I want to live around locals, expats or a mix of both?
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Letter From The Editor
Our relationship with money has changed.
The pandemic accelerated a lot of those changes, but many of the forces were already set in motion over a decade ago. Investing apps and platforms, zero-commission trading, a historic bull market for stocks coming out of the Great Financial Crisis followed by record-breaking inflation, the emergence of cryptocurrencies, and the evolution of financial planning are just some of the forces that have reshaped the way we think, use, plan, save, and invest our money.
Our notions about retirement have changed, as well.
Younger generations are less likely to work at the same company their entire careers, collect a pension, and ease their way out of the workforce at the age of 65. We are living longer, and we need to be able to afford the lives we want to live when we stop working. For most people, retirement is not their end of work, but the end of being able to depend on a regular paycheck with benefits and a 401 match, if we were lucky enough to get one.
While over half of working adults in the U.S. are invested in the stock market, the average 401 balance for baby boomers and Generation X is only around $161,000 according to Fidelity. With the cost of living rising higher every year, and questions about the staying power of Social Security, the numbers just don’t add up for most people nearing retirement.
Discover The 20 Best Countries To Retire Abroad 2022
Categories Living Abroad, Retirement Abroad
Retiring abroad is an exciting prospect that can involve some difficult decisions. For most, finding the right balance between quality of life, a countrys appeal, and cost of living is the best starting point for narrowing down options.
If youre thinking of retiring abroad but dont know where to start, weve got just the resource for you. Below are our 20 best countries for international retirement based on the Expatra Global Retirement Index 2022.
If you are an expat retiree, tell us about your country of choice by participating in the Expatra Global Retirement Survey. It takes only 2 minutes to fill in. Your contributions are the foundation of our Annual Global Retirement Index and help thousands of would-be retirees to find their ideal country to retire to.
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Portugal The Best All
If you want everything considered necessary for a long and happy retirement, and for a moderate price, Portugal is the right choice!
Portugal offers the best balance between quality of life and how much it costs. Its been a well-known secret for some time now, but the popularity of Portugal as a retirement destination is growing faster than ever.
Climate is obviously worth mentioning as one of the countrys main draws, especially for the sun-starved northerners who flock to Portugal to enjoy the countrys generous annual sunshine hours . When you combine this with decent longevity and plenty of cultural appeal, you can begin to see why Portugal ranks so high.
Property prices stand out compared to other top entries on our list. Even in the most popular retirement locations in Portugal, you can still find an affordable home. For example, a 2-bed apartment in central Guia, in the Algarve, can be bought for around $240,000.
Travel east towards Lagos, and you will find a 2-bed apartment for sale in Portimão, in a quiet area thats only 5 minutes from the beach, for $192,000.
In the Central Region of Portugal, in and around Leiria, its possible to find a 2-bed house with a swimming pool for around $180,000. If you are willing to move inland a bit, youll find even more bargains. A 3-bed apartment in Vila de Rei, for example, could cost $124,000.
Highlights:
- One of the most attractive Golden Visa programs in Europe.
