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Know you want to retire abroad but don’t where? Looking for help finding your personal paradise? International Living has over 30 years of on-the-ground experience in the countries that we think are the best places around the world for retiring, investing, and reinventing yourself right now. We've done the research...you've done the dreaming. With IL correspondents around the globe, we'll help you make those dreams a reality.
So, what makes for the perfect retirement location? That is of course entirely subjective. But, what we do know is, climate, affordability, good healthcare, and a healthy lifestyle are the cornerstones of a happy and fulfilling retirement. In fact, all of the countries we cover in our Annual Retirement Index score highly in these categories.
With IL correspondents living in Central America, South America, Southeast Asia, and Europe, we have you covered when it comes to finding your perfect retirement overseas. If you have ever dreamed of an idyllic life in Tuscany, a cosmopolitan lifestyle in Panama, a slice of paradise in Thailand, or a sun kissed beach adventure in Mexico, we have the experts who have been there…and are still doing that.
Having moved overseas and immersed themselves in the destinations where they live and learned their lessons the hard way, our experts are ideally placed to compare, contrast, and bring nuanced insight to the most appealing retirement destinations in the world.
This on the ground experience means we know the do’s and don’ts of moving abroad and can highlight the best way to make sure this transition is easy for you.
You can get all the tips, tricks, advice, and recommendations you need to make an informed decision. Our extensive library of articles below will give you new ideas about places to visit, invest, or live where you can find your perfect retirement.
Costa Rica is a small country, about the size of West Virginia. But it does have an extensive coastline, with 780 miles on the Pacific Ocean, and 132 miles on the Caribbean Sea.
On my international real estate beat I look for two things: Capital appreciation and strong rental income. Some locations will offer appreciation potential, others the income. Only in a rare place at a unique moment does an opportunity tick both boxes.
My family and I hail from one of the sunniest cities in Canada; Calgary, Alberta. Set at the foot of the mighty Canadian Rockies, Calgary offers plenty of the outdoor enjoyment we love. But the season we enjoy the most, summer, lasts a short six weeks at best. The rest of the year is windy, soggy, and at times frigidly cold. Sunny just isn’t as much fun at 4 F.
Nicaragua is an economical paradise. Imagine your dream location, with your favorite views, the best weather you can imagine, plenty of things to do, lots of new friends, and all for only $1,500 a month. That works out at just $18,000 a year to live in this beautiful country including everything: a furnished place to live, food, WiFi, electricity, water, trash, entertainment—everything! And you can enjoy a higher quality of life to boot.
By now it’s no secret that Ecuador is a very affordable place to live. In fact, my life in the little mountain town of Cotacachi is so inexpensive that I can support my family of four as a part-time freelancer.
Living in the tropics is a dream for many, and Chiang Mai, Thailand, is still a popular destination for those seeking a year-round hot climate, along with a low cost of living. Although far from any white sandy beaches, Chiang Mai still has plenty of activities to keep you busy, both in the city and the surrounding countryside.
The Central Valley is a popular retirement destination in Costa Rica. Over 70% of Costa Rica’s population lives here. They are drawn to it by the superb quality of life that the Central Valley offers. Here are five things that you can attribute to the better quality of life in Costa Rica’s Central Valley.
Cuenca, Ecuador has caught the eye of many retirees. Thanks to coverage by outlets like NBC, Forbes, and USA Today, the city is gaining more international attention. And here at International Living, Cuenca gets frequent exposure due to our belief that it’s one of the world’s best destinations for living abroad.
The first time I saw Chiriquí Province I was enchanted. Although I was born and raised in New Jersey, I’m a country girl at heart and Chiriquí felt like home. My husband Al and I had rented a car to tour Panama in our quest for a new place to live.
If you want to relax in a more natural setting, then act like the locals and head to the grassy slopes of the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, in Paris’s Belleville quarter. Here, amid the laughing children and hand-holding couples, you’ll find massive, slanting trees.