When contemplating retirement, many people consider moving outside of the United States. Exotic retirement locations can offer many benefits, including a lower cost of living, a more relaxed lifestyle and in some cases, high quality, affordable health care.
General Considerations
Some considerations to take into account are access to health care, cost of living, proximity to family, language, ease of relocation, political unrest, climate and the size of the expatriate community.
Cultural Considerations
Moving overseas isn't for everyone. Are you willing to learn a new language? Be tolerant of different cultural ideas? Can you make new friends easily? These are important things to consider before deciding to move.
Mexico
Mexico is the No. 1 retirement destination. It's proximity to the United States, low cost of living and affordable health care make it an excellent choice for those who want to retire abroad but remain close to home.
Ecuador
The main appeal of Ecuador is the low cost of living. It is a beautiful country with modern conveniences that can help ease the transition of living abroad.
Panama
Panama has a very low cost of living, and Panama City is quite modern. Most attractive to retirees is Panama's fantastic incentives for pensioners. This offers discounts on many services and an exemption on the importation of household goods.
Uruguay
Uruguay offers great beaches, a low cost of living and modern communications infrastructure.
Tags: cost living, health care, affordable health, affordable health care, United States