Thinking about retirement can be a stressful mental exercise. Trying to make sure you have saved enough to live comfortably can be tough. However, if you are afraid that you will not have money to retire on, have you considered retiring somewhere besides the United States?
In a growing trend, many senior citizens are opting to take their savings and retire in foreign countries. The cost of living is often far less than the US, they frequently have great health care systems that are far, far less expensive than in the US, and many of these places are just gorgeous! Here are some of the best options to consider if you think you will ring in your golden years abroad!
Bolivia
Bolivia is a gorgeous country in South America that many retirees have found they can retire comfortably on little. Not only is their health care system inexpensive, but even $1,000 a month can let you live more than comfortably. Of course, you may want to work on your Spanish if you want to have much of social life.
Belize
Want something a bit more tropical? Belize is a country that is growing in popularity. Located close to the southern tip of Mexico, you will find this country to be warm year-round. Though the country is surrounded by Spanish speaking countries, Belize is actually an English speaking nation. It will not be hard to fit in!
There are some important notes to consider. The healthcare system is not as great as some surrounding countries, and certain parts of the small country are quite dangerous. If you plan on retiring to Belize, you will want to research and be sure you land in a safe spot in the country.
Chile
Another fantastic country in South America, Chile is a country that is rich in culture, beautiful geography, and a pretty low cost of living. Much like Bolivia, $1,000 a month will get you by just fine. Chile is also a relatively safe country with a great relationship with the US. And the food is great, to boot!
Like many countries on our list, the primary language is Spanish. Unlike many of the Spanish speaking countries on our list, English is not as common as you would like it to be. You will want to have a good working handle on Spanish if you want to have a successful transition to Chile.
France
You may be surprised to see France on this list, but do not think you will be landing in Paris any time soon. France has plenty of rural areas that have quite affordable housing (think $500 a month). Pretty cheap to be at one of the cultural centers of the world!
Of course, if you plan on living in the rural parts of France, you need to plan on learning French. You will not find a lot of English speakers outside fo the larger cities. Not only that, but the residents may look down on you if you do not make an effort to really fit in.
Malta
Another European choice, Malta is a fantastic option because it offers a low cost of living and absolutely gorgeous living conditions. There are beaches for days, the food is cheap, and the healthcare is some of the best in the world. Definitely worth consideirng!
Panama
Panama is located in Central America and seems intent on creating a fantastic environment for seniors. Food is low cost and housing is really inexpensive. Even if you plan living in the capital city, you can expect rent to be around $1,000. Panama also has a special immigration policy specifically for seniors, making it an attractive destination for many American.
Granted, Spanish is the first language of the country, so be sure to do your due diligence in at least getting familiar with the language before retiring here. However, if your language skills are not quite up to speed when it is time to move, do not worry! English is widely spoken, especially if you happen to end up in capital.
Mexico
Not only do you get to be close to the US (a requirement for many retirees retiring internationally), but there are a lot of great perks for retirees. If you follow the news, you may have heard about problems with crime and violence in Mexico. However, this is only true in pockets of the country, and one of the most beautiful places in the country, the Yucatan Peninsula, is one of the safest places in the country. Of course, not only is it safe, but it also offers amazing year-round weather, delicious, cheap food, and very low housing costs. You can expect as little as $300 a month for many apartments.
Knowing Spanish will definitely be helpful, but in this part of the country, you will find many that are able to speak English.
Costa Rica
Man, there seems to be a theme of countries here, right? Central and South America offer some of the best places in the world to retire. Among those wonderful places, Costa Rica stands as one of the best of the best places. There are several reasons for this.
For one, it is gorgeous. From jungles, to beautiful beaches, you will be hard-pressed to find a more beautiful place in the region.
Also, it is very, very safe. The country has a very stable government, has a great relationship with the US, and has been able to largely insulate itself from a lot of the problems with crime that other neighboring countries struggle with.
Of course, you will often find cheap food, inexpensive housing, and plenty of things to do and see. Costa Rica is already a very popular place for Americans to retire to, and it is easy to see why.
This list is by no means comprehensive. There are many other beautiful places to retire with just $100,000 around the world. However, you will need to examine what you want out of a new home, how much money you anticipate having, and what kind of new culture you want to be a part of.
