One of the most common questions we get from IL readers is: Where in the world is it easiest to retire or relocate? The answer? It depends. It depends on what’s most important to you. Maybe you’re most concerned about being close to the States. Or you quake at the thought of dealing with web-like bureaucracy. Or you’re worried about how quickly you’ll find a community of like-minded friends.
Whatever your proclivities, it must be said: Some places really are easier to move to than others. They tend to be places with an established expat population. Places where you can find other folks who speak English. Places where you can get the “things” that make life comfortable – like reliable phone and internet service, good health care, a variety of restaurants, and diversions like a symphony, or a lecture series, golf courses, or arts events.
We asked our roving editors to share their picks for the destinations where you can make the transition overseas easily. Here are their favorites — a selection with something for every taste.
Puerto Vallarta: Stylish Beachfront Living
Puerto Vallarta in Mexico may be the most romantic locale on our list. Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton memorably put this place on the map when they came here in 1963 with hordes of paparazzi in tow. It wasn’t much more than a sleepy fishing village then—a place where misty tropical mountains wrapped around the crescent moon-shaped Banderas Bay. Still famous for that gorgeous setting, Puerto Vallarta is now one of the world’s top tourist destinations, with an international airport, professional tournament golf courses, designer shops, world-class restaurants, and beautiful people from around the world strolling its famous malecon (boardwalk).
The last 20 years, especially, have brought many foreign residents to the city. John Louden, a longtime expat in Puerto Vallarta, estimates that he’s one of as many as 20,000 expats there, “which would make it the second-largest concentration of expatriates in Mexico, just behind the Lake Chapala area.” That means you’ll find a host of English-speaking professionals who cater to these foreign residents, and a vast variety of activities to participate in—from cultural offerings like lectures, art walks, and English-language theater to charitable events and volunteer opportunities.
Merida: Old World, Big City Comforts
“Merida is a place to live,” says International Living’s Suzan Haskins, who does, in fact, live in Merida with her husband, Dan Prescher. “It’s a real city…a very old one, founded in 1542 atop the Maya city known as T’ho…with an economy that’s not based on tourism. But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do here.”
As Suzan explains, Merida is the capital of Mexico’s state of Yucatan, bordering the Gulf of Mexico at the northern end of the Yucatan Peninsula. In the city’s historical center, you’ll find Mexico’s second-largest zocalo (plaza), second only to the more famous zocalo in Mexico City. It’s surrounded by miles of colonial-style buildings and smaller plazas, all anchored by ancient cathedrals and churches.
There is more to do in Merida on any given night than you have time for, and most of it is free: dances in the parks, concerts, even stage shows on Saturday nights near the central park. Some of the most magnificent Mayan ruins on earth are just 90 minutes from Merida. And beach lovers will be happy, too—the shallow, warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico are just 30 minutes away.
Property prices are rising in Merida because it’s becoming more popular with expats and Mexicans alike. But taxes and health care costs are low, you can eat cheaply at the local restaurants, and the summer—when you’re apt to use air conditioning—is the only time your utility bills amount to much of anything. If you rent a house or apartment from a local you can pay $400 or less per month
Cotacachi: Small, Friendly, Comfortable
Remember when people went for strolls in the park in the evening, chatted with their neighbors on the sidewalk, called their grocers and waitresses by their first names, and knew just about everybody in town?
That still happens in Cotacachi, Ecuador. This small, friendly town is perched on the equator between mountain peaks at 8,000 feet, and the weather is spring-like year round. On any given evening, you’ll find people sitting on the benches in Cotacachi’s main park talking about the day’s events. Stores and restaurants are all in easy walking distance, and the weather is so beautiful that people spend most of the day outside doing their chores and visiting on the street.
If you’re after a place where a simpler, happier time still exists, put Cotacachi on your list. And, to get connected, stop by Hotel El Meson de las Flores or DeAnitas restaurant, both in the center of town.
San Pedro: Where Paradise Speaks English
The island of Ambergris Caye is set amid the blue waters of the Caribbean like a green jewel, and at its heart is San Pedro, its bustling, sand-paved beachfront town. Protected by the second-longest coral reef on the planet, the waters lapping San Pedro’s waterftont are calm and clear…perfect for the diving and snorkeling that have made this place famous.
And the best part? San Pedro is in Belize, where English is the official language. All the challenges of trying to get by in a place where you need a translator just to order dinner: gone. This combination of exotic beauty and ease of communication makes San Pedro an ideal pick in the Caribbean. To hook up with fellow expats, just walk down the beach…most of the hotels have waterfront bars and restaurants. Crazy Canuck’s, BC’s and Pedro’s Inn are favorites.
Cuenca: Perfect for Pioneers
Cuenca has long been one of the most desirable places to retire to in Latin America, and today the transition to life here is easier than ever.
Cuenca is a rich example of Spanish colonial America, with its balconies, cobblestone streets, and grand historical homes. From magnificent squares in the center to the luxury condos on the edge of town, you’re sure to find a lifestyle that’s just right.
In Cuenca, you’ll enjoy everything from tiny cafés to upscale restaurants…indigenous outdoor markets to supermarkets…pre-colonial festivals to modern art galleries and orchestra. And one of the most upbeat, positive, and welcoming expat communities you’ll find anywhere.
For entrepreneurs, Cuenca’s lack of regulation and wealth of opportunity will fit your pioneer spirit perfectly. Just look at Leslie Breen, our first reader to start up a business here with the opening of Café Eucalyptus…still Cuenca’s most successful restaurant and night spot; or David Morrill, who founded CuencaRealEstate.com, the city’s premier real estate agency; or the most recent launch, Villa Nova Inn, Cuenca’s newest boutique hostería by Fernanda Cueva and Leita Hulmes.
No matter what you’re looking for in your new life abroad, you’ll find Cuenca to be charming, welcoming, and full of opportunity.
Panama City: Modern, Convenient Living
For expats of all ages, living in Panama City is easy: easy to buy property; easy to qualify for residency; easy to do business. The government and the people are accustomed to foreigners and welcome them. There are special discounts for retirees, zero income tax on offshore earnings, protection against probate, property tax exemptions…the list goes on.
The ease of living filters down into everyday life. The sparkling Panama Bay, ringed with towers of glass and chrome, evokes images of Miami and Hong Kong; and the comparison doesn’t end there, as the cultural offerings are many and the nightlife is hip. You’ll find here great restaurants, active expat groups, and a level of convenience and familiarity unmatched elsewhere in the region. Even the excellent health care is unrivaled. The most technologically advanced hospital in Latin America is located right here in Panama. There’s simply no city that out-values Panama City…the perfect place for thoroughly modern living.
Editor’s Note: Read more about retiring to all these countries…and many more…in International Living’s free daily postcards.
