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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.
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David (pronounced Dah-veed) is the capital of Panama’s Chiriquí province. Short for San José de David, it is the third largest urban area in Panama, with a population of over 164,000—of which most are considered middle class Panamanians.
It’s easy to think of the countries of Latin America as being pretty much the same. Thanks to a shared history as part of Spain’s empire until the 19th century, many of the countries of Latin America (excluding Brazil, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana), share a common language...
Something an expat often hears from family and friends is “but what do you do there?” Sometimes they are let down to hear that in general, our lives are not much different from other retirees. That is not the whole story though, since we are also living day to day in a different culture...
If you’re looking for a place where you can begin the next phase of your life in peace with the glories of nature all around you, you can do no better than Costa Rica. It has all the things you could wish for—awe-inspiring views, tropical rainforests, rambling rivers,
Located about three hours northwest of San José, Costa Rica's capital, the Arenal region has been drawing eco-minded travelers in search of opportunities in wildlife watching, jungle hiking, water sports, and other activities for decades. But in recent years it's become much more than a tourist destination, attracting an increasing number of expats interested in making permanent homes here. The area is dominated by the 33-square-mile Lake Arenal. Also, looming above the landscape at the east end of the lake, is the 5,479-foot Volcan Arenal, a cone-shaped volcano that is active but not dangerous
The Malaysian island of Penang has had a colorful history. Settled by the Arabs and the British and later populated by large numbers of Chinese and Indians, all have left their mark. You can see their influences in the diversity of the local food-courts, a popular pick for hungry locals and tourists alike.
We are perched on a cliff high above the beach drinking a watermelon juice at Single Fin. It’s a prime place for sundowners or to spend the day gawking at the surfers’ skills below.
Ask anybody who has visited Chiang Mai and most will agree that it’s a laidback kind of place. People take the time to stop and smile and to ask how you are. Life here can be so relaxed that every day feels like a Sunday.
Deep blue water stretching into the distance. Rocky coastlines where mountains push up against the sea. Terracotta rooftops cascading down bright green hills. Islands silhouetted by fiery sunsets. And fortresses dotted across the landscape, towering above the valleys on a hilltop or settled against the sea with holes in their walls for cannon fire.
Near the center of the island, nestled in between lush green rice paddies and forests filled with mischievous monkeys, Ubud is often referred to as the heart of Bali.