Live abroad, retire abroad

Exploring retirement in Mexico in 2025 - is Mexico City / CDMX an option?

2025-06-11T08:56:00.000-07:00

It's been a while (15 years?!!) since I updated this blog, but recently have been thinking more and more about the topic of living abroad. Mexico remains a perennial favorite option. And while many years ago, I would have focused on small towns as potential retirement destinations, Mexico City now seems more and more alluring in some respects. It's hardly a small, relaxed place overall, but many neighborhoods within the city are utterly charming and offer a great quality of life. Roma, Condesa and Polanco are the areas most well-known to expats, and I won't mention them further here. But for other areas worth checking out, see the following:

Retirement in Ecuador

2010-10-15T21:32:00.000-07:00

Ecuador is another country that has been coming up a lot in the list of top retirement destinations. With its salubrious climate, spectacular scenery, low cost of living, affordable and quality healthcare and proximity to the United States, many would-be retirees are considering retirement in Ecuador. The video below helps understand why:

With proof of very modest resources, you can get a retirement visa that allows you to live in Ecuador for the long term. Some of the top retirement destinations in Ecuador are:

Quito, the capital city with its historic architecture, cosmopolitan vibe and stunning environs

Vilcabamba in the Southern Sierra, nestled among spectacular mountains, with a gentle climate and laid-back pace of life.

Cuenca, Ecuador's third largest city and a World Heritage site renowned for its colonial buildings.

If you are thinking of retiring in Ecuador, the following book might serve you well:

Is retiring abroad the right decision for you?

2010-08-05T20:22:00.000-07:00

The prospect of retiring in a warm exotic locale overseas can be very alluring. And indeed, it can be a wonderful life changing experience for many. But we also hear of people who seek out overseas retirement only to become disillusioned after a few months or years. Worse, although some are lured by the relatively low cost of living in some overseas retirement destination, they actually end up getting financially burned. How should you prepare for retirement abroad, or find out if it's the right step for you? Here are some things to consider:

First and foremost, are you the sort of person who enjoys travel and foreign cultures? Retiring abroad is not just a financial decision, but a major lifestyle change. Some thrive on exposure to new cultures, others take comfort in the familiar. While there may be expat communities and fellow-retirees from your country in your new place of residence, you will feel very closed in if you confine yourself to just these communities. Before taking any other steps towards retiring abroad, make sure you have the right mindset for it.
Will you be okay living far away from family and old friends? Some people can't wait to put enough distance between themselves and their old circles, but for others, as the reality of relative isolation from your loved ones sinks in, you might find yourself having second thoughts.
Because of these reasons, you might want to consider going on an extended vacation in your intended retirement destination before you commit to moving there. Or you might consider spending part of the year there for a couple of years, before you decide to move there full time.
Also consider the fact that many amenities you take for granted in your current place of residence may be harder to come by in your country of retirement. You might face issues like power outages, slow internet and slow service. Then again, part of the charm of retiring abroad is a simpler and slower pace of life, so many people would gladly trade in a few modern conveniences to live in a languid tropical paradise.
There are also financial issues to consider - things like cost of living and health care, ease of banking, access to your retirement funds and so on. More on these in another article.

But I hope these tips will help you think through whether retirement abroad is right for you. Many people will probably say yes, and join the ranks of happy retirees abroad. But thinking through these issues will help you have a fulfilling overseas retirement, rather than a stressful one.

Travels with Joyce - a blog full of useful travel information including Merida, Mexico

2010-07-25T13:36:00.000-07:00

My fellow blogger Joyce maintains an interesting blog - Travels with Joyce - with all sort of useful and fun travel tips. Several of her pieces will be of interest to potential retirees abroad, including her articles on traveling and learning Spanish in Merida, Mexico.

For those contemplating retirement Mexico has much to offer. Merida is an attractive colonial city in Yucatan, Mexico, and has been popping up a lot on the radar screens of would-be expat retirees. More on Merida soon, but in the meantime check out more travel articles by Joyce on her other writing site.

Retire in Costa Rica

2010-06-30T08:58:00.000-07:00

Costa Rica is among the most popular destinations for overseas retirement. The proximity to the United States, warm climate, miles of beaches and tropical paradise scenery and high standard of living, coupled with a stable political climate and good law-and-order situation make Costa Rica a prime choice for overseas retirees. Although Costa Rica is relatively more expensive than some other retirement havens, it is still a lot cheaper than retiring in the United States for a comparable standard of living. Some of the popular retirement areas include the Central Valley of Costa Rica, near San Jose, and the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. Guanacaste province is especially popular with retirees.

While you will have to do your homework to gain residency in Costa Rica, it can be well worth it.

Panama as a retirement destination

2010-06-14T20:15:00.000-07:00

Panama is increasingly sought out by retirees as a country to spend their retirement years. There are many advantages to living in Panama as an expatriate. Panama is relatively close to the US, has great infrastructure and medical facilities, and is very retiree-friendly. The country is also financially and politically stable, and the US dollar is accepted there. Opening a Panama bank account is relatively easy. Panama transportation is also highly developed, with an excellent highway system and good and cheap public transport.

Some of the main retiree havens in Panama are Panama City, the mountain towns of Boquete, El Valle, Sora and Volcan with their pleasant climate, and the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. On the Caribbean side, Bocas del Toro is a tropical beach paradise that retirees are increasingly flocking to.

If you are considering retiring to Panama, you might want to tour Panama first to get a sense of what the country has to offer. You can take a package tour through a Panama travel agency, and maybe arrange to see some properties by contacting Panama realtors.

Retire in Nicaragua

2010-06-13T09:18:00.000-07:00

Nicaragua is increasingly showing up on the radar screens of travelers and potential retirees. While political troubles gave Nicaragua a bad name in the 80s, things have settled down, and more and more people are discovering the idyllic beach getaways of the Corn Islands off the Caribbean coast and San Juan del Sur on the Atlantic coast, and the historic charms of Granada. The relatively low price of property in Nicaragua also means that retirement dollars go much farther here than they would in other Central American countries like Costa Rica and Panama.

You might want to tour Nicaragua first before you think about buying real estate here, but a holiday Nicaragua style won't set you back much.

How to realize your dreams to retire abroad and live abroad

2010-06-12T14:15:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my blog! If you have a restless spirit, or if you are just interested in seeing what the big wide world has to offer in terms of living or retiring abroad, then stop a while and look around. I have posted many links to articles on the topic, and will be updating this blog regularly. Your dreams of retirement abroad may not be that far-fetched; with a little planning, you can really stretch out those retirement dollars and live well in an interesting and beautiful place for less than you might spend to live at home.

Even if you are not close to retirement, you might still want to live abroad just to experience a different culture and a new way of life. The links on this site should be relevant to you as well.

I will be updating this blog frequently, so please stop by often! You never know what useful tips you might find here!