6 Cheap Places to Retire Abroad

[Barefootsies]

Odd that Vancouver is listed, as many have said it was expensive in the past.

While it doesn't have a reputation as a retiree destination, Vancouver remains a viable option for Americans who want to stay close to home while living the cosmopolitan life across the border. The biggest hurdle for Vancouver-bound Americans is real estate. With the most expensive housing prices in Canada and some of the most expensive property in the world, Vancouver is not an investment option for many retirees.

The average house price is $857,400, according to CanadianBusiness.com. Renting is a possibility: One-bedroom apartments in downtown Vancouver start at around 1,400 Canadian dollars (nearly $1,364). Food and entertainment cost about the same as in Seattle, which is less than three hours away by car.

While Americans may not save much on rent or living costs by moving to Canada, one expense is considerably lower up North: health care. "I save over $400 per month on medicine, and I never have to wait to see my doctor," says Betty Segel, an American who has lived in suburban Vancouver for five years. Retirees in Canada have access to the country's public health care system, which provides free care to residents, including expats with a permanent residence in the country.

For Americans concerned about health care costs, the added premium of Vancouver property just might be worth it.

FULL LIST

[xNetworx]

Send all the old sick people up to Canada for the free healthcare

[DWB]

The best advice I can give any American going to live abroad is to create a business in the new country that covers all of your expenses, because you literally live and die by the exchange rate as long as you are only earning in US dollars. Things can get expensive real fast with just slight movements in currency rates and the addition of general inflation.

[lazycash]

Originally Posted by Barefootsies

Odd that Vancouver is listed, as many have said it was expensive in the past.

FULL LIST

Seems contradictory:

"Cheap Places to Retire Abroad"

vs.

"With the most expensive housing prices in Canada and some of the most expensive property in the world"

[crockett]

If you are just worried about cheap Healthcare, then no need to move to Canada, just move to Massachusetts.

A retired person can pay as little as $30 a month for very good coverage that includes dental & eye..

Obviously people that earn more pay more, but it's no where near the costs you pay in any other state.

[pornguy]

Originally Posted by DWB

The best advice I can give any American going to live abroad is to create a business in the new country that covers all of your expenses, because you literally live and die by the exchange rate as long as you are only earning in US dollars. Things can get expensive real fast with just slight movements in currency rates and the addition of general inflation.

Yep can be a real killer on the pocket

[L-Pink]

What a stupid article. No one looking for a cheap place to live will move where the average home price is almost a million dollars.

.

[J. Falcon]

Very stupid list.

[Klen]

I think all those lists about places to live and it's parametars doesn't have much sense as usually is something unique what attract to some certain place.

[Sid70]

Europe: Bulgaria, Poland, CZ
CIS: Georgia, South of Ukraine
Asia: Turkey ( Antalia )
Africa: No go
Australia and Oceania: Niue
South America: Argentina, Peru

[Bman]

Hold up...
No food and entertainment do NOT cost the same as in Seattle lol

I can tell you straight out that is wrong.

Food is very expensive here as afar as dining out.

I would say food about 30% more and alchohol is at least double the price as in Seattle.

Take soccer which both have mls teams: price for center lower section tickets for Seattle SOunders: $56

Same seat at a Vancouver Whitecaps :$75


I went to a Hockey game this year and the fuckin ticket were $150 in LA that ticket was $70 and they are the Stanley Cup Champs.

Gas is $1.40 liter so 4 liters a gallon and you get :$5.60

Also those apartment you get downtown for that price are in the Westend. Those aprtments are for the most part run down.
A decent aprtment near Yaletown that is 550 sq feet is $1900/min

I was in LA and picked up a case of Coronas at Ralphs for $12...in Vancouver at the government run liquor store it is $25

Nobody is retiring in Vancouver

[baddog]

When did they move Canada abroad?

[Bman]

You would have to be a fuckin idiot to think that the price of an aprtment being $500,000 and your gonna buy groceries for the same amount as you can when that same apartment costs $200k in an american city...

Oh and the prescriptions? they are not cheap here I have filled on both fuckin sides.

I dont have a major illness but for my stuff I have had to fill they have been about the same why? cause everything is filled as a generic and not a name brand...that is what the government has legislated.
This is a socialist country...nothing is cheap.

Order your prescriptions from Mexico

[helmuc]

Have you heard of Sao Tome?

The Equator runs right across the little island off the south coast, and the Prime Meridian is only a few degrees to our west. São Tomé was in the middle of the world as it was known at the time of Portuguese exploration....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%A3o_Tom%C3%A9

.

[xNetworx]

Originally Posted by Bman

Hold up...
No food and entertainment do NOT cost the same as in Seattle lol

I can tell you straight out that is wrong.

Food is very expensive here as afar as dining out.

I would say food about 30% more and alchohol is at least double the price as in Seattle.

Take soccer which both have mls teams: price for center lower section tickets for Seattle SOunders: $56

Same seat at a Vancouver Whitecaps :$75


I went to a Hockey game this year and the fuckin ticket were $150 in LA that ticket was $70 and they are the Stanley Cup Champs.

Gas is $1.40 liter so 4 liters a gallon and you get :$5.60

Also those apartment you get downtown for that price are in the Westend. Those aprtments are for the most part run down.
A decent aprtment near Yaletown that is 550 sq feet is $1900/min

I was in LA and picked up a case of Coronas at Ralphs for $12...in Vancouver at the government run liquor store it is $25

Nobody is retiring in Vancouver

My friend that lives in Van makes around 300k a year but lives a pretty average lifestyle. Normal apartment, car, etc. He always laughs at how cheap everything is in Phoenix when he is visiting.

[EddyTheDog]

The 'Valencia' section is total fiction - I assume the rest is...

[_Richard_]

Originally Posted by Bman

Hold up...
No food and entertainment do NOT cost the same as in Seattle lol

I can tell you straight out that is wrong.

Food is very expensive here as afar as dining out.

I would say food about 30% more and alchohol is at least double the price as in Seattle.

Take soccer which both have mls teams: price for center lower section tickets for Seattle SOunders: $56

Same seat at a Vancouver Whitecaps :$75


I went to a Hockey game this year and the fuckin ticket were $150 in LA that ticket was $70 and they are the Stanley Cup Champs.

Gas is $1.40 liter so 4 liters a gallon and you get :$5.60

Also those apartment you get downtown for that price are in the Westend. Those aprtments are for the most part run down.
A decent aprtment near Yaletown that is 550 sq feet is $1900/min

I was in LA and picked up a case of Coronas at Ralphs for $12...in Vancouver at the government run liquor store it is $25

Nobody is retiring in Vancouver

if you were born here you mean

[Vendzilla]

I'm thinking of living in another country when I retire. This place is just getting too nuts

[GrantMercury]

Originally Posted by crockett

If you are just worried about cheap Healthcare, then no need to move to Canada, just move to Massachusetts.

A retired person can pay as little as $30 a month for very good coverage that includes dental & eye..

Obviously people that earn more pay more, but it's no where near the costs you pay in any other state.

Yup. It's Romneycare, and it ain't too bad at all. The insurance bastards are still in the loop, which sucks, but the prices are generally lower than elsewhere, and the coverage is good - often better than what people get through their employers.

[BareBacked]

Originally Posted by DWB

The best advice I can give any American going to live abroad is to create a business in the new country that covers all of your expenses, because you literally live and die by the exchange rate as long as you are only earning in US dollars. Things can get expensive real fast with just slight movements in currency rates and the addition of general inflation.

this is the worst possible advice ever IMO lol

[Klen]

Originally Posted by Sid70

Europe: Bulgaria, Poland, CZ
CIS: Georgia, South of Ukraine
Asia: Turkey ( Antalia )
Africa: No go
Australia and Oceania: Niue
South America: Argentina, Peru

Actually on Africa you could go to Reunion - A Europe union on Africa Island.Or to north of Marroco which belong to Spain,also EU on african soil.

[BareBacked]

Originally Posted by baddog

When did they move Canada abroad?

a·broad
[uh-brawd] Show IPA
adverb
1.
in or to a foreign country or countries: famous at home and abroad.
2.
in or to another continent: Shall we go to Mexico or abroad this summer?

[Bman]

I always took the meaning of abroad to mean a different continent

[JP-pornshooter]

surprised Nicaragua is not on that list.

[harvey]

I was shocked to see Buenos Aires, but the prices are about right, so guess it must be OK. However, these are prices for Argentinian people, I don't think any foreigner will get these prices as easily, specially healthcare. And if you go for private health, it's really expensive. Other than that, yes, Buenos Aires is an amazing place to live and for what I see, pretty cheap compared to other options

[pornmasta]

Originally Posted by KlenTelaris

Actually on Africa you could go to Reunion - A Europe union on Africa Island.Or to north of Marroco which belong to Spain,also EU on african soil.

reunion in france ?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/0....html?ir=Green

[pornmasta]

https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-...%C3%A9v%C3%A8s

cool ! but don't try to produce your own movies there.

[lazycash]

Lol, this comment below the article from some guy who lived in Guatemala, sounds like a nice place to retire.

"Guatemala: "Emboldened armed robbers have attacked vehicles on main roads in broad daylight. Travel on rural roads increases the risk of being stopped by a criminal roadblock or ambush. Widespread narcotics and alien-smuggling activities make remote areas especially dangerous." AND ... " A number of travelers have experienced carjackings and armed robberies after just having arrived on international flights, most frequently in the evening. In the most common scenario, tourists or business travelers who land at the airport after dark are held up by armed men as their vehicle departs the airport, but similar incidents have occurred at other times of the day. Private vehicles, taxis and shuttle buses have all been targeted. Typically, the assailants steal money, passports, and luggage, and in some but not all cases, the assailants steal the vehicle as well. In some cases, assailants have been wearing full or partial police uniforms and have used vehicles that resemble police vehicles, indicating that some elements of the police might be involved. Armed robberies have occurred within minutes of a tourist?s vehicle having been stopped by the police. Recently, many of these attacks have taken place far from the airport, just as travelers were arriving at their homes, or in less busy areas of the city"

[harvey]

Originally Posted by lazycash

Lol, this comment below the article from some guy who lived in Guatemala, sounds like a nice place to retire.

"Guatemala: "Emboldened armed robbers have attacked vehicles on main roads in broad daylight. Travel on rural roads increases the risk of being stopped by a criminal roadblock or ambush. Widespread narcotics and alien-smuggling activities make remote areas especially dangerous." AND ... " A number of travelers have experienced carjackings and armed robberies after just having arrived on international flights, most frequently in the evening. In the most common scenario, tourists or business travelers who land at the airport after dark are held up by armed men as their vehicle departs the airport, but similar incidents have occurred at other times of the day. Private vehicles, taxis and shuttle buses have all been targeted. Typically, the assailants steal money, passports, and luggage, and in some but not all cases, the assailants steal the vehicle as well. In some cases, assailants have been wearing full or partial police uniforms and have used vehicles that resemble police vehicles, indicating that some elements of the police might be involved. Armed robberies have occurred within minutes of a tourist?s vehicle having been stopped by the police. Recently, many of these attacks have taken place far from the airport, just as travelers were arriving at their homes, or in less busy areas of the city"

Yes, Guatemala is really dangerous. I went there just to visit Tikal ruins and in general the police is more careful with the foreigners going to archeological sites, so I had no issues, but heard some horror stories from people who stayed there for an extended visit to Flores and Guatemala City

[Barefootsies]

Originally Posted by lazycash

Lol, this comment below the article from some guy who lived in Guatemala, sounds like a nice place to retire.

"Guatemala: "Emboldened armed robbers have attacked vehicles on main roads in broad daylight. Travel on rural roads increases the risk of being stopped by a criminal roadblock or ambush. Widespread narcotics and alien-smuggling activities make remote areas especially dangerous." AND ... " A number of travelers have experienced carjackings and armed robberies after just having arrived on international flights, most frequently in the evening. In the most common scenario, tourists or business travelers who land at the airport after dark are held up by armed men as their vehicle departs the airport, but similar incidents have occurred at other times of the day. Private vehicles, taxis and shuttle buses have all been targeted. Typically, the assailants steal money, passports, and luggage, and in some but not all cases, the assailants steal the vehicle as well. In some cases, assailants have been wearing full or partial police uniforms and have used vehicles that resemble police vehicles, indicating that some elements of the police might be involved. Armed robberies have occurred within minutes of a tourist?s vehicle having been stopped by the police. Recently, many of these attacks have taken place far from the airport, just as travelers were arriving at their homes, or in less busy areas of the city"

[StickyGreen]

lol, fuck Guatemala... rather goto an island like Puerto Rico or something...

[Dead]

Azores. So fucking Soon

[EddyTheDog]

Originally Posted by Dead

Azores. So fucking Soon

I looked at The Azores - Interesting choice....

[DWB]

Originally Posted by BareBacked

this is the worst possible advice ever IMO lol

Not sure if serious. How could having another income stream possibly be the worst advice?

Having been out of the USA for almost 10 years now, I've seen my fair share of expats who have had to give up their dreams of living overseas and go home. The #1 reason... Money.

No one takes exchange rates and currency fluctuations into account when moving. Huge mistake unless you simply make more money than you can ever spend in your lifetime. Some people have that luxury, most do not.

Guys who earn locally and earn from back home seem to be the guys who stay. Guys who only get paid via their pension based on their currency back home, those are the guys who usually have to throw in the towel. Not all of course, but I've seen it happen a lot. It all stems from poor planning, not protecting themselves financially, and believing stories like this Yahoo rubbish.

Right now I see lots of guys from Europe having to leave Asia and go home. They can't keep up with local inflation in strengthening of the local currency. It was great while it lasted but they didn't think it through, so now they have to go home. Tough luck.

[EddyTheDog]

Originally Posted by DWB

Not sure if serious. How could having another income stream possibly be the worst advice?

Having been out of the USA for almost 10 years now, I've seen my fair share of expats who have had to give up their dreams of living overseas and go home. The #1 reason... Money.

No one takes exchange rates and currency fluctuations into account when moving. Huge mistake unless you simply make more money than you can ever spend in your lifetime. Some people have that luxury, most do not.

Guys who earn locally and earn from back home seem to be the guys who stay. Guys who only get paid via their pension based on their currency back home, those are the guys who usually have to throw in the towel. Not all of course, but I've seen it happen a lot. It all stems from poor planning, not protecting themselves financially, and believing stories like this Yahoo rubbish.

Right now I see lots of guys from Europe having to leave Asia and go home. They can't keep up with local inflation in strengthening of the local currency. It was great while it lasted but they didn't think it through, so now they have to go home. Tough luck.

I have lived all over the world - 1st, 2nd and 3rd world - Having a consistent income is essential.

You can not and will not live 'like the locals'...

Being poor in your own country is a lot different from being poor in a strange country...

[Jim_Gunn]

Vancouver is one of the most expensive cities in North America, lol! How can they even mention it in the article?

[DWB]

Originally Posted by EddyTheDog

I have lived all over the world - 1st, 2nd and 3rd world - Having a consistent income is essential.

You can not and will not live 'like the locals'...

Being poor in your own country is a lot different from being poor in a strange country...

Absolute truth.

I see too many guys come to Asia on a shoestring and they literally end up living like a poor local, which can be pretty bad by western standards. Yea, you can live or retire cheap, but at the cost of the quality of your life. Doesn't make sense.

Which brings me back to my first post of having a local business that covers all your expenses so that if _______________ happens, you're covered and don't have to live in poverty or go home. There are a lot of business opportunities abroad if you keep your eyes open.

[pimpmaster9000]

Originally Posted by BareBacked

this is the worst possible advice ever IMO lol

dude the US $ lost half of its value in the last 10 years compared to local currencies...

i used to get 1200 euros for 1000$

now I get 768 euros for 1000$

thats 432 euros or 560$ difference in buying power on 1000$....

his advise was actually very good...americans have waaay to much faith in their currency

[adult-help]

Thanks to its weather and low cost of living, Thailand has been on retirees' radars for years, and Chiang Mai is cheap, even by Thai standards.

I like how the entire thailand paragraph this barry character talks about this and that is cheap blah blah but "forgets" the most important reason why he retired there..we all know: if there was no easy availability of cheap pussy barry would not be there...same as majority of single male old guys...

[privatesociety]

Would love to retire in Monte Carlo.... Best place ever for me!

[DWB]

Originally Posted by crucifissio

i used to get 1200 euros for 1000$

now I get 768 euros for 1000$

thats 432 euros or 560$ difference in buying power on 1000$....

Ouch.

That is over a 10 year span?

[baddog]

Originally Posted by Bman

I always took the meaning of abroad to mean a different continent

Canada is as abroad for me as Oregon.

[Antonio]

Originally Posted by privatesociety

Would love to retire in Monte Carlo.... Best place ever for me!

That's cheap too, good beer costs about $20 or so

[Sid70]

Anyone been to NIUE?
I was there, nice place.

[Bman]

Originally Posted by baddog

Canada is as abroad for me as Oregon.

yeah exactly I can see washington state from out my window...

[RandyRandy]

Originally Posted by JP-pornshooter

surprised Nicaragua is not on that list.

I'm surprised too. Plenty of cheap, beachfront property and unlimited, cheap domestic services. A lot of US/European expats down there now.

Originally Posted by crucifissio

dude the US $ lost half of its value in the last 10 years compared to local currencies...

i used to get 1200 euros for 1000$

now I get 768 euros for 1000$

thats 432 euros or 560$ difference in buying power on 1000$....

his advise was actually very good...americans have waaay to much faith in their currency

I'm close to living full-time in Colombia, been going there for 13 years and have a young daughter down there. In 2006, the Colombian Peso was 2,650 to the $USD and crossed 3,000 for the ?. The past year it fluctuates between 1,700 - 1,800 to the $USD. On $1,000, thats a difference of almost 1,000,000 pesos, meaning you have to pony up $571 to get to the 2006 rate.

But even at the low rate, Colombia is still a great deal.

For example, I have my daughter in a private, bilingual school in Bogota, and that costs me $4,000 a year. The same type of school in New York would be $40,000.

Bogota has year-round temps averaging 68F, along with 20 golf courses in the area. Medellin is warmer at about 78F. I've seen Medellin on another list of great places to retire and couldn't agree more.

[Jman]

Y'all should go on Mars

http://newsfeed.time.com/2013/05/09/...-trip-to-mars/

;)