While the world may seem to be a pretty unsettled place thanks to the constant stream of negative news we hear from afar, in reality it’s never been easier to work and live overseas.
For one thing, digital communications have taken once-major barriers and turned them into nothing more than minor speed bumps.
Today, while Americans who have lived overseas for their careers may choose to return to the United States to retire, many others are moving in the opposite direction.
What countries are the best places for Americans to consider retiring to, all things considered? It would seem that having a nice climate along with a vibrant culture and an interesting social scene are important factors. Personal safety ranks up there, too. Having an attractive cost of living would be another factor to consider – at least for most of us for whom budgets are important to follow.
International Living magazine has just published its newest listing of the “Top 10” countries for retiring abroad. It’s the 26th annual list published by this magazine, which calculates a “global retirement index” by country and selects the best-scoring ones that are, as the magazine puts it, “outstanding destinations where you can live a healthier and happier life, spend a lot less money, and get a whole lot more.”
Which countries have made the 2018 list? Here are the Top 10, along with a quick wrap-up statement for each as to why:
#1. Costa Rica – “the world’s best retirement haven”
#2. Mexico – “convenient, exotic first-world living”
#3. Panama – “friendly, welcoming – and great benefits”
#4. Ecuador – “diverse, unhurried, and metropolitan”
#5. Malaysia – “easy, English-speaking, and first-world”
#6. Colombia – “sophisticated and affordable”
#7. Portugal – “Europe’s best retirement haven”
#8. Nicaragua – “the best bang for your buck in Latin America”
#9. Spain – “romance, history, and charming villages”
#10. Peru – “low-cost living, vibrant and diverse”
It’s interesting to note that of the countries on the Top 10 list, all but one of them are Latin American or part of the Iberian Peninsula.
I haven’t gone back and researched it, but I suspect that the countries on these lists were quite different going back 10 or 20 years prior.
For more information about the 2018 list and the 12 factors that went into creating the global retirement index for each country, click or tap here.
How about you? Which of these countries, if any, would you consider making your home in retirement? Or is the notion of retiring abroad completely “foreign” to you?
Nones Notes 
Nice post and a surprising list. I guess that warm climate, affordability and culture would be our primary factors. Portugal and Spain fit the bill, especially Lanzarote.
I’m semi-retired. This means I am collecting my pension payments, while I still earn some income on different projects related to my profession – the insurance industry.
Regarding where to reside – I do reside outside the United States. However, I would never consider any of the countries which made the list.
So where do I spend my time? Belgium, Slovenia and Croatia.
The first has a great health care system. The second and third are inexpensive and have many other advantages. Stunning landscapes – Alpine peaks and valleys within a short drive of a beautiful coast line (the Adriactic); fascinating cities, rich cultural offerings in terms of music, museums, history; and the proximity to other great cities such as Vienna, Venice and more …