{"id":98883800,"date":"2016-05-10T14:24:06","date_gmt":"2016-05-10T18:24:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/?p=98883800"},"modified":"2025-03-25T05:01:52","modified_gmt":"2025-03-25T09:01:52","slug":"the-7-best-places-to-retire-in-the-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/the-7-best-places-to-retire-in-the-world\/","title":{"rendered":"The 7 Best Places to Retire in the World"},"content":{"rendered":"

The ideal country for your dream retirement can be just a few clicks away. With a bit of research, we’ve narrowed down the best places around the world, according to International Living, where you can start an exciting\u00a0new chapter of your life!<\/p>\n

Panama<\/h2>\n

Just a short flight from the US<\/a> and having excellent healthcare\u00a0services that are unbelievably cheap, Panama<\/a> has emerged as a laid-back, stress-free option for those who want to live well. The country boasts of beautiful beaches, lush mountains, and a vibrant capital city with\u00a0an impressive arts and social scene. A couple could comfortably rent for about \u00a0$1,500 a month, while utilities would average just $100 (including high-speed internet). Plus, you ‘ll also have the benefit of \u00a0a seasoned expat community to guide you into your new Panamanian lifestyle. The country’s Pensionado<\/em>\u00a0visa allows for a quick transition, and also helps you get discounts on the already low cost of healthcare, entertainment, and even your electricity bill!<\/p>\n

\"Aerial

Panama<\/p><\/div>\n

Ecuador<\/h2>\n

With genuine, friendly people, and its blend of Spanish colonial charm and Andean tradition, Ecuador is emerging as a notable hot spot for retirees. The country has some amazing open land that can be purchased at ridiculously low prices – something that’s ideal for those who like a more open-space lifestyle in which to spend retirement. Cities like Cuenca<\/a>, with its delightful old world charm and architecture,\u00a0have become popular destinations for expats, while the mountain town of Cotacachi and the capital city Quito<\/a> are also very popular.\u00a0Rent across cities could range from $500 to $900 a month, which won’t dent your retirement savings too much. Another point to consider is Ecuador’s low-priced beachfront property, especially in coastal cities such as Salinas.<\/p>\n

Mexico<\/h2>\n

Mexico\u00a0offers an excellent residence visa that makes settling into life South of the border quick and easy. If you’re over 60, you can get a pension card that also entitles you to\u00a0further discounts on a host of goods and services. A strong American expat community can also help you catch on quick to the pace of life and the dynamic culture. Breathtaking cities such as Tulum<\/a> and the picturesque San Miguel de Allende<\/a> will make the postcards you send back to the US look even prettier, sure to be the envy of all your buddies still shoveling snow off their driveways. So go ahead, as obviously close as it may be, it could be the time to unwind on a beach in Mexico with a few margaritas.<\/p>\n

\"Backpacker

Costa Rica<\/p><\/div>\n

Costa Rica<\/h2>\n

Dense jungles teeming with wildlife, great climate, stretches of untouched beaches, majestic volcanoes, modern comforts, and friendly people have made Costa Rica a regular on retirees’ lists for years. Just a stone’s throw away from the US with frequent flights<\/a> available, you’ll find modern infrastructure (fast internet), affordable healthcare (about one-third the cost of healthcare in the US), and a very reasonable cost of living (around $2,000 a month for a couple – rent included) are all just perks of being part of the of the laid-back mantra of Pura Vida<\/em>\u00a0(pure life) that is vivaciously embraced by native Ticos<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Malaysia<\/h2>\n

Malaysia is a unique country that best represents Asia due to its mix of Chinese, Indian, and Malay influences. This melting pot not only makes for great food, but also a diverse and rich culture that has for years been a strong presence on the global economic stage. The country’s amazing infrastructure, be it technology, public transport or healthcare services, never overshadow the vibrant street markets of Kuala Lumpur <\/a>or the beautiful beaches of Sipadan<\/a>. English is spoken by most, which will make communication super easy. The Malaysia My Second Home (MMSH) Visa allows for a 10-year stay, with the option of bringing your spouse and kids, and even open a business, given a monthly income of about $2,450.<\/p>\n

You Might Also Enjoy: Bogot\u00e1 Travel Brief: What to Know Before You Go<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\"Cocora

Colombia<\/p><\/div>\n

Colombia<\/h2>\n

A great geographical location close to the equator ensures that you’ll get more or less the same temperature throughout the year, depending on whether you prefer the humidity of its Caribbean coast beaches or the cooler climes of little towns sprawled through the Andes Mountains.\u00a0The sheer colonial beauty of cities like Cartagena<\/a>, a thriving hub for expats in the country, complement coastal cities like Santa Marta<\/a>. You’ll find some of the best healthcare services and hospitals in the Americas,\u00a0with highly-trained doctors who speak English.<\/p>\n

Thailand<\/h2>\n

While being a tourist favorite for decades, Thailand has many positive factors that make for an excellent place to retire. Filled with smiling faces and helpful hands, you’ll feel right at home whether in Bangkok<\/a> or Phuket<\/a>.\u00a0Rental rates in most cities are some of the lowest in Asia. Ancient temples coexist with modern shopping malls, while the country’s public transport, cuisine, English communication, and low cost of living are often highly rated. The cool mountains of Chiang Mai<\/a>, the non-stop buzz of\u00a0Bangkok, and the serenity of Koh Samui<\/a> are all favorites with retired expats.<\/p>\n

What other locations have you dreamed of retiring to? If there’s any we’ve missed that you’d like to see featured, please do mention them in the comments below.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The ideal country for your dream retirement can be just a few clicks away. With a bit of research, we’ve narrowed down the best places around the world, according to International Living, where you can start an exciting\u00a0new chapter of your life! Panama Just a short flight from the US and having excellent healthcare\u00a0services that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":98922857,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[61,141],"tags":[540,545,537,544,172,542,533,541,539,535,531,286,546,530,521,534,538,168,536,532,543],"class_list":["post-98883800","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-travel-inspiration","tag-bjx","tag-bki","tag-bkk","tag-cnx","tag-colombia","tag-ctg","tag-cue","tag-cun","tag-czm","tag-kul","tag-mex","tag-mexico","tag-place-to-retire","tag-pty","tag-retirement","tag-sjo","tag-smr","tag-south-america","tag-srs","tag-uio","tag-usm"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98883800","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/22"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=98883800"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98883800\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":98923371,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98883800\/revisions\/98923371"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/98922857"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=98883800"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=98883800"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=98883800"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}