Which country is easiest to enter?
Costa Rica is a good place to retire.You have to prove your income and savings before you can retire there, and if you decide to open a business, you won’t be allowed to work in it! You must hire local people to do everything-including managing it.
Also, you have to leave every 3 months, and then re-enter, until your status as a foreign retiree is accepted, I think– I don’t remember all of the particulars on that point, but just know it should be part of your plan to budget leaving the country every few months, until your status is settled. I checked it out, for a possible retirement locale. I’m still looking. Costa Rica did have some benefits: Health insurance is cheaper there, and, depending where you live, so are utilities. There is a live volcano on Costa Rica.
( Not a +, in my opinion.) The ocean-front real estate is being built up now, because of a new highway that is linking previously remote sites to the capitol city, and airport.So, the coastal real estate prices are rising significantly. Some of the major hotel chains are building hotel/condos on the coast. If you want to live in the city or the mountains, there are some real good values there.
You are not going to get a good answer on where to live on this forum.( I wrote the same question some months back, and it was a complete waste of time to read the answers.) But, a good place to start is the International Living website. The website is www.internationalliving.com. The only thing is, they send you so much email to buy their products, you may want to open up an email address just dedicated to your search for overseas retirement alternatives–so you don’t get smothered in spam! Hope this helps! I am still looking because what I really want is my U.S. life at half the price, and that isn’t what you get when you leave the country…happy hunting.
What country is small and peaceful, has dental and health care for residents and has low rents?
I have traveled to many countries and I still think United States of America is by far the best place in the world to live, even for senior citizens. I don’t know about healthcare. I would imagine the following countries have socialized medicine. Socialized medicine although seems “free” it is not. It is paid for through taxes. I have heard that some of the following countries have about 50% of income goes towards taxes. The following countries although not all of them small (many are), are relatively peaceful because they don’t get too involved in war. Not all of these countries are affordable though, for example Monaco, usually only extremely wealthy people live there. Many countries you don’t get a whole lot of "bang for your buck" when it comes to rent. Many countries are short on space so housing is small and tightly packed together. Bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens are VERY tiny. For example, in one country I’ve been to the average flat (apartment) was about 300 to 600 sq. ft. and this was a flat with a kitchen, one bathroom, living room and two bedrooms. The rooms were so small they were like closets. In America a place that small would probably rent for about $500 a month in the Midwest and be a studio apartment with just one big room instead of divided up into five rooms. It was renting for 1,500 Euros a month which is about $2,200 a month in American money. So although the country may be small and "peaceful" and have socialized medicine, the rent in most other countries is very high because property is at a premium. Not only is space limited in these countries but many of the flats are VERY old, as in hundreds of years old. One flat I looked at dated to the 1600’s. The bathrooms and kitchens in these flats just aren’t as nice as the ones we have here in America in my opinion. Also many countries have age and income requirements for immigration and you must learn to read, write and speak the language. Many countries their healthcare system only applies to people who have become citizens. Anyway, here are some countries for you to research:
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Canada
Czech Republic (Prague)
Denmark
Finland
Greenland
Iceland
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Monaco
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Portugal
Sweden
Switzerland
I can think of many others, but these are the ones that would probably fit more of what you are looking for.
we are in our 50’s and are thinking of retireing abraord but not sure where? we are looking at italy next year but as yet we are open minded thankyou for your time.
to the ranting person i put OPEN
MINDED!!!!!!!
Cyprus is wonderful!! Good standard of living, fairly cheap to live here; my council tax on my two bedroomed house is just £60.00 per year, my Electricity works out at between £10-£15.00 per month, my water rates are even less. Car tax for the year on my Focus is £34.00 per year. Pertol is getting expensive at the moment, but I beleive thats pretty much the same problem everywhere, though its still well under U.K. prices. Sunshine for at least 340 days of the year, and Christmas is wonderful here. We live in the South East of the island, in a small village, but we are only a short drive from Larnaca, Agia Napa, Protaras, and Paralimni, and just over an hours drive from the Capitol, Lefkosia ( Nicosia). We have a good standard of healthcare too. House prices are rising fast though ; we paid £43.000 for our house,three years ago, and that included furniture, but the same houses now are around £100.000, and this doesn’t include the furniture. Obviously, apartments are slightly cheaper. It’s well worth a look though!
EDIT;
Have a look at www.buysellcyprus.com
I want to live in the tropics and would like opinions as to where is better for an Englishman.
I have a 3 year old son and but he has no mother, and I’m not looking for one either
Philippines.
Getting a retirement visa is easy and relatively cheap if your over age 50. You will need to deposit $10,000 USD or equivelent in an interest bearing account and have an income of $800 USD. Helpers are cheap such as a maid or nanny for $60 a month plus room and board.
The natives are friendly and english speaking.
The cost of living is cheap.
Tropical island setting and many nice places to choose from.
Do I have to remain a US citizen?
I’d say yes. You just have to report to US embassy every year, to prove that you’re still alive. Plus, pay your taxes every year, too. My mom is getting her social security from another country. She’s here now in the US, and still getting it. Goodluck.