Seniors: Great Places to Retire Outside the USA

For many seniors retirement is just a dream. Many retirees can't afford to sit there and do nothing due to the high cost of living in the United States. That old picture of the senior sitting in a rocking chair on the porch isn't realistic anymore. The high cost of living here in the United States is becoming unbearable for many seniors today. It is saddening to see people scrimping on food to pay for rent and medicine. There is some good news available for seniors. You can live very nicely on $1000 or more a month in some of the countries south of the United States border. Let's examine some of the countries where living costs are reasonable and pension dollars go much farther.

Consider retiring to Mexico. Seems there is a large contingent of Americans enjoying living in this close by country. While many native Mexicans are leaving to live and work in the United States, there are senior citizens going there. There is a large contingent of Americans living near Lake Chapala. This area has a climate that seniors enjoy. Living costs are quite reasonable. Good medical care by US trained doctors is available. There's lots to do here. Living costs are very cheap. Fresh food is abundant. There are books describing all the services and amenities that US citizens are enjoying south of the border. Many folks like Mexico because they can take a bus, fly, or even drive back to the states to see loved ones.

Panama is a favored place for Americans to retire. English is common enough. Living costs are quite reasonable. You can live by the beach and fish and snorkel at prices to fit many budgets. Other seniors decide to live in the higher up elevations of Boquete, Panama. Here it is cooler and very scenic. Coffee is grown in this mountainous area. Only a half-hour down the mountains is the city of David. Here there are stores that you are familiar with in the United States.

Living is good in Panama. Panama City is another choice available for the expatriate United States retiree. There are all the modern conveniences you need in this large Panamanian city near the Panama Canal. Donald Trump is building condominiums here. There are lots of interesting attractions available. All the modern conveniences including banks, telephones, medical care, and good Internet service is available here. Another good thing is that Panama is only a 2 1/2 hour flight away from Miami. Panama welcomes retirees and offers them discounts and other benefits. Many retirees love living in Panama.

Another place that is even cheaper than Mexico and Panama is Nicaragua. You can find living here very inexpensive. There may not be as much to do there. It is a poor country that is being developed and discovered by retirees from the United States and Europe. Again, you can find out more about Nicaragua by doing some searches on the Internet. There are some books available also that go into greater detail about life in Nicaragua. It is one of the cheapest areas to live in right now.

Costa Rica is also a good country to consider for your retirement. Prices here are not as cheap as they used to be. Panama, Nicaragua and Mexico may offer better deals for the penny pinching, budget conscious, senior. Seniors and writers seem to favor Panama over Costa Rica these days.

If you go even further south to South America you will find some good places to live cheaply. Ecuador is one country where you will find the cost of living quite reasonable for American retirees. Such places as Cuenca and Quito offer good real estate prices, and cheaper food and medical costs. Ecuador is a well kept secret destination. There are some great deals available here.

The Internet has made an expatriate living much more accessible. More and more articles are written by retirees that have found agreeable living conditions outside the United States. Almost every Central and South American country has a website about it that gives prospective retirees more insight. There are also paid for travel websites that give great information.

Compared to the United States South America is more reasonable. As the economies of these countries go sour, Americans can swoop in for great real estate deals. In recent years, Argentina and Brazil have been places of interest to retirees. Some great apartments were for sale in beautiful Buenos Aires, Argentina. Brazil also offers great places to retire and invest in. Of course some Spanish and Portuguese is necessary. Also, their customs are different, and take some getting used to. Things are not like they are in New York City. You have to adapt.

This article has just touched on a few of the countries that people are retiring to. Seniors are finding that living south of the border is cheaper with a good quality of life. Medical services are good and much cheaper than in the states. Food is cheaper and fresher. Consider looking outside the US for reasonable retirement costs. There is even a booklet available that talks about retiring on $19 a day.