Below Average Cost-of-Living (When Compared to the U.S.)

Corozal Town, Belize  

Located about 10 miles south of the Yucatan, Mexican border, modern, yet sleepy, seaside Corozal Town sits on beautiful Carribbean Corozal Bay in the very most northern section of Belize, and it is one of two relatively large towns in the area (the other is Orange Walk Town).   Unspoiled and tucked away from the hustle and bustle of modern-day life, Corozol Town beckons to retirees who have a sense of adventure, some self-reliance, a willingness to taste another culture and who do not need all of the amenities found back home. 

Tambor, Costa Rica  

Playa Tambor (population roughly 600) is located in Guanacaste on the southern coast of Costa Rica's  Nicoya Peninsula, which lies on the Pacific coast, and is set in the valley of a large, tranquil bay named the Bahia Ballena.   The dark sand beaches are soft and wide, and the warm water is the bluest blue you will probably ever see.  The Tambor Valley is surrounded by deep, lush forest, and Tambor itself has been a popular retirement spot for expatriates for some time. 

Cotacachi, Imbabura, Ecuador

Alamos, Mexico

Alamos, Mexico, located in the state of Sonora, about 400 miles south of the U.S. border (cross at Nogales, Arizona) is a small colonial city in the foothills of the Sierra Madre Occidental and was once a silver boom town.  Today Alamos is home to 6,000 people, about 3,000 of whom are expatriates (300 or so from the U.S. and Canada).

Bernal, Queretaro, Mexico

U.S. expatriate retiree Peter Shuster is back with a profile of a Mexican town named Bernal.  Located in the State of Queretaro, this quaint spot is home to a volcanic mountain that is said to possess mystical powers, giving the residents of Bernal extraordinary longevity.

Lake Chapala, Mexico

Lake Chapala, Mexico, 5,000 feet above sea level, is located roughly 30 miles south of Guadalajara (2 hours by air from Houston, Texas) and has the largest expatriate retirement population in the world, with Europeans, Canadians and more recently, those from the United States, trading in cold winters, high prices and stressful lives for affordable real estate, a year-round temperate climate and a leisurely lifestyle. 

Puerto Penasco, Mexico

Located 210 miles southwest of Tucson, Arizona, this laid-back beach community has come into prominence as a vacation spot within the last 10 to 15 years.  This is still a rustic, somewhat scattered, place, but it has plans to rival Mexico's splashiest resorts.  That won't happen for some time, so for seniors seeking a sunny, mellow Mexican sand and surf retirement close to the U.S., Penasco is worth exploring.

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico 

Nestled in the beautiful green countryside, charming San Miguel de Allende, Mexico (population 80,000) is located on the central Plateau of Mexico in the state of Guanajuato and is the birthplace of Mexican independence.  The city is 2 to3 hours north of Mexico City by car and about a 10-hour drive from the U.S. border at Brownsville, Texas.   Founded in the early 1500s, San Miguel was declared a national monument in 1926 and is a charming city of cobblestone (and regular brick) streets with Colonial-era mansions perched on a hillside above the Laja River.

Tequisquiapan, Queretaro, Mexico

Located in south-central Mexico, Tequisquiapan is a safe, clean and welcoming Colonial city that offers expatriates a viable alternative to a high-cost retirement in the United States.

Yelapa, Mexico

Magical and remote, Yelapa, Mexico, is a 45 minute boat ride from Puerto Vallarta.  This classic Bohemian seaside cove beckons to those truly seeking to get away from it all and retire in an authentic Paradise.  Palm trees sway in the breeze, and the little village of Yelapa beckons with an intoxicating south seas atmosphere. There are no cars; electricity is spotty and city stresses are non-existent.  Instead Yelapa offers sun, the sea, surrounding jungle, 150-foot waterfalls, white beaches and nights lit by candlelight and stars. The residents are friendly and include some very relaxed expatriate snowbirds from the U.S. and Canada.  

Boquete, Panama  

Numerous recent publications have written about the charms of relocating to Panama, a favorite up-and-coming foreign retirement destination, and it is easy to understand why.  This lush, tropical country is located between Central and South America and is roughly 2 1/2 hours by air from Miami.   Spanish is the official language, but English is widely spoken.  The currency is the balboa, which has the same value as the U.S. dollar (and the U.S. dollar is a common currency as well). 

Panamanian Retirement

This is an article submitted to us about retirement in Panama, a destination that offers retirees a low cost-of-living, low crime rates, amenities not found in other Central American countries and one of the planet's best retiree discount programs (10% to 50% off nearly everything, including restaurants, airfares, doctors' visits and much more).  Retirees thinking of moving abroad should consider this Central American destination.

Chiang Mai, Thailand

This peaceful ancient city is located in Northern Thailand and is home to thousands of expatriates, many of whom are North American retirees.  Exotic, mysterious and steamy, Chiang Mai is Thailand's second largest city but not nearly as polished as Bangkok, the capital.  This is an unpretentious place with friendly people and expats come to enjoy great food, very inexpensive living costs, beautiful scenery and a calmness not found in Western countries.

Thailand

Thailand, exotic, bustling and romantic, is gaining ground as a retirement destination for Western expatriates.   Now classified as a "developing nation," this beautiful country has a stable economy, has mostly recovered from the 2004 tsunami and is working to attract more foreign retirees.  Why retire in Thailand?   Depending on one's lifestyle and other factors, the cost-of-living can be significantly less than in the United States. 

Meets the U.S. National Average (When Compared to the U.S.)

Gozo, Malta

This week a return to Gozo, Malta, an island oasis with a democratic government, green pastures, open spaces, sea views from any hilltop, windmills and ancient temples.  It is only a few miles from the big, noisy island of Malta, but it is miles away in its charm and beauty.  The majority of the population speaks English; the health care is top-notch and the Mediterranean lifestyle is hypnotic.  And although prices are climbing, Gozo is less expensive than many other parts of Europe.