Profiles Archives

A Peaceful and Inexpensive Mountain Setting: Welcome to Boquete

A Peaceful and Inexpensive Mountain Setting: Welcome to Boquete

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July 25, 2016

"The future of the U.S. was looking bad,” says Nancy Young of the decisions that led her and her family to find a new life in the highlands of western Panama. “My husband was going to retire on beans, with no benefits…not enough for us to live on. Every winter in Missouri I dreaded getting our electric bill, and in the summer there were a few days you could open your windows to let the air in and not have to use air conditioning, but the air was so dirty that everyone had allergies. We had to make a move.”

“Our Monthly Costs in Granada are Less Than Our Mortgage was in Texas”

“Our Monthly Costs in Granada are Less Than Our Mortgage was in Texas”

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July 25, 2016

"As the sun peeked over the horizon, I heard the bells of the cathedral ring out, welcoming in the day,” says Pat Buff of the moment she fell in love with Granada, Nicaragua. “I went out onto the hotel balcony to enjoy my cup of coffee and watched as the city came to life. It was in that magical moment that I realized this is where I wanted to live.”

A “Sweet Deal” in Sunny, English-Speaking Malta

A “Sweet Deal” in Sunny, English-Speaking Malta

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June 21, 2016

Patrick Dobbins has found the perfect European retirement, full of art, culture, and excellent weather. He enjoys lush, green winters that feel like fall and hot, sunny summers. His apartment, which has two balconies, costs him just $600 a month, and from here he can indulge his passion for watercolor painting and go on adventures across the Mediterranean. This is the charmed life he now enjoys on the English-speaking island nation of Malta.

Cultured Living for Less in Ecuador’s Capital

Cultured Living for Less in Ecuador’s Capital

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June 21, 2016

"Within four blocks of where we live on a quiet, hillside neighborhood of condo-lined streets, there are at least a dozen of the best restaurants in the city,” says expat Wayne Bustle, 73. “There’s Asian right down the street, there’s seafood, there’s a great pasta restaurant, a hamburger place up on the hill, sushi places…the restaurants are so varied that it is hard to describe them all. This past month we found a new one in the Mariscal district we didn’t know was there. It was like a gentlemen’s club in England—the food was outstanding.”

Affordable Living in Da Nang, Vietnam

Affordable Living in Da Nang, Vietnam

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June 21, 2016

“My favorite activity during the warm months is going to the beach in the late afternoon,” says Mel Potter of his new home in the city of Da Nang, Vietnam. “If you want to get away from the rat race and be near the beach, with a decent nightlife, this is the place for you. You can have the lifestyle you want here, even live like a millionaire if you want.” And with monthly living expenses of $600 or less, it’s easy to see Mel’s point. Mel, a retired correctional officer, first came to Vietnam as a soldier in 1967.

The Perfect Family Life in San Juan Del Sur

The Perfect Family Life in San Juan Del Sur

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June 21, 2016

Since arriving in the beach town of San Juan del Sur this year, Marisa Francis has come to appreciate life’s simple pleasures. She loves riding bikes with her kids to the pulpería (convenience store) down the street to buy candy. “I have such fond memories of my sister and me doing the same thing when we were kids and visiting our grandparents,” she says. “I love that Nicaragua feels like the ‘old days.’” Nicaragua opened up a whole new world for Paul, Marisa, their two kids Owen, 11, and Abigail, 8, and their three dogs…not least in slashing their cost of living.

Live Like a King in Sucre, Bolivia

Live Like a King in Sucre, Bolivia

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June 21, 2016

“If you’re making $1,000 a month, even as little as $8,000 a year, you can live like a king—more than comfortably,” says Stephen Nagy of the low-cost retirement he’s found in Sucre, Bolivia. “I mean renting a nice place, shopping at the supermarkets for the foods you are used to, and enjoying eating out and entertainment. A single person who is more frugal can live on as little as $500 a month pretty easily. The beauty of this city and the warmth of the people only amplify the value.”