You don’t have to be a natural-born skeptic to query some of the living costs we reveal monthly in your magazine. I routinely question them myself. Because it’s our job to get the numbers right.

And they are. It’s a simple fact. A lower cost of living is a reality in many places overseas. I’m not talking about sacrificing comfort or convenience. In fact you’re often trading up. And in truly desirable places, too.

Take this month’s feature story where our correspondents in Europe reveal the best low-cost havens in the old World.

Right now in Europe you can rent from under $600 a month, eat a three-course meal for $10, and live on less than $2,000.

Los Santos is the heartland of Panama’s Spanish heritage. It’s here, in the town of Las Tablas, that expats Armand and Joyclyn Brodeur rent for just $200 a month.

It’s not just the necessities of life that cost less overseas. In one colonial town in Ecuador expat Greg Gedeon reports a cost of just $44 a month for 12 private one-hour music lessons.

While healthcare in the states is so expensive folks get sick just thinking about the bills, in places like Chiang Mai, Thailand, you’ll pay just $20 for a visit to a highly trained specialist in a private hospital. IL’s correspondent there, Steve LePoidevin, shares his experiences.

And we call your attention to the delights of a Caribbean island with a French twist where rentals start from $500 a month, a three-day boat trip  is $158, and a kilo of ripe mangos just $5.

A better and more affordable life is yours to embrace…simply see the articles below to find out where.

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Read more about these destinations in the articles below.