Not TV or illegal drugs but the automobile has been the chief destroyer of American communities,” wrote urban observer Jane Jacobs. She had a point. So many U.S. cities are not terribly livable. they’re congested. They’re expensive. They’re impersonal. They are not places people think of retiring to, nor places people walk around.
So imagine this: being in a city that makes you feel healthier. A city that invites a stroll, where you breathe clean air, lounge in parks, and take your pleasure in museums and cafés. A city where you can rent an apartment right in the center for hundreds of dollars a month, not thousands.
In the right places, you can enjoy the benefits of a big city—ease of getting in and out, access to almost anything, great cultural offerings, excellent healthcare, and you’ll also have the perks we don’t necessarily associate with cosmopolitan cities in the states, like self-contained neighborhoods, lots of green space, and stretches of walkable, enjoyable cityscape.
Medellín was a revelation when I first visited. I stayed in a hilly neighborhood with streams tumbling through parks, cafés lining the streets, and I explored the rest of the city on a sleek metro connected to cable cars that swung me high above the city. This month, IL Colombia Correspondent, Nancy Kiernan, reveals the city’s five most livable neighborhoods.
Urban Malta comes complete with crusader-era buildings, seafront promenades, and views of the Mediterranean. And not only is the Maltese government offering residence to foreign property buyers who spend over a certain amount, but follow the advice of IL Correspondent Barbara Diggs and you could see a healthy rental return on your island home.
IL Correspondent, Wendy Justice, explains how she found the best of an old city alongside the promise of the new in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. “You probably won’t be here for more than a few days before being treated to some kind of festival,” she says.
No musing on livable cities would be complete without mentioning Cuenca, Ecuador. As IL Correspondent, Wendy DeChambeau, reveals, it ticks all the boxes of a livable city on a manageable scale.
—Eoin Bassett, Editorial Director
Sixteen miles off the coast of Tanzania, the exotic islands of Zanzibar were once the center of trade between Africa, India, and the Middle East. These days, the beach-fringed former sultanate is a huge draw for tourists looking to snorkel on its colorful coral reefs and savor sunset cruises on the Indian Ocean.
In Porto, a mild climate complements a history-rich heart and a sparkling café scene making this—Portugal’s second city—one of my new favorite destinations.
What makes Panama the world’s top retirement destination? Besides its fabulous capital city, beautiful mountains and beaches, tropical climate, and low cost of living? A lot of it has to do with Panama’s extraordinary retirement incentives.
In colonial towns, you have the option of buying a turnkey home, already rewired and re-plumbed, with high-speed internet, air conditioning, appliances, and other modern amenities all ready to go.
I’m convinced a couple could live in almost any country outside the U.S. on Social Security income alone. I’ve seen it many times. You might find a cozy studio apartment in a tiny village in France or in a popular expat stronghold like Cuenca, Ecuador.
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