“Choices are the hinges of destiny,” said the poet Edwin Markham. Never a truer word when it comes to deciding where you should retire, and IL’s Annual Global Retirement Index is our way of helping you oil those hinges. Wherever you choose, you’ll benefit from lower costs of living, less stress, and a better all-round quality of life. But we understand that the more idyllic retirement havens we uncover overseas, the tougher it is to make a choice about which one is right for you.
That’s why, every January, we rank and rate the very best. Each year we refine our method and filter ever-more data and expat feedback. That last one—the views of our contacts and contributors on the ground—is the vital ingredient.
Of course, you don’t have to pick just one place. Retiring overseas is not an all or nothing thing. You could pick your favorite beach retreat, colonial town, or mountain escape, and then leverage the lower cost of living there to fund all sorts of fun travels. Spend a few months in Europe or explore Peru…
Tricia A. Mitchell explains how she and her husband Shawn enjoyed Tuscan-style living for just $1,300 a month in a hidden corner of the Adriatic. “You can spend your morning exploring islands or relaxing on the beach, and your evening dining on wild asparagus risotto in a hilltop town,” writes Tricia.
When Michael Sump and his wife, Suzanne retired they wanted to tackle new goals and new activities, and avoid flabby waistlines and flabbier minds. “We decided to explore South America and for the last four years we have been Spanish students on the move,” writes Michael. “Going back to school in your 50s and 60s is an enlivening experience and now we have friends all over the world.”
Or you could join the thousands of savvy retirees who have the best of both worlds as snowbirders, escaping cruel winters for part-time living in some of the world’s most beautiful destinations. You’ll hear from travelers who have found lower costs, better weather and lots to do in tropical locales from Mexico to Malaysia.
Eoin Bassett, International Executive Editor
When my wife, Suzanne, and I retired, we loved the free time, but we found filling it with something meaningful a bit tricky. We wanted to tackle new goals and new activities and avoid flabby waistlines and flabbier minds. We were determined to make the most of our time.
Where should I retire?" This is the question we hear most often at International Living, and every January we give you our most definitive answer in the form of our Annual Global Retirement Index.
History-filled colonial cities...peaceful mountain villages...lazy coastal towns...cloud forest, nature-filled hot spots... For those looking for a sense of variety in their ultimate destination, Ecuador has it all.
In today's fast-paced world, some 7.6 billion of us scurry about, trying to make a living and get ahead...looking for technologies and discoveries that may improve our lives…make the world a better place…and make us some money.
For a limited period, you can now get yourself a second passport more cheaply than you’d ever imagined. What’s more, your additional citizenship can be to one of a number of heavenly Caribbean island nations.
I feel so spoiled and fortunate to live here,” says Tracey Krause of her life in Cotacachi, Ecuador. “There’s a real gentleness of life; it’s just beautiful in the mountains, and I love the weather.”
As I wake up, I hear the rushing of the Pacuare River outside my door, birdsong mingled in. I lie in bed still not quite believing that this is where I’ll call my office for the day. I’m a tour guide and my profession takes me all over Central America.
As one of the oldest cities in Poland—and one of the few to escape World War II intact—Kraków is a highlight of any trip to Europe. Bonus points for the low costs and the ease of exploration. Stroll through the crumbling grandeur of Kazimierz, the old Jewish quarter...
Easy-going coastal havens. Sleepy mountain retreats. Buzzing historical cities. The retirement you always dreamed of is within your reach, even if it sometimes seems to be slipping from your grasp. Every year, readers of International Living make the decision to relocate to locations where their dollar...
The ancient Polynesians traveled among thousands of tiny islands and atolls across the Pacific in double-hulled sailing canoes. Using celestial navigation, an intimate knowledge of tides and currents, and following the flight patterns of birds, their reach stretched to Rapa Nui (Easter Island), according to some experts.