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The World’s Most Powerful Tool for Choosing Your Just-Right Spot Overseas

sean keenan

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Yes, there is luxury in choice—but there can be stress in it, too. Now, that may seem like a rich man’s problem, I know, but when it comes to choosing a place to retire, you don’t need to be wealthy to feel it.

Whether you’re attracted to deserted beaches or walkable cities; lakeside retreats or historic market towns; colorful fishing villages or unspoiled Caribbean islands, the list of places where you can live better for less, have fun, and feel secure in your retirement is simply vast.

And, every month, we make your choice even tougher by bringing you even more places and opportunities as our writers hit the road to find new locations to consider (yes, even in a year of restricted travel).

We know that it can be hard to know where to focus. That’s why, every January, we rank and rate the very best locations worldwide in one easy-to-view resource. We created our Annual Global Retirement Index to help you navigate those choices. It ranks the best destinations for retiring overseas today. And while statistics shape its backbone, it’s informed as much by on-the-ground intelligence brought to us by our trusted sources on-location.

The Index is designed to help you compare and contrast what we believe are your best options for retirement abroad in 2021, and make your choice easier. But don’t feel you’re alone. Every year, thousands of people just like you seek and find a vastly more rewarding life overseas. We bring you lots of their stories this month. From a California couple immersing themselves in Portuguese beach life to a pair of Texans who now make a living exploring the underwater reefs of a Caribbean island paradise, their stories are always an inspiration.

This month’s cover story—an introduction to our Annual Global Retirement Index—puts you on the path to a retirement where you have not fewer choices for how you’ll live…but many, many more.

Sure, there’s a lot of choice. But now you have the tools to sort through your options, that’s part of the adventure…

The South of France City That Moves to a Spanish Beat

The South of France City That Moves to a Spanish Beat

Overseas Editors and Correspondents
By Tuula Rampont January 2021

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Read more: The South of France City That Moves to a Spanish Beat
Two Gringos Settle in Mexico’s Artsy Mountain Town

Two Gringos Settle in Mexico’s Artsy Mountain Town

By Anne Salafia January 2021

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The Best Places in the World to Retire in 2021

The Best Places in the World to Retire in 2021

By International Living January 2021

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Profits in Paradise: Where to Watch in Costa Rica

Profits in Paradise: Where to Watch in Costa Rica

Ronan McMahon
By Ronan McMahon January 2021

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Read more: Profits in Paradise: Where to Watch in Costa Rica
The Seasonal Rhythm of a Dive Charter in Roatán

The Seasonal Rhythm of a Dive Charter in Roatán

Profiles
By Veronica Martin January 2021

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Working From My Favorite Office in the World

Working From My Favorite Office in the World

Expat Diary
By Scott Hed January 2021

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48 Hours on Asia’s Island of Waterfalls

48 Hours on Asia’s Island of Waterfalls

By Kirsten Raccuia January 2021

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Buying in IL’s Top Three Retirement Spots

Buying in IL’s Top Three Retirement Spots

By Ronan McMahon January 2021

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Friday Cervezas and Other Ways to Bond With Locals

Friday Cervezas and Other Ways to Bond With Locals

Expat Advice
By Louisa Rogers January 2021

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How to Create Your Own Costa Rica Retirement Without Leaving Your Armchair

How to Create Your Own Costa Rica Retirement Without Leaving Your Armchair

Conferences
By International Living January 2021

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Editor’s Choice From This Month’s Issue

  • The Best Places in the World to Retire in 2021
  • Profits in Paradise: Where to Watch in Costa Rica
  • “It Ticked all our Boxes”: Why Portugal Is Home Now

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Table of Contents

  • Swakopmund—The German Outpost in the African Sands
  • Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • News & Notes From Around the World
  • Images From the Road
  • Real Estate News and Notes
  • A Beach Town Where Dinner Costs Just 43 Cents
  • “It Ticked all our Boxes”: Why Portugal Is Home Now
  • Van Life: Tooling Through Latin America
  • Easy Passive Income With Stock Photography
  • Enjoying the Low Costs of Cuenca’s Excellent Healthcare
  • The South of France City That Moves to a Spanish Beat
  • Two Gringos Settle in Mexico’s Artsy Mountain Town
  • The Best Places in the World to Retire in 2021
  • Profits in Paradise: Where to Watch in Costa Rica
  • The Seasonal Rhythm of a Dive Charter in Roatán
  • Working From My Favorite Office in the World
  • 48 Hours on Asia’s Island of Waterfalls
  • Buying in IL’s Top Three Retirement Spots
  • Friday Cervezas and Other Ways to Bond With Locals
  • How to Create Your Own Costa Rica Retirement Without Leaving Your Armchair
  • Digital Edition and Bonus Content – January 2021
  • Bonus Content #1 – Free Report: Annual Global Retirement Index 2021
  • Bonus Content #2 – Interview with Kathleen Evans, IL Costa Rica Correspondent
  • Bonus Content #3 – Video: 5 Reasons Why Costa Rica is the Best Place to Retire in 2021

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