10 Best Places to Retire

Most retirees look for a country with a warm climate. The 10 best places to retire in the list below have warm climates in at least some part of the country.

International Living (www.internationalliving.com) criteria for 10 best places to retire are:

Housing, Benefits, Cost of living, Culture, Health, Infrastructure, Safety, and Climate.

1. Cuenca, Ecuador
Cuenca's mountain scenery is green with year-round fruits and vegetables, cheap health care and good benefits for retirees including half-price airfares and big discounts on other expenses such as taxes, utilities and entertainment.
Great weather and the real estate is affordable.
$1415 per month for rental of a lovely 2 bedroom apartment, food, utilities, maid twice a week, plus fuel and maintenance for a car, clothing, entertainment and health care.
There is fresh air, fruits and vegetables

2. Merida, Mexico
Clean, safe, low cost of living,very low property taxes, excellent medical care, theaters, symphony, ballet,always warm from 70 to 85 degrees F. during October to April. 100 degrees F. in the summer. With a population is 800 000 Merida is a city that works. A meal $4. A 2 bedroom colonial that needs renovation $30 000, A renovated 1 bedroom $55 000. An upscale 3 bedroom with 4 baths and a pool $190 000. A full time housekeeper $100/week.

3. Coronado, Panama,
Coronado is on the beach, Pacific side. See the description #1 below for 7 Best Places to Retire.

4. Punte del Este, Uruguay,
See the description #7 below in the list for the 7 Best Places to Retire.

5. Calitri, Italy
is located in the center of southern Italy about 1 hour from Naples. 5300 population, yes, it is small. Stone walls, stone and marble stairs define this picturesque Italian village. An internet coffee shop and the remains of a 12th century castle. A 350 square foot studio sells for about 20 000 Euros, a 1 bedroom of 500 sq ft for 25 000 E., and a 2 bedroom of 850 sq ft for 30 000 E.

6. Languedoc in Southern France
See description #2 below in the list for 7 Best Places to Retire

7. Brazil

8. Argentina

9. Costa Rica, a popular retirement haven.
Grecia in the central valley of Costa Rica, 30 minutes to San Jose at an elevation of 3000 feet has a temperate climate. The temperatures range from 65 to 85 degrees F. A 3 acre plot of land with a cabin furnished with hand made furniture sells for $160 000. Sarchi is a nearby wood working town.

10. Australia

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7 Best Places to Retire

1. Panama, Los Islotes, Azuero Peninsula
Cheap, first class health care, good infrastructure, good banking system, US dollar used, stable politically, secure, growing economy, will need a car, beach.
A furnished rental home for $300/month.
Pensioners receive discounts:
50% off movies, theater, concerts, sporting events
30% off bus, boat, train.
25% off airline tickets
30% - 50% off hotels
15% - 25% off restaurant meals
25% off on telephone
25% off utility bills
health care costs for pensioners: doctor’s visit can cost $10, blood tests cost $5, and savings on prescriptions.

Total budget: $1000/month if you rent, $800/month if you own.
However, Panama is hot, humid and has mosquitoes. I guess you could live in the mountains to escape the hot humid weather.

2. Southern France, Bearn, Languedoc
Best quality of life, health care and infrastructure.
High taxation; do not become a resident or open a business.
Close to Spain, Toulouse, Biarritz and Bordeaux
Total budget: $1100/month if you own, $1500/month if you rent.

3. Penang, Malaysia
Islands and beaches, multiethnic, low cost of living
Malaysia My Second Home Program includes a visa good for 10 years.Georgetown, population if 220 000, established in 1786 is a UNESCO World Heritage City
Total budget: $1500/month including rent.

4. Cuenca, Ecuador
Spring like weather for 12 months, 50 to 70 degrees F.,12 hours of daylight 365 days a year.
Good low cost health care
Pre Inca civilization sites
Good Spanish spoken in Ecuador
Foreign retirees receive 50% off public transportation, airfares, events, utilities and a discount on property tax.
Total budget: $1200/month including a luxurious furnished apartment or home, $700/month if own a home.

5. Chaing Mai, Thailand
240 000 population, 700 years old, good weather, beaches to the south
Total budget: $1000/month if renting.

6. Granada, Nicaragua,
Old Spanish colonial city founded in 1524, large lake, volcanoes, 2 coasts,Very affordable and safe
Many exemptions for foreign retirees, no taxation on out of country earnings
Total budget: $950/month 1 or 2 bedroom rental plus maid service.

7. La Barra, Uruguay,
Seaside, cheap, safe, clean, charming, tax friendly with good infrastructure.
January and February are the main tourist months.
Total budget: $1300/month if own a home (no maid or car)
Expenses for a car are about $300/month.
A three bedroom home sells for about $100 000

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Other Best Places to Retire not in the 10 Best Places to Retire List:

Belize

Tuscany, Italy

Morelia, Mexico

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Cheapest Places to Retire

The Most Affordable Places to Live and Retire:
India: $735/month with rent
Ecuador: $1240/month with rent
Thailand: $1055/month with rent
Nicaragua: $1300/month with rent
Uruguay: $1555/month with rent
Southwestern France (North of Spain).

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