TRAVEL

Ready to Retire? Top Places Without Top Prices

By James Farrell

YOU'RE RETIRED, HAVE A STEADY FIXED INCOME AND YOU HAVE RESTLESS FEET. PERHAPS YOU'VE ALWAYS DREAMED OF LIVING SOMEWHERE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD, BUT WORK AND FAMILY HAVE HELD YOU BACK FROM SPREADING THOSE WINGS OF YOURS. NOW YOU ARE READY TO TAKE OFF AND MOVE TO A NEW COUNTRY. THERE ARE A PLETHORA OF CONSIDERATIONS TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT BEFORE CHOOSING A PLACE. WILL THE CLIMATE SUIT YOU? WILL YOUR INCOME IN THAT COUNTRY GIVE YOU NOT JUST A GOOD LIFE, BUT A LIFE IN WHICH YOU LIVE WELL? WHAT ABOUT HEALTHCARE IN THAT COUNTRY? IS IT SAFE? ARE THERE ENOUGH ATTRACTIONS THERE TO KEEP YOU THOROUGHLY ENTERTAINED? HERE IS A RUNDOWN OF SOME OF THE BEST PLACES IN THE WORLD TO LAY YOUR HAT WHEN YOU'RE IN THE RETIREMENT ZONE.

CHIANG MAI, THAILAND

For a long time, Chiang Mai has been featured on lists of best places to live in the world for expatriates. The city, located in Northern Thailand, is surrounded by verdant mountains covered in lush tropical forests. As a popular tourist destination, it's home to countless attractions and has been called a "food paradise" by people picky about what they put in their mouths. Climate:

Chiang Mai has a long rainy season from May until October. The hot season, from March to May, can be oppressive with temperatures sometimes climbing as high as 40°C (104°F). The cool season from November to February might see temperatures at night drop as low as 15°C (59°F). That's chilly to most Thais, but not for most Americans. General Cost of Living: $2,000 a month is enough to have an excellent standard of living in Chiang Mai. You can find websites that tell you that you can easily live on half of that, but in retirement, one wants to live comfortably. It depends on location, but rental costs according to expat-focused websites for a nice, large three-bedroom house will cost anywhere from $500 to $800 a month. Healthcare:

Thailand has an excellent healthcare system, which is one of the reasons why medical tourism is so popular there. In 2019, CEOWorld magazine ranked Thailand 6th in its Health Care Index. The Negatives:

Chiang Mai's traffic is hectic, and during the cool season the city experiences pollution from agricultural burning.

Ambergris Caye, Belize

AMBERGRIS CAYE, BELIZE

If it's a more laid back lifestyle you want with a backdrop of turquoise Caribbean waters, then the island of Ambergris Caye might be more to your liking. Life is so slow here that many expatriates choose a golf cart as their mode of transportation, while bicycles are another choice. The island can easily be navigated since it's only about 25 miles wide and one mile across. Climate:

The wet season lasts from June until December. The temperature throughout the year ranges from

Some other places that could have easily been on this list are Panama City, Panama; The Algarve, Portugal; Danang, Vietnam; Quito, Ecuador; Merida, Mexico and Costa Ballena, Costa Rica.

16°C (60°F) to 30°C (86°F), and when you consider the wind coming from the ocean it's almost the perfect temperature year-round. General Cost of Living:

Like Chiang Mai, expats who've lived on the island will differ regarding how much they say it will cost to live well. The general consensus is $2,000 a month (including rent) will provide a comfortable lifestyle. Other sources say $1,500 is enough if you live frugally and $3,000 is good if you want to gorge yourself in top-class restaurants every week. If you look at the latest rental costs, a three-bedroom house will cost you half of that $3,000. Healthcare:

There is no hospital on the island, so for medical emergencies, you would have to get to the mainland. There you'll find both private and public hospitals. Healthcare in Belize is ranked quite low by the World Health Organization, so this is a drawback. The Negatives:

Healthcare and an overabundance of tourists.

ALICANTE, SPAIN

Pristine beaches, a lively nightlife, winding alleyways flanked by graceful Spanish architecture–what more could you ask for? Alicante has around 320 days of sunshine, and it's affordable. Climate:

Spring in Alicante is mostly pleasant, although some rain can be expected. Summer from June to September is hot and sunny and winters can be quite mild with frequent rain. Year-round, the lowest daytime temperature is around 10 °C (50 °F) and the high in summer should be close to 32 °C (90 °F). The odd heatwave has seen temperatures rise to 40 °C (104 °F). General Cost of Living:

You can live well in Alicante for around $2,000 a month. Rents are cheap, with a three-bedroom place costing anywhere from $800 to $1,000 a month. Healthcare:

The good news for expats is that in 2019 Spain came in first place on Bloomberg's Healthiest Country Index. The country's healthcare system is ranked in the top ten in the world and better still, long-term residents can use it for free. The Negatives:

Life would be better if you could speak some Spanish.

PUGLIA, ITALY

Located on the heel of the boot of Italy, Puglia has some of the most astounding coastlines you'll ever see. The food is to die for and comes at a mind-boggling low cost. Steeped in history, this region of Italy has much to see. For sheer beauty and tranquility Puglia is unbeatable. Climate:

Puglia is hot and dry for much of the year, although temperatures in winter can go down to 8°C (46.4°F). November to March is when you'll see the most rainfall, but in relative terms, Puglia is still very dry. Summers can be scorching hot with temperatures going up to 40°C (104°F). General Cost of Living:

The cost of living is low when you consider that you can rent a two-bedroom apartment for around $700 per month. A very small apartment will cost just half of that. One of the best things about this region is the fact you can get an excellent meal (with wine) at a standard restaurant for less than $30. Healthcare:

Puglia has mostly public hospitals, with some private hospitals. Italy's healthcare system, like Spain's, is ranked as one of the best in the world. Also, if you have resident status, you can get that great healthcare for free. Negatives:

It depends on where you choose to live, but in some more remote areas, you might not have many expats to socialize with. That could be perfect if you want a quiet life and if you want to connect with locals, you might also want to learn Italian.

These are just some amazing places where you can spend your retirement well, lie back in the sun, and be assured for the most part that you are safe.

Alicante, Spain