We are considering moving out of the US to experience another part of the world. We have thought of Mexico, Costa Rico, Belize, Panama each one has plusses and minuses. When reading the blogs it seems a lot of posters are real estate people trying to make a buck.Do any on this forum have some first or second hand experience to share?Thanks Jesseannie

I spent a lot of time in Italy/southern Switzerland and met a man there who said he let his wife pick the country, she picked switzerland, and he could pick the city, and he picked Lugano. out of all the possibilities in the world, sounded good to me.why are you limiting your choices to the americas?bumpy

My wife was a "missionary kid" who was born in Argentina, grew up in Costa Rica, and spent ten years in Spain and another six back in Costa Rica as an adult. In other words, she knows and understands Latin America very well. In her opinion, Costa Rica has become too commercialized and has priced itself out of the running for expats as long-term residents. Her current favorite (and we'd be living there now if she could talk me into giving up my retired military benefits) is Cuenca, Ecuador. It's beautiful, affordable, Ecuador has great health services - and even a health care plan expats can buy into for dirt cheap. Many folks have found they can live there very comfortably on just their Social Security. Here's a link to the main expat web site/newsletter in Cuenca:Cuenca High LifeRob

These experiences are not recent:Our oldest son lived in Panama for several years and liked it - no problems.We've been to Mexico many times, and were happy with our visits, but wouldn't consider it now due to the news we read about crime. We have friends who own a house in San Miguel de Allende. They used to go down for several months every year and rent it out the rest of the time. Now they only rent it out and do not go down.We've also visited most of Costa Rica, and found it to be very pleasant and friendly to Americanos, but we didn't live there.You might consider making a short list and visiting the contenders for a month or so at a time before making a decision. You need to look at the whole situation including taxation and medical care.When we were in Costa Rica and considering moving there, we could have shipped cars and furniture etc. duty free when relocating, but I've heard that now they tax all your "imports" which is a problem. A good factor then was low cost good quality medical care, but I don't know if that's changed.best of luck!

Slightly off topic:We loved living in Western Europe before the EC disaster, but I wouldn't go back the way things are now. As mentioned, Switzerland is fantastic, and is not in the EC, but IIRC it was rather expensive.We think the British Isles are great, and the language is not so hard to learn, but it's not a cheap area either.

I have visited a couple of CA countries in the last 15 years, only for a week or two each year. never "lived" there so my opinion may be a little shortsighted.Nicaragua - pretty, coastal areas are nice and cater to tourist. Populated areas usually crowded and expensive. Locals seemed a little stand-offish to me but just my personal experience. Only spent a week there and from what I understand, most ex-pats can not buy land, they must rent on long term from the Government, not real sure on that.Honduras - went there about eight years straight and love the country and the people are some of the best in the world, made many friends while there. I always went into the interior of the country, never visited the coastal areas at all. They welcome outsiders gladly and if I had really concentrated on learning Spanish, this would be my first choice.Belize - I have been travelling there for the last nine years. One of the best things about Belize, they mostly speak English, the official language of the country. Very diverse mix of people and cultures. Belize depends mostly on the tourist trade for its economy. Being so small, you can be on the coast in the morning and the mountains on the Guatemala border that night. Cost of living depends on your taste. I have never been out to the Islands or "Cays", hope to visit this year in July, but they welcome ex-pats with open arms. As with all CA countries, fuel or gasoline prices are high and so is electric service. Not much help really I know, but just a general overview of my personal experiences, if you are comfortable with the Spanish language, you would get along better than I do, too old to learn a new way to talk......

Best Ex-Pat area for full time residency | Good Sam Community

Popsie
Explorer
Jan 23, 2017
These experiences are not recent:

Our oldest son lived in Panama for several years and liked it - no problems.

We've been to Mexico many times, and were happy with our visits, but wouldn't consider it now due to the news we read about crime. We have friends who own a house in San Miguel de Allende. They used to go down for several months every year and rent it out the rest of the time. Now they only rent it out and do not go down.

We've also visited most of Costa Rica, and found it to be very pleasant and friendly to Americanos, but we didn't live there.

You might consider making a short list and visiting the contenders for a month or so at a time before making a decision. You need to look at the whole situation including taxation and medical care.

When we were in Costa Rica and considering moving there, we could have shipped cars and furniture etc. duty free when relocating, but I've heard that now they tax all your "imports" which is a problem. A good factor then was low cost good quality medical care, but I don't know if that's changed.

best of luck!
Second_Chance
Explorer II
Jan 23, 2017
My wife was a "missionary kid" who was born in Argentina, grew up in Costa Rica, and spent ten years in Spain and another six back in Costa Rica as an adult. In other words, she knows and understands Latin America very well. In her opinion, Costa Rica has become too commercialized and has priced itself out of the running for expats as long-term residents. Her current favorite (and we'd be living there now if she could talk me into giving up my retired military benefits) is Cuenca, Ecuador. It's beautiful, affordable, Ecuador has great health services - and even a health care plan expats can buy into for dirt cheap. Many folks have found they can live there very comfortably on just their Social Security. Here's a link to the main expat web site/newsletter in Cuenca:

Cuenca High Life

Rob
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Jan 23, 2017
I spent a lot of time in Italy/southern Switzerland and met a man there who said he let his wife pick the country, she picked switzerland, and he could pick the city, and he picked Lugano. out of all the possibilities in the world, sounded good to me.
why are you limiting your choices to the americas?
bumpy

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