5 Countries Where Life is Good on a Social Security Check

By International Living

If you’re of retirement age and you’ve decided to retire overseas, lucky you. And smart you. Not only are you about to embark on an adventure of a lifetime, but you’ve likely made a very wise decision. Because almost anywhere you might settle will surely cost less than living in the U.S. these days.

But if you’re wondering if you can really live on a small income overseas, the answer is yes. If you are a retiree living on the average Social Security income, which is $1,369 in 2017, you can live happily and comfortably overseas.

There are many affordable locations around the world that fit the bill for expats when it comes to looking for the perfect retirement haven. In these places, you’ll enjoy a relaxed lifestyle, established expat communities, friendly, welcoming natives, good healthcare, and an ideal climate.

From Layoffs to a Laidback, Affordable Retirement in Nicaragua

Dolly Lee was a single parent raising a daughter in the U.S. and working in logistics management. For close to two decades she endured layoff after layoff…each time she built up savings, the next layoff would deplete them.

“In May 2016, I suffered another layoff and after being at home for a few weeks, I realized that I was now eligible to collect Social Security at a reduced rate,” Dolly says. Her Social Security check would not be adequate to pay her bills and the private medical insurance she’d need to purchase. “So, I started looking into the best places to retire on a budget. The only affordable options in the U.S. were in cold areas of the country with small populations. This was not for me.”

When Dolly looked overseas, she discovered the city of León in Nicaragua was for her and after some research she made it her home. Dolly says, “So far it is the best move I have ever made. My budget with housekeeper, rent, utilities, groceries, internet, cable TV, phone, and food for three animals is about $1,000 a month.

“I have a housekeeper and the amount I pay ($55 monthly) won’t break anyone’s budget. I am able to pay all of my bills, eliminate my debt, and save as well as travel as much as I want. I live in a one-bedroom, fully furnished apartment in what is considered the best neighborhood in León, with hot water and air conditioning, for $450 monthly.

“Moving to León has not only saved my life financially but enriched me so much. I am in a warm, welcoming culture surrounded by both Nicas and expats that are friendly, helpful, inviting, and caring.”

Nicaragua isn’t the only place overseas where expats are finding their Social Security dollars stretch further.

Enjoying Retirement, Not Just Surviving it, in Ecuador

Bartley D’Alfonso was living in California when he retired…he had an expensive condo mortgage to pay for, along with excessive property taxes and increasing monthly homeowners’ association fees.

“Month by month, it was becoming harder and harder to live only on my fixed Social Security benefits and retirement pension,” he says. “I was feeling trapped, with high anxiety—how was I ever going to continue to live like this? How could I survive? Something had to change, for the better, and needed to do so quickly.

“Then I remembered hearing and reading about how other North Americans faced similar dilemmas and moved overseas to other countries, where retirees could live in comfort and safety while stretching their thin finances. With a little research online and from books borrowed at the library, it became apparent that one could indeed succeed in leaving financial anxieties back home.”

After attending an International Living event, Bartley discovered the city in Ecuador that’s a firm favorite with expats…Cuenca. After visiting the city, Bartley went home, sold his condo and bought a newly built condo in Cuenca. “My three-bedroom, three-bathroom, two-story condo (at 1,500 square feet) cost $115,500,” Bartley says, “and get this—my annual property tax this year was $44…compared to $4,800 annual property taxes back home.”

As well as finding affordable real estate, Bartley also discovered that Ecuador offered abundant and cheap fresh food, a welcoming expat community, and a healthcare system that didn’t cause patients to fall into bankruptcy.

“One time, I went to a private hospital and had an MRI scan, costing $250 out of pocket,” says Bartley. “The neurologist charged me $35 for the initial exam and the follow-up appointment was free, which is normal with the doctors here.”

So does Bartley think he made the right decision to retire to Ecuador three years ago? “You bet,” he says. “I no longer feel anxious and worried when I review my finances. It is very comforting to know that I can now occupy my mind with what fun activities I will do daily, rather than how I would try to survive day-by-day if I had stayed back in the U.S.”

The Good Life on Social Security in Mexico

Mexico has long been attracting expats over the border due to its miles of pristine coastline, a vibrant and colorful culture…and the affordable cost of living. And with a favorable peso/U.S. dollar exchange rate, many expats are finding their Social Security is stretching ever farther today.

After rewarding but long careers in the U.S., Chris and Rex McCaskill (who were self-confessed workaholics) were ready to retire. They chose San Miguel de Allende, a charming town in Mexico’s Colonial Highlands, moving down permanently five years ago.

A lower cost of living was one motivation for retiring in Mexico.

“In Austin, we were paying $700 a month for heat and air conditioning. We were paying property taxes of $12,000 a year and now live comfortably with taxes of $200 a year,” says Chris. “Here in San Miguel, economics and lifestyle go hand in hand. We spend money on quality of life things, not air conditioning or taxes. We can take our money from Social Security and our quality of life is pretty darn good.”

They’ve quickly fit into the San Miguel scene and have an active social life, with friends from all sorts of backgrounds and walks of life.

“We have a huge social community here,” says Rex. “Some people have multi-million dollar homes; others are living on Social Security and in apartments for $400 a month. But we all have so much in common, like an interest in culture. We’re happy to be part of it. I thought I was going to have all kinds of time when I retired. But I don’t. We go out. We walk the dogs. We have a huge circle of friends.”

“I Live in Colombia For 60% Less Than I Did Back in the U.S.”

 

Most people hear “Colombia” and think cocaine kingpins and drug cartels. But that reputation is seriously out of date. Colombia is fast being discovered as the hottest new destination in Latin America.

Today, you will find a sophisticated country with cosmopolitan cities, stunning coastline, friendly locals…and an affordable cost of living.

According to International Living Colombia Correspondent Nancy Kiernan, if you plan on moving to Colombia, you can “count on spending at least $1,300 a month for two people if you own your property; and $2,200 per month if you’re renting an apartment.

Nancy says of her and her husband Mike’s move to the cosmopolitan city of Medellin, “The cost of living in the States was getting out of hand. Neither one of us wanted to belong to the “work-until-you-drop club.” We wanted to be able to enjoy life while we were still young and healthy enough.

“We bought our apartment with the proceeds from the sale of our home in Maine, and now live very comfortably on $2,000 per month. This low budget lets us spend discretionary money on travel. The idea of the once-a-year vacation…is a thing of the past. I live in Medellin for 60% less than I did back in Maine.”

Holly Holder-Sanchez lives in the university city of Popayan, about 350 miles south of the capital of Bogota. “I believe that where we retire should be a matter of choice, not simply surviving in whichever place destiny has planted us. Popayan is my retirement choice,” Holly says.

The city boasts remarkable colonial architecture. All of the buildings in the historic district are painted white, by law…thus earning it the nickname “the White City.”

“One of the many reasons I love living here is Popayan’s affordability,” says Holly. “I rent a large, tranquil house in a forest just outside the downtown district for $500 a month. I know that a similar house in the U.S. would cost three to four times as much.

“On average, my electric bills are about $18 a month, water is $13, and internet about $15 a month. Fresh veggies and tropical fruit are available all year long at open-air markets, at amazingly low prices. Tasty, dark green avocados are three for 75 cents. There are lots of restaurants at reasonable prices, my favorite being Carpe Diem, housed in one of Popayan’s lovely, oversized, 200-year-old homes. The lunches are a joy to the palate, and they cost about $3.”

Exotic and Affordable Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia is another region that offers great value for money and a place where your retirement dollars will stretch further than they will in the U.S. Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Cambodia are just some of the countries that have been enticing expats and retirees from around the globe, offering a low cost of living, picture-perfect white-sand beaches, friendly locals and fascinating culture.

Aileen and Bob Young have been in their Southeast Asia beachside retirement haven since 2013. Bob says, “We found a place that both of us like and that fits with our budget.” They live happily in a condo near the beach on Bob’s Social Security income of $1,992 a month.

In mid-2012, Bob was laid off from his job in Minnesota. He was nearly 66 years old and could not find another job at his age. That year, Aileen asked Bob to take a trip to Southeast Asia. They flew to Thailand and Cambodia in December to get away from miserable winter, freezing rain, and snow. Both came back from their trip at the end of January 2013 and decided to move to Hua-Hin, Thailand that October.

Hua-Hin is about two-and-a-half hours’ car journey from Bangkok. Aileen says, “The weather is just perfect: warm and never gets cold.”

The couple pay about $470 a month for their two-bedroom condo. Of their day-to-day meal costs, they spend less than $10 for their meals. “Food is fabulous and costs about 75% less than what we were paying in the States. If you want a meal in a luxury restaurant, you can get it for $20 or less,” says Bob.

Another source of savings and comfort is healthcare. “The quality of healthcare service here is better and less expensive than the States,” Bob says. “With doctors’ visits costing $15 on average, you can talk with doctors and nurses as long as you want, and get a prescription without additional fees.”

Bob’s Social Security check is more than enough for the couple to live well and enjoy life. “Life is too short so if you are not taking steps today to enjoy where you want to be someday—you won’t get there,” says Bob.

Expats have been attracted to Cambodia by the country’s exotic charms as well as by its fantastically low cost of living…and they are living comfortably on their Social Security. And though many came to the country due to its affordability, they have stayed because of the warm culture of hospitality among the local people.

San Diego-native Tom Richter lives in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh. “This country has made me feel 15 years younger, compared with living in the States,” says Tom. “I made the right decision coming here, and I know it.

“My check from Social Security comes to just over $1,000 per omonth. But in Phnom Penh that’s a sizable amount. What I like most is that there is a very local vibe that comes from people in Phnom Penh.

“Apart from being extremely friendly and happy to meet foreigners, it is just really cool to be able to go to the street corner in the morning to grab a fresh coconut and a newspaper, while shooting the breeze with some of the tuk-tuk drivers who speak good English.”

 

Original Source: http://bit.ly/2DypInz