You have worked hard and now you want to relax and enjoy yourself and enjoy your "golden years" in comfort and not worry about money.
With inflation high, state support low and everyone living longer, many people are considering retiring abroad to make there money go further.
Should you consider it?
The answer is yes, but you need to be careful of the location you choose.
There are many locations you can choose but the problem is that many people find retiring abroad is either paradise on earth, or they are hit by a culture shock.
So what do you need to consider to find a location that suits you when retiring overseas? Let's find out.
The three most important questions you need to ask yourself
How far away from your loved ones and country of origin do you want to be? Many people retire thousands of miles away and feel isolated.
If you want to retire abroad you may want to consider being close to home.
2. What about the living conditions?
Sure you may have a nice house, but if you are surrounded by street children, high crime, poverty and the atmosphere is depressing, you won't have a good time.
3. How big is the expat community
People who retire abroad normally want to have people around them they can socialize with.
See if its an area where there is a community from your country of origin, unless you are comfortable integrating into the existing native community.
4. Infrastructure
What is the infrastructure like? Do you have shops and facilities that are of a high standard ( these will normally be available in countries with large foreign communities.
If you want entertainment and good infrastructure go with a country that offers these.
What is a good country to retire to?
Well there are many but one of the most popular with Americans and other foreigners is Costa Rica.
The country is just a 3 hour direct flight from the US and is a beautiful, stable and safe democracy.
With ocean view property at up to 70% less than on the US coast and a great standard of living available at around $2,500 a month, it's very popular.
Furthermore, because it is an established destination the infrastructure shops and entertainment are of a very high standard compared to its neighbors such as Nicaragua and Belize.
With a large community of foreigners and friendly locals it's an easy place to integrate and feel at home.
Costa Rica is and will remain one of the top retirement destinations for the above reasons.
You have an affordable slice of paradise that's not to far away from home with all the comforts you need at a price you can afford.
If you are considering retiring abroad consider Costa Rica and you may be glad you did.
