By Lee Harrison, Contributing Editor, International Living Magazine
Where in the world is it easiest to retire or relocate? It depends.
It depends on what’s most important to you. Maybe you’re most concerned about being close to the United States. Or you quake at the thought of dealing with web-like bureaucracy. Or you’re worried about how quickly you’ll find a community of like-minded friends.
Regardless of your preferences, it must be said: Some places really are easier to move to than others.
They tend to be places with an established expat population. Places where you can find other folks who speak English. Places where you can get the “things” that make life comfortable – like reliable phone and internet service, good health care, a variety of restaurants, and leisure activities like a symphony, or a lecture series, golf courses, or arts events.
We asked International Living’s roving editors to share their picks for the destinations where you can make the transition overseas easily. Here are their favorites – a selection with something for every taste.
Panama City: Modern, Convenient Living
For expats of all ages, living in Panama City is easy.
It’s easy to buy property, qualify for residency, and do business. The government and the people are accustomed to foreigners and welcome them. There are special discounts for retirees, zero income taxes on offshore earnings, protections against probate, and property tax exemptions.
The ease of living filters down into everyday life. The sparkling Panama Bay, ringed with towers of glass and chrome, evokes images of Miami and Hong Kong. And the comparison doesn’t end there, as the cultural offerings are many and the nightlife is hip.
In Panama City you’ll find great restaurants, active expat groups, and a level of convenience and familiarity unmatched elsewhere in the region. Even the excellent health care is unrivaled. The most technologically advanced hospital in Latin America is located right in Panama.
There’s simply no city that out-values Panama City… the perfect place for thoroughly modern living.
To get a glimpse of what we’re talking about, The Sovereign Society is holding its 10th Annual Total Wealth Symposium down in Panama this April 27-30. You can experience all this city has to offer first-hand. Plus, you’ll get to rub elbows with a team of global expats, investors and businesspeople who have decades of experience spending time and making money in this hub of the Americas. And for a limited time, enjoy free registration.
European Lifestyle at Latin America’s Lower Prices
Europeans have long been in the know… but now North Americans, too, are discovering a handful of places where they can enjoy a slice of European life at Latin America’s low prices.
Here are three cities where you can do just that. They’re cities with a cosmopolitan flair, and with the satisfaction of four seasons, but without the ice or snow.
- Santiago, Chile, is the first of the First-World cities in the region. It’s clean, efficient, and well kept. Plus, its impeccably maintained colonial buildings, modern department stores, fine restaurants, and rapid-transit system will place you unquestionably outside the Spanish colonial Third World. Whether you prefer the manicured, tree-lined streets of Las Condes or the sidewalk cafés of the bohemian Bella Vista, Santiago boasts the region’s best infrastructure and highest standard of living.
- Montevideo, Uruguay, is a world capital that manages to retain a small-town feel. From the antique shops, art galleries, and bookstores in the historical center to the luxury condos and beaches of Pocitos, Montevideo boasts fine dining, theater, music, and tango, all with a European feel. Inexpensive living combined with an old-world romance draw plenty of retirees, who enjoy a laid-back ambiance that’s unlike anything else in the Americas.
- Buenos Aires, Argentina, enjoys the well-deserved reputation of being the “Paris of South America.” Its 48 neighborhoods and 3 million people are at the center of Argentina’s cultural life. But their influence stretches much farther afield. Buenos Aires—along with Madrid and Mexico City—dominates the intellectual and artistic life throughout the Spanish-speaking world. From the sultry tango clubs of Palermo Viejo to the cheerful and bustling flea market at San Telmo, Buenos Aires will enchant you at first sight.
Are You Ready to Retire Overseas?
High income taxes, expanding government regulations… Americans are becoming increasingly frustrated with the situation here in the United States.
And a growing number of them are escaping these threats by packing up and moving abroad. In fact, according to Zogby Research, a massive and silent migration is underway. Families are packing their bags… and deciding to go offshore at the rate of 54-per-minute.
Whether you’re seeking a full-time residence… or a part-time tropical vacation home where you can live like royalty for $20,000 a year, there’s something you must know:
If you’re among the savvy few who are ready to book a first-class ticket to financial freedom, you shouldn’t go it alone. It’s all too easy to make dozens of unnecessary small mistakes that end up needlessly costing you time and money.
That’s why Bob Bauman, legal counsel for the Sovereign Society, has created a “nerve center” for individuals looking for freedom from disaster back home.
It’s a place where you can pluck from the most effective and timeless wealth-building strategies, plus the most relevant, up-to-date knowledge on how to make the move overseas.
To learn more about putting an end to money worries, providing abundance for your family and detaching your fate from that of the U.S. government, watch Bob’s personal memo .
Lee Harrison
Contributing Editor, International Living Magazine