Retire to Central America for twice the lifestyle at half the price

Are you feeling adventurous?  Are you tempted to broaden your perspective beyond US borders?  Then read on.  A growing number of North Americans are reinventing themselves overseas.  They’re leaving their current world and embracing a new one.  Here’s what they’re finding in their new life aboard.

1) The cost of living across Central America is well below what most people are used to at home.  Nicaragua is the cheapest destination according to PPP data from the IMF, but Belize, Costa Rica and Panama all offer a luxurious lifestyle (with a full time maid if you wish) for far less than it would cost in the US.

2) You get to choose you climate zone.  Some retirees love the coast and their dream is to find an beach-side home to call their own.  Others retreat to the hills for cooler temperatures, and seek out Boquete real estate in Panama, the Central Valley of Costa Rica or the highlands of Matagalpa in Nicaragua.

3) No longer do you have to bump along bad roads to remote areas miles away from shopping and entertainment.  Now you’ll find real estate in central locations with vibrant expatriate communities and all the services you need.  Top picks for us would be real estate in San Jan del Sur, Nicaragua or, for a touch of the Caribbean, Ambergris Caye real estate in Belize.

4) A new culture awaits.  When you move abroad you’ll be entering a new culture and a new community.  Everywhere in Central America, except Belize, Spanish is the main language.  You’ll find things more laid back and, yes, slower.

5) A wide range of benefits and incentives are available for retirees who qualify for special retiree programs.  Central America is keen to attract retirees so some of the benefits are very tempting and result in large savings.  The details are different country by country but most offer household import tax and property tax exemptions.

Overseas living may not be for everyone.  You may miss some of the conveniences or feel frustrated by the slower bureaucracy.  So if you’re at all tempted, a great idea is to rent first and test the lifestyle before you take the plunge.

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