Ten locations are features that, according to the Telegraph writers, offer “a mixture of good value for money and an attractive lifestyle.”  One location is in the U.S.:  Florida.  I have to agree with the author who wrote this:

You would not wish retirement in some parts of Florida on your worst enemy, but it is an enormous state, with some classy enclaves, particularly on the Gulf of Mexico. Weather-wise, the Sunshine State is as good as its word. And, while the cost of medical care in the US is higher than in Britain, it is more than offset by the lower cost of living.

The other “winners” were southwest France, Le Marche Italy,  Australia, Thailand, Antigua, Canary Islands, Cyprus, Ecuador, and Morocco.

Note that Mexico was not on the Telegraph’s list. That’s probably because gun shy Europeans want nothing to do with a country immersed in drug gang wars.

The mention of Ecuador as a place to retire inexpensively was interesting. That’s a place I need to visit at some point.

I recommend that you read the article, including the comments here: Top places to retire overseas.

Then head over to Wallet Pop where they’ve added some commentary and info about costs to travel to these potential retirement locations.

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In his first article on Belize, Scott had this to say about the fantasy of a low-cost retirement in a foreign paradise:

If you have such fantasies— and many struggling Americans near retirement do— let me share a lesson I learned while living on Mallorca long ago. You can live a luxurious lifestyle in a poorer country for far less than the same lifestyle would cost in America. But you’ll be hard pressed to live a low-cost lifestyle in a poor country without adopting the poor living standard of the poor country.

The reason that it may not be possible to live a frugal lifestyle in a foreign country for less than in the U.S. is that we have a highly efficient and competitive system for distributing goods and services. (This assumes that you can live near a Walmart and big box home center!)  Most foreign countries lack this system. Therefore, non-luxury goods and services will cost more there than they would here.

This reality is confirmed in Burns’ second article, in which he interviewed some experienced expat early retirees. This is what they had do say about low cost retirement living in a foreign country:

A lot depends on your lifestyle. If you try to bring your (U.S.) lifestyle here, it will be very expensive,” Akaisha said. “We try to buy local products rather than imported brand products. A lot of would-be expats like the idea that it’s just like living in the states, but less expensive. It isn’t (if you try to live that way).

Living in another country, both observed, requires adaptation and flexibility. Part of that adaptation is a willingness to live in a genuinely removed area. They, for instance, prefer places like Caleta de Campo, a tiny village south of Manzanillo on the Pacific coast.

Source: Finding a Low-Cost Paradise

All of this makes sense to me. I’m more inclined to seek out a desirable lifestyle here in the states, taking advantage of our country’s built-in economic advantages. There is plenty of cultural and geographic diversity available here. If you find a location that you can afford on a middle class retirement income, it would be difficult to beat achieve that lifestyle overseas at a lower cost. On the other hand, if you are looking for a high end lifestyle with a beach house and servants, that may be more affordable elsewhere.

What’s wrong with making your own paradise, right here?

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