The Best Regions in the World for Retirement 2025
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Great Job!
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Hello,
Healthcare is excellent around France and Montpellier has high-quality services and hospitals. You can expect to pay roughly $2300 a year into the French healthcare system which covers 70-100% of your expenses. Many people get top-up insurance for $80-100 a month which will take care of the rest. You can find the France healthcare information on the IL website if you'd like to get a better idea.
France is a very safe country as there's no right to bear arms, among other reasons... Montpellier is quite safe. Hope that's helpful!Tuula, IL France Correspondent
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Looking for a country that is warm and safe with safe water as well. Panama and Costa Rica maybe the choices! Is there others?
I love my Mexican Caribbean home and the water is fantastic! I'm a single lady, travel around Mexico solo and have never felt unsafe or had any issues so I'll toss Mexico's hat in the ring if you're a water baby like me. It's wonderful.
Bel - IL Mexico Correspondent. -
Do any of you have large dogs as pets? If so, how does that work for expats?
Vets? Rentals? Customs issues traveling to and from the US?
Thank youFor France, the process to bring dogs over is pretty straightforward and you can find rentals that will take you and your dogs. It's a dog... and cat.. loving culture. I've interviewed several expats who brought their dogs over, large and small. There are vets everywhere and you just need to see your vet in the US before moving to France so they can sign off the paperwork and validate the vaccinations. No quarantine period when you arrive.
Tuula, IL France Correspondent
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No question but I feel like I want to pack my bags.
Ha ha ha me too! I always listen to these as everyone is talking and think "wow your country sounds amazing!" and then I want to go visit so I'm with you!
Bel - IL Mexico Correspondent. -
jramesch said:
As others have mentioned here - thank you all for chiming in - Panama runs the Panama Canal, not China.As a non-political "autonomous" entity the Canal is not affected by changes in presidents/administrations.
Panamanian enginners, geologists and others were already working at the Canal alongside Americans long before Panama took over running the Canal.
Panama was prepared by the US to run the waterway over a 20-year transition period, as laid out in the Torrijos-Carter treaty. Panama has been running the Canal extremely successfully since Panama officially took over in 1999 (so we're talking over two decades, 25+ years)
I do understand these concerns are coming from comments the type of which are unprecedented by a US president or president-elect.
I may not be able to predict exactly what's in store but we have good reason to expect that on a macro level things won't be changing much.
Some of you may be justifiably concerned because there just isn't a lot of LatAm foreign policy info or past examples to go on. Over the past years particularly with the covid crisis as a major concern, LatAm has not received nearly as much attention from the US government and now we're seeing new focus and interest.
But I agree with the experts who say: Looks like it’s all about 1- pressuring countries like Panama to do even more to try stem the refugee tide and 2- the always popular topic of tariffs and trade. Not any real belief that any US leader could rally enough support to “invade and annex Panama” or "take back the Canal."
With Panama's stellar track record and long history of close ties with the US (and a long list of other countries) I like many others here am still feeling great about my decision to live in this incredibly peaceful country often referred to as the Switzerland of Central America.
(This moniker stems from Panama's commitment - as home of the Panama Canal - to stay neutral. Panama has no military. The country has this year once again rotated into a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for 2025 & 2026. Panama became a sovereign republic with major support from the US over 100 years ago, in 1903. Panama has used the US dollar for over 100 years. The long history of friendship and respect between the US and Panama cannot be overstated.)
Best,
IL Panama Editor Jess Ramesch -
We want to explore different countries for retirement with reasonably good weather all year around. We want to try them out during winter. What resources can be used for finding one month rentals of fully furnished apartments or houses? Is there a list of resources for the top 20 countries in the January issue?
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jramesch said:
As others have mentioned here - thank you all for chiming in - Panama runs the Panama Canal, not China.As a non-political "autonomous" entity the Canal is not affected by changes in presidents/administrations.
Panamanian enginners, geologists and others were already working at the Canal alongside Americans long before Panama took over running the Canal.
Panama was prepared by the US to run the waterway over a 20-year transition period, as laid out in the Torrijos-Carter treaty. Panama has been running the Canal extremely successfully since Panama officially took over in 1999 (so we're talking over two decades, 25+ years)
I do understand these concerns are coming from comments the type of which are unprecedented by a US president or president-elect.
I may not be able to predict exactly what's in store but we have good reason to expect that on a macro level things won't be changing much.
Some of you may be justifiably concerned because there just isn't a lot of LatAm foreign policy info or past examples to go on. Over the past years particularly with the covid crisis as a major concern, LatAm has not received nearly as much attention from the US government and now we're seeing new focus and interest.
But I agree with the experts who say: Looks like it’s all about 1- pressuring countries like Panama to do even more to try stem the refugee tide and 2- the always popular topic of tariffs and trade. Not any real belief that any US leader could rally enough support to “invade and annex Panama” or "take back the Canal."
With Panama's stellar track record and long history of close ties with the US (and a long list of other countries) I like many others here am still feeling great about my decision to live in this incredibly peaceful country often referred to as the Switzerland of Central America.
(This moniker stems from Panama's commitment - as home of the Panama Canal - to stay neutral. Panama has no military. The country has this year once again rotated into a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for 2025 & 2026. Panama became a sovereign republic with major support from the US over 100 years ago, in 1903. Panama has used the US dollar for over 100 years. The long history of friendship and respect between the US and Panama cannot be overstated.)
Best,
IL Panama Editor Jess Ramesch -
We want to explore different countries for retirement with reasonably good weather all year around. We want to try them out during winter. What resources can be used for finding one month rentals of fully furnished apartments or houses? Is there a list of resources for the top 20 countries in the January issue?
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If you had a spouse with Alzheimers and you wanted to keep that person at home with the help of aides, where would you go?
Hello,
I'm not too sure about the answer, but I would check with the American Hospital in Paris. I think they could point you in the right direction. I know many of the nursing homes in France specialize in Alzheimers, but not sure about home care. Best of luck!
Tuula, IL France Correspondent
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We want to explore different countries for retirement with reasonably good weather all year around. We want to try them out during winter. What resources can be used for finding one month rentals of fully furnished apartments or houses? Is there a list of resources for the top 20 countries in the January issue?
Hi MRANADE,
For Panama you can check internationally known sites like Airbnb, Booking, and Trip Advisor.
You can also check local site Compreoalquile.com, most of the listings will of course be in Spanish; if you're fluent then great but if not Google Translate or ChatGPT can help.
One last tip - and thank you for asking this question so I could post this,it's a good question and one we get often: IL's multi-region reports are a fantastic introduction for you to kick off your research. Generally speaking once you are far enough along that you're ready to actually book a visit it's best to research one country or region at a time there's often no one-size-fits-all answer. Different countries (and regions) may have their quirks and differences (and we love addressing these!) You can post specific questions here and IL's correspondents across the globe do their best to respond, and your fellow readers will often have valuable experiences to share as well.
Happy planning!
Best,
IL Panama Editor Jess Ramesch -
We are just starting our retirement. We plan on traveling, most often in Europe and Central America, for 1-3 months at a time. We are interested in furnished rental resources other than VRBO and AirBNB. Do you have any recommendations?
For Panama I do often check internationally known sites like Airbnb, Booking, and Trip Advisor (one of the very helpful things on Airbnb is how messages between renters and landlords are automatically translated) but according to your preference you can also check locally popular site Compreoalquile.com - most of the listings will of course be in Spanish; if you're fluent then great but if not Google Translate or ChatGPT can help.
Best,
IL Panama Editor Jess Ramesch -
How are tentals in the Algarve area if Portugal?
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THANKS SO MUCH. This was so informative. I loved seeing the smiles and kind faces of each one discussing their new homelands. This was great. Maybe you can bring monthly one or two of your writers into the newsletter as a video version of their story on where they are living currently. Putting a face with a story is always great. Thanks, Michael White
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If there is conflict in Panama as China resists giving up control of the Canal and China pushs Anti- American sentiment, should we move there?
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when you move to another country, what happens to your MediCare? Do you lose it? If so, do you get it back easily if you return to the US? What about social security? Do you still get it? I have not taken mine yet. ( I am 63.) Should one get that started before moving out of country?
Many US residents of Panama keep Medicare thinking they will fly back to the States where they can use it for anything major. In the meantime while here in Panama many use an inexpensive Panama insurance OR pay out of pocket for minor health expenses because it's so affordable even sans insurance.
(Right now some hospitals in Panama are now saying that they can bill Medicare Advantage directly which could be extremely helpful, but note that this isn't guaranteed, just a possible new perk, we'll see how well it works.)
As mentioned above WHEN to take social security is a question you do not want to deal with lightly, it's something you want to be very informed and strategic about (getting your information from a verified expert and not just friends and family much less unknowns online).
A lot of helpful information has been shared by experts in International Living Postcards, International Living magazine, and on the International Living Bookstore.
It's great that you're thinking about this now, keep it up - the more informed you are, the more you lay out in a plan, the better and more empowered you will feel. (It's a wonderful feeling!)
Best,
IL Overseas Editor Jess Ramesch -
Is the Seminar over?