International Living Community

Hi John, Having lived in the Philippines, here are my thoughts from my experience: Urban Areas (Metro/Tier-1 Cities): Cities such as Manila, Cebu, and Davao are equipped with advanced medical technologies and specialized care options. These cities also have more healthcare professionals and private facilities, which translates to shorter wait times, but the cost of services can be high, particularly in private hospitals. Rural Areas (Provincial): In contrast, provincial and rural areas face significant disparities. Facilities in these areas are often underfunded, lack modern equipment, and face shortages of trained healthcare professionals. Access to specialized care is limited, and people may need to travel to nearby urban centers for more comprehensive treatment. Affordability in public facilities is generally better, but the quality and accessibility are challenging. And then, you have conveneient access to afforadable healthcare in the neighborhood countries like Thailand & Malaysia including Medical Tourism option. Please do let me know if you would like to know further. Happy to help. Cheers! Thanks, Pramod

Hi Jerome, I can relate having lived in the San Francisco area for 12-years. I moved in 2011. I’ve been actively exploring and visiting Portugal and other countries the last few years. I’ve been to Portugal 4 times. I’m seeking a vibrant walakable community with access to culture, great cuisine and fun people. I lived in The Algarve, Portugal for six weeks and loved it. Onto other hidden-gem places. Eager to hear from others here as well.

Also, @robertaprada, we have run a bit of coverage of Uruguay over the last year or so... and more before this... September 2024 - Need a Fast "Plan B"? These 2 Countries Stand Out https://magazine.internationalliving.com/internationalliving/library/item/september_2024/4214865/ July 2024 Ronan Q&A - Uruguay Beach House for $170,000 https://magazine.internationalliving.com/internationalliving/library/item/july_2024/4202974/ May 2024 cover story - Out of the Way, Out of the Fray, Uruguay Offers a Return to Simplicity https://magazine.internationalliving.com/internationalliving/library/item/may_2024/4189981/ December 2023 - The Best Places in the World to Buy Real Estate in 2023 (Rocha, Uruguay is featured) https://magazine.internationalliving.com/internationalliving/library/item/december_2023/4152431/

Thanks for reaching out to the IL community! Up in the highlands of Ecuador (in and around Cuenca and Cotocachi, for instance) expats report that they feel quite safe. I would recommend looking at expat Facebook groups for more up-to-date information about what’s going on.

The hydroelectric project at Lake Arenal produces between 10 to 12% of the total electricity of the country. You can read more about what I wrote here: https://internationalliving.com/is-costa-rica-the-most-eco-friendly-country-on-our-beat/ Google "hydro power and lake arenal" to find more info.

Hi there! I don't believe that IL has ever published such a list, but there are multiple resources online that may be helpful. Yale's Environmental Performance Index (EPI) ranks countries based on the quality of their drinking water. Their website can be found here: https://epi.yale.edu/epi-results/2020/component/h2o

Hi there! Sorry this went unanswered for so long—I realize you’re already in Portugal by now, but I hope this thread can help other people who are in the same boat. Regarding the transportation of household goods to Portugal: Once you have a residence visa, you can bring used household goods into Portugal duty-free. “Used” means items that have been in your possession for at least six months; mixing new items in may slow down processing in customs on arrival and incur charges. The shipment must arrive within 12 months of your visa being issued and within four months of the issuance of your shipping documents to avoid fees. If you're looking for some more detailed information on moving to Portugal, our "Escape to Portugal Guide" should have all the answers you need. IL members can find it here: https://members.internationalliving.com/escape-to-portugal-everything-you-need-to-know-to-retire-better-invest-well-and-enjoy-the-good-life-for-less/

I love the views in Grecia and the cooler temps, yet I was not a fan of the steep, winding roads. Yet the higher you go, the cooler it gests. This is pretty much the case all over the Central Valley. Highs can be in the 80s and nights can drop to the 60s-70s, depending on where you are. I stayed here in Grecia (https://www.tierranuevacostarica.com/) and absolutey LOVED the esperience. The food at the restaurant was so delicious and the owner personable and able to share a lot of info. There is also a weekly expat meet up on Wednesdays at 12 pm at Los Jardines Vivero y Café (https://www.facebook.com/losjardinesgreciacr/?locale=es_LA) -- I would just call to confirm with the restaruant in case the day/time changes. I stayed here in Atenas (https://hotelcolinasdelsol.com/). It was fine yet a plus was its central location. There is a woman's group in Atenas who has a weekly meet up (https://www.facebook.com/groups/663758784658197?locale=es_LA) and I think the husbands also have a men's meet up. I consider Atenas and Grecia more expat hubs. I never stayed in Heredia, yet I seem to always drive through it. I find Facebook groups very helpful when I need to learn more about an area. You also might want to ask questions in these groups: https://www.facebook.com/groups/128010388878472 https://www.facebook.com/groups/425764764900687 https://www.facebook.com/groups/620448778305789 https://www.facebook.com/groups/517401048358283 I suggest joining us at the CR conference in May this year. It is held in Escazu and contains a wealth of information. And then you could explore the other areas a few days before or after. I find that visiting and meeting people is the best option. Almost everyone I meet who has relocated tells me that they just knew when they visited a certain area that is would be home. Good luck and how exciting! Costa Rica is paradise for many. Come see what you think about it for yourself!

and this is his email gort.klaatu@icloud.com

Dear Roxanne, to date I do not know of "one single agent", who can help you with the whole area. But I can stear you towards two ideas that may help. First: In central Italy there is an agent who speaks English. Not on the coast but in the central part of italy, he may know someone. You should also know that the agents of one agency work against the others and do not "share" information. they also do not represesnt you as they do in the US. Essentially they represent themselves. In Rieti is a group called "Keys Partners. " One of their agents is Ricardo Diamilla and he speaks English... his email is diamilllariccardo86@gmail.com. Please use my name: Alfred Stites The other idea is to go to gate-away.com and look in the provinces you want to live in along the coast. Specify an English speaking agent. Also please know that there are many reports of prices being elevated because you are American. Therefore I would recommend an intermediary who will look out for your interests and your interests only! I can recommend M. Grazia Colombo a RE Attorney who has successfully helped many Americans buy a home. Her email is mgrazia.colombo@leexe.it. Again please use my name. Good luck and great success. I hope you get to live your dream as we are here in Reiti. Alfred "Chip" Stites, IL Correspondent.

We live in Malta that has a 'no double tax agreement' with the US. We pay no taxes on our Social Security. If you paid taxes on your money in the US, you won't be taxed in the countries with the agreement. You can do a Google search to get a list of countries that have this agreement with the US. ~Mary & Kevin

Hi lovelies, I'm Bel, the Mexico Correspondent and I can tell you I've spoken to quite a few black people living in Mexico and they all say the same thing. They feel welcome and safe. As for LGBTQ, well all I can say is welcome friends. My beautiful girls (downstairs neighbours) are getting married next year in Mexico City and we've had many conversations about being gay in Mexico. They say it's widely accepted for foreigners and most people don't care. I hope this helps you feel safer. I sincerely hope it does and if you'd like any other questions answered I'd love to have a chat. My email is - bwoodhouse@internationalliving.com Ciao for now, Bel.

Thank you for sharing your perspective on Belize. As someone who has lived here full-time for over 5 years now I thought I might share my perspective as well on the things you brought up. I'll be the first to agree that if you have a serious health issue that requires access to specialty doctors and specific, expensive medications then Belize is probably not a great option for you. However, if you're generally healthy, Belize may be a great choice for you regardless of your age. Where I live in Plancencia, there is a growing, thriving community of older, retired expats that call Belize their full-time home. Belize is not the cheapest place to live in Central America, but it is amongst the cheapest Caribbean nations to live in. Learning how to get the biggest bang for your buck makes living here cheaper for me than where I came from (Atlanta, GA). Add to that the fixed exchange rate and English being the primary language and you can see why so many are choosing to settle here in Belize. Drugs are a problem pretty much everywhere in the world. Belize is no different. From my perspective, I really only noticed that marijuana usage seemed higher here, and was more openly used. Where your personal bias falls in the marijuana debate will probably influence how you feel about its usage here in Belize. Finally, the bugs. Yes, Belize has its fair share of bugs. Being a hot, humid, tropical destination makes this no surprise. We've learned strategies for co-existing with the bugs, and what products work and don't work here. Yes, they still drive us crazy at times (especially during rainy season) but it is a small price to pay for other benefits that living in Belize provides. Shane Kenny IL Belize Correspondent