Dear Reader,
 

Are you prepared for your retirement? Do you feel you are well on the way to creating a comfortable life for yourself in your retirement years? But have you given any thought to what the current economic climate is doing to your retirement nest egg—if so, you are likely to be concerned...
 

Unfortunately, retirement for many is just a dream, due to the increasing cost of living in the U.S. It is sickening to think, that after years of working hard to make ends meet and putting aside money for your dream retirement, that you may be forced to give up that dream. All because you will struggle to afford health care and living costs.
 

And this doom and gloom does not only apply to those thinking of retiring in the near future. Today’s U.S. baby boomers are approaching retirement at a time when the U.S. economy is sluggish, the bear market has pummeled their investment portfolios, and retirement pensions are no longer a sure thing.
 

They will likely face greater financial pressures in retirement than their parents did. And in greater numbers than ever, they will seek out alternatives to merely scraping by in the U.S.
 

But every day, a savvy few join the ranks of retirees living like royalty—but on tiny budgets. These people left the U.S. behind and got more for their retirement dollar in greener pastures.
 

But moving to a country that you know very little about is a lot of hassle, right? It’s probably not worth the time and effort to leave home, you think. Besides, all your family and friends are here.
 

Take it from us: it’s worth it. If you look beyond your own shores you’ll find that many countries around the world offer far greater benefits and advantages for retirees than those offered at home.
 

The quiet turquoise waters of the Caribbean...a flower-filled courtyard where lavender bougainvillea tumbles over stucco walls...a mountain retreat where the air is crisp and the view is of snow-capped peaks...an elegant pied-à-terrewhere geraniums fill your window boxes with color...
 

Whatever setting you imagine for your dream retirement, here’s a guarantee: In the world’s best havens, the dream can be yours––and for less than you can possibly imagine.
 

Indeed, your quality of life in your new home will exceed all of your dreams, and the cost of living will be much lower...allowing you to do more passion-pursuing and less penny-pinching.
 

In this report we introduce you to our top ten perfect retirement havens in today’s uncertain, ever shifting economic landscape. Each of these countries is ripe with opportunity. These are the places that can offer you a lower cost of living, with a huge improvement in your quality of life.
 

In the following pages, your horizons will be broadened as we tell you about some of the benefits and perks of an overseas retirement in places you probably never considered as retirement possibilities.

Yours sincerely,


Jackie Flynn
Publisher, International Living
 

 

 If you’re ready for la pura vida (the pure life) you might want to consider a Costa Rican retirement. Tucked between Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the south, the Pacific Ocean to the west, and the Caribbean Sea to the east, Costa Rica may truly have it all: a year-round tropical climate, modern cities, Caribbean beaches, Pacific coastline, rainforests, lush valleys, and mountains.

 

 

Recent increases in the number of foreigners choosing Costa Rica as a retirement destination have taken the country’s immigration staff by surprise. The result is that residency laws in Costa Rica are changeable and adjustable, and people applying for rentista or pensioner status can sometimes experience delays. As we go to press, rumors are circulating that the income requirements for these pensioner programs may increase. Getting the help of an in-country attorney will help things go smoothly.

The land itself is mostly coastline—beaches galore and great surfing. The weather is simply made for leisure. The climate here is both tropical and subtropical; the dry season is December to April; the rainy season is May to November. As you would expect, it’s cooler in the highlands.
 

Costa Rica is a nature-lover’s dream. The country has a progressive approach to conservation, which ensures that its jungles, with their renowned biodiversity, continue to be home to a truly mind-boggling assortment of species, from birds to butterflies, monkeys to wild cats, and hothouse flowers. Sea turtles nest along both coasts.
 

Costa Rica is not the place for bargain-basement living. It is the most expensive country in Central America; but in Costa Rica, although you will still enjoy a high standard of living for costs far below those in the U.S., Canada, or Europe. Exactly how much your cost of living will be will, of course, depend on your lifestyle.
 

You won’t need to give up anything if you retire to Costa Rica...except cold winters. You’ll find a wide variety of inexpensive housing in Costa Rica, and a wealth of every imaginable activity to keep you busy and happy. There are two excellent English-language newspapers as well as cable and DirecTV with all of the U.S. channels.

Labor costs are low, so you may be able to employ household help that will enable you to vastly improve your quality of life. And consider this: If you move to Costa Rica, you can live very comfortably on $1,000 to $2,000 per month, depending on your lifestyle. A full-time maid costs around $10 per day.
 

Costs for utilities, like telephone, electricity, and water, are much lower than in the U.S., Canada, or Europe. Public transportation is excellent and very inexpensive, so you don’t really need a car.
 

If you’re willing to spend that little bit extra, you will have a lifestyle that would never have been possible for the same money back in the U.S.
 

Because the country has no army to support, it is able to provide money for medical care and free and subsidized educational programs. Costa Rica has universal health care, one of the best health systems in Latin America. As always with nationalized health care, expect red tape and long waits, but the quality of Costa Rica’s health care is excellent.
 

Private health care is also available, is very affordable, and of very high quality. 
Many doctors speak English and have received training in Europe, Canada, or the U.S. There are three large, private hospitals that most expatriates use: CIMA hospital in Escazú, Clinica Biblica in San José, and Clinica Católica in San José-Guadalupe.
 

Costa Rica is considered to have one of the best low-cost medical care systems in the world. Dental care and cosmetic surgery are provided at a much lower cost than in the U.S.—prompting a phenomenon known as health tourism. Furthermore, Costa Rica’s plastic surgeons are considered among the world’s best.
 

Puntarenas is the province that encompasses the Central and South Pacific Coasts, and it is more developed than other coastal areas in Costa Rica. It has some terrific restaurants, popular surfing beaches, moderately priced hotels, and a wide range of real estate that’s usually less expensive than comparable property to the north.
 

A few Central Pacific towns—Playa del Jacó, for example—have become so popular that they remind some people of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The comparison is a bit unjust, although you’ll often hear singing in the streets on weekends. And even Jacó isn’t far from smaller towns where you can enjoy the charm and serenity of a tropical coast.
 

Further south is Dominical, a gorgeous port city with blue-green water on one side and lush tropical hills on the other. Surfers have long been enthusiastic about Dominical because of its consistently good waves. Nature-lovers also appreciate the former fishing village because the area is home to hundreds of exotic animals, including parrots, sloths, toucans, iguanas, monkeys, and wild cats.
 

The South Pacific Coast stretches from Dominical to the Panama border, an area with beautiful beaches, some of the world’s best fishing, and vast national parks with exotic wildlife. Even better, it hasn’t been spoiled by tourists.

Development of the South Pacific Coast has been held back for one main reason—accessibility. New construction on Costa Rica’s southern highway, known as the Costanera, along the Pacific Coast was recently completed, cutting the driving time along the coast.
 

If you prefer the serenity of a lakeside community to living on the coast or enjoying the conveniences of the Central Valley, then consider Costa Rica’s Arenal area. For many decades the region’s natural beauty has attracted tourists. And it’s not just the site of the Arenal Volcano—you also have the ravishing Lake Arenal and the charming villages of Nuevo Arenal and Tilarán.
 

Today the area—particularly around Nuevo Arenal—is also attracting upscale property shoppers. During the day, residents often enjoy fishing in the lake, horseback riding, or hiking in the forest amid rare plants and exotic animals. Although relatively small, the town has some great restaurants, nightclubs, and cafés as well as a health clinic, hotels, and banks