If you’re dreaming of a new life abroad in retirement how on earth do you settle on which country to move to? Maybe you’ve holidayed every year in Spain and so to you this is the logical choice for your retirement destination. But have you ever thought that there are a number of similar locations that are cheaper, have a healthier economy and which could perhaps offer you even more from your retirement?
Maybe you’re in the position where the world is really your oyster because you’ve made no set plans about where you would like to retire to. In which case, it’s all about answering what may be the most important question you ever ask, namely: ‘what is the best country to retire abroad to live in?’
We’d love to be able to give you a single definitive answer and back it up with a million facts and statistics – but the truth of the matter is, the choice is absolutely a subjective one. So all we can do is help you determine which is the best country for YOU to retire abroad to live in. Read on to be guided towards the right individual choice for you personally…
To determine which nation you should be living abroad in in retirement, you have to accept that a certain amount of research is going to be required on your part. To undertake the research you first have to know what you want and what you don’t want from your new nation abroad. These are the starting points from which you can make a successful country choice. It is these starting points that form the basis of this report. If you follow our guide to determining what it is that you as an individual want from your new nation, you will be armed with a very useful list by the end of the day that will allow you to go out and research to find your perfect paradise overseas.
Making Your ‘Perfect Paradise’ List for Your New Nation Abroad Search
The most important and major headings under which you need to begin to make notes about your new nation are as follows: -
Climate - do you want nice sunny weather, are you allergic to humidity, could you cope with only 2 seasons, did you know that Mediterranean nations are cold in winter; what do you want from your new nation in terms of typical weather patterns? If you hate the thought of a hurricane but love the thought of perpetual sunshine, this will guide your country choice. Similarly, if you don’t mind a bit of snow and multiple seasons, perhaps this opens up your choice of countries further.
Accessibility - do you want or need to be able to get back to the UK easily, quickly and cheaply? If you have ailing relatives or young grandchildren in the UK for example, you may want to be able to get back to see them often or easily – in which case, perhaps that crosses Australia off your list? Also worth considering is in-country accessibility to critical infrastructure such as major road links or an airport, as well as accessibility to essential medical facilities for example.
Cost of Living - You will perhaps be living on a fixed income in retirement so it is essential to consider how far your money will stretch in a given country. Some nations are far cheaper than the UK, others are much more expensive. Also think about currency fluctuations.
Quality of Life - what would you like to do in your spare time in retirement, and will a given country allow you access to your hobbies or make it possible for you to enjoy the quality of life you’re seeking. Do you require sophistication and high-end amenities, or are you seeking peace in life that may be better offered in a less well-developed nation?
People - when you relocate overseas in retirement you inevitably leave family and friends behind, so you’ll need to make a new network of friends and acquaintances and so to do so perhaps you need to live amongst people who share common values. For some people, they also want to retire abroad where there are a lot of other expats…
Language and Culture - to make new friends and to adapt could you consider learning another language, adapting to a different religion and embracing an alien culture? How far are you willing to adapt, learn and change to settle in abroad?
Security and Stability - the security of a country and its stability in terms of economy and government are surely very important to anyone, however, perhaps you’re slightly less risk averse than some people and are willing to consider emerging nations as options for your list of the best places for you to retire abroad?
If you begin making a list of what is important for you when it comes to choosing your new nation abroad, you will soon have a checklist that you can use when you begin brain-storming new nations for you to live in overseas. You can then go through your shortlist of favourite countries and find out which ones meet the vast majority of your critical conditions. This will eventually help you narrow down to the very best country for you to live abroad in in retirement. You can then go and spend an extended holiday in the nation just to double check it does really meet all your criteria before you pack up and ship out to make your new permanent life there.
