Retire - Brasil or Colombia?

[Sailover]

And safety here is really only a concern in fairly isolated pockets these days. Sure, once in a while you hear about some trouble nearby, but have you seen the local news in Miami lately? I feel safer in the barrios up behind our house here in Cali.

[rivardco]

Cali can be safe, but it does require a constant awareness ... and perhaps a change of habits.

I would not want to raise a family there!

Again how do regions of Brazil compare to Cali?

[John Wayne]

I would imagine the same as here in Nicaragua or anywhere else in the world had has an "Inner City" ambiente.....

Come on readers, and I know there are many.....There is absolutely NO reason to not get out in the world and see things for yourself......

Like SO said...And safety here is really only a concern in fairly isolated pockets these days. Sure, once in a while you hear about some trouble nearby, but have you seen the local news in Miami lately? I feel safer in the barrios up behind our house here in Cali.

As I do in Nicaragua, I mean really a country with a history of armed conflict and political uprisings.....

Most of it is BS.......

[RXD]

According to my opinion Brazil is the best place to live. It is a green city with number of parks. Where you can do lots of activities. Things to do in include bird watching, trekking/hiking, climbing and taking boat journeys along the river.

[DrLife]

Great find Tinto!

Originally Posted by Tinto

From the folks over at http://www.liveandinvestoverseas.com/ :

5/30/09


The top options for a new and better life in retirement overseas right now include:

1. La Barra, Uruguay...perhaps the world's best option for sophisticated seaside retirement on a budget...

1. El Valle, Panama...mountain escape in the world's top retirement haven (with much better weather than Panama City!)...

1. Mendoza, Argentina...the good life in Argentina wine country is also highly affordable...

1. Antigua, Guatemala...colonial city in the mountains with spring-like weather and a low, low cost of living...

1. Istria, Croatia...Europe's Sleeping Beauty...the Mediterranean as it once was...

1. Languedoc, France...the "other" South of France, where you can enjoy the best of la vie francaise even on a modest budget...

1. Hangzhou, China...land of lakes, gardens, and pagodas, where, yes, you're well ahead of the crowd...but the living is exotic and super, super cheap...

1. Cuenca, Ecuador...the most affordable retirement haven in the Americas...colonial splendor, magnificent weather, and a rock-bottom cost of livign...

How can you determine which of these overseas retirement Edens might be right for you?


You need to understand...

1. The cost of living, including a detailed monthly budget and a sample grocery list...

1. Your options for foreign residency and obtaining a visa...

1. Banking, taxes, currency-exchange issues...

1. Health care, medical costs, and options for health insurance...

1. Particular neighborhoods or regions to consider...

1. Rental costs and options...

1. The current real estate market and the property purchase process...

1. Opportunities for making friends, connecting with the local expat community...

1. Getting involved, dining out, being a tourist in your new home...

1. Special benefits, discounts, and other perks for seniors and resident retirees...

1. Learning the language...

1. Areas and opportunities to avoid...

1. Business opportunities...

1. Buying, building, and furnishing your new home...

1. Telecommunications and staying in touch...

1. Getting there and getting around in-country...

1. The pluses and minuses of owning versus renting...

You need to understand all these things...and you need to understand them not from just any old source...but from a source you can trust.

You need this information in real time and from the point of view (and with the layer of judgment) of an expat who knows the destination from firsthand experience.

I'm delighted today to be able to bring you just that...for all 8 of the world's top retirement havens right now.

Here's your chance to access complete and current "Country Retirement Reports" for each of these top 8 retirement destinations.

These are not journalistic papers written after weeklong visits. These are insightful accounts of day-to-day living in the particular places we've identified as offering the best quality of retirement life in the world today.

Prepared by expats with long experience living, investing, and doing business in each destination.

What would it be like living or retired in these exotic, interesting, diverse, safe, friendly, and beautiful places?


What would your life be like, for example, living in...

• Cuenca?...

"Travelers come from the world over to enjoy these 250 square blocks of history; to study in Cuenca's world-class language schools; or to experience a rare glimpse of unadulterated life in an Andean colonial city.

"But expat retirees want more.Besides treasuring the city's rich culture and colonial charm, they want to take advantage of a cost of living that's among the lowest in Latin America...real estate prices that are unheard-of in a city with such a rich quality of life...an unbeatable retiree benefit package...and a thriving expat community surrounded by a warm and welcoming people who make you feel like you really belong. So let me give it to you straight. I lived in Cuenca for several years and have traveled to just about every other country in Latin America. In my opinion, the country of Ecuador is the best deal out there when it comes to an overseas retirement destination...and Cuenca is the best that Ecuador has to offer.


"If you're retiring on a budget, Cuenca should be top of your list..."

• Hungzhou?...

"Harmony, family life, exercise, good food...China--surprisingly--could be the perfect place to retire. First off, retirees here are extremely active in mind and body. Biking, walking, and early-morning exercising are all common for retirees. Secondly, retirees are considered an integral part of the community. You can go to just about any public park throughout China and see retirees practicing martial arts, hiking, sipping tea, and chatting. Community centers, chess clubs, and neighborhood associations, all revolve around retirees.


Furthermore: "Living in Hangzhou will cost you about 50% less than it costs to live in the United States. The average annual income is less than CN¥10,247 (US$1,500); most college graduates make an average of CN¥40,988 (US$6,000) a year. If you live like the Chinese on rice and vegetables you can easily live on CN¥683 (US$100) or less a month..."

• Languedoc?...

"Yes, the cost of living is higher in France than in say India, Thailand, Costa Rica, Panama, or Mexico. So if you are relocating with the primary agenda of significantly lower your cost of living, I would think carefully about France. However, if you want to experience a southern European lifestyle, are looking to invest in a property where you could live full or part time, and are prepared to learn some French, this is great place to start over.

"This part of France is colorful, eclectic, always changing, never following a formula, and very open to retirees. The village dates from prehistoric times, but the main 'feel' is medieval, with the church dominating the center and the tower of Le Donjon looking down from above.


"On my first visit, with every step around the village, I found more that appealed, from winding medieval passageways to the original public water source--called the Font Sucrée..."

• Istria?...

"I defy you not to fall in love with Istria. The westernmost region of Croatia, it's like stepping into the most gorgeous film set ever. You soon get to understand why the ancient Romans called it Terra Magica--the Magic Land.

"Some locations are extra special. Trouble is, properties in most of these places--certainly in Europe--are usually unaffordable. Strictly for the rich and famous.

"In Tuscany or in the hills above the French and Italian rivieras, it's almost impossible to find cottages you could move into for under US$200,000. Yet you can in Istria.

"Here, in a medieval village renowned for its film festival, a small, renovated cottage with lookouts over a valley and vineyards is on the market for US$113,000.

"Why Istria? After all, there's a lot of world out there. Investment buys are one thing, but many popular second home destinations are much nearer to the States.

"That's true. But imagine visiting a Roman amphitheater for opera under the stars. Or knowing that summer will deliver film festivals, costumed knights on horseback and dancers performing under ancient castle walls...

"You won't be swimming in the Adriatic in winter or early spring. But you could be sailing, fishing, playing tennis and golf.

"Or going pony trekking or cycling along trails scented with wild herbs and lavender.

"My idea of relaxation? Well, that's sitting at a pavement café under a gaily-colored umbrella--a café where the espresso coffee is served strong, black and in the tiniest of cups.

"Or sampling the crisp white wine. In a blind tasting, you would swear this blossomy nectar was Italian.

"Istria's larger seaside towns are so stylishly cute, that it's no real surprise to see street signs labeled vias, piazzas and lungomares. Or menus featuring pizzas and smoke-dried hams, seafood risottos and pasta sprinkled with white truffles.

"Or indeed, fashion-conscious locals all invariably wearing shades.


"But there's no mystery about it. Istria's heritage is (in part) Italian. Some real estate agencies and vacation companies market it as 'the new Tuscany,' but I think it's even better..."

• Antigua?...

"For a decade, I'd been observing this country from 30,000 feet, en route to yet another Latin American country, in search of the perfect paradise.

"Once on the ground in Antigua, Guatemala, I realized I'd finally found my new home. Two weeks later, with nothing but a few suitcases and my golf clubs, I set down roots in this charming country of volcanoes, vivacious people, and never-ending delights.

"The city's nightlife and vibrant cultural scene runs smoothly alongside its quaint tile roofs, cobblestone streets, and various shades of pastel stucco exteriors.

"Dining al fresco at one of the city's superb restaurants, there are moments in the afternoon or early evening that the light and air are reminiscent of Santorini.

"Purple and red bougainvillea branches overhang walls on every street. The city is a riot of textures and colors...


"Antigua has been described as one of the world's best preserved colonial cities. In my opinion, it ranks above Havana, Cuba; Granada, Nicaragua; and even Merida, Mexico. Also called 'Land of Eternal Spring'..."

• Mendoza?...

"'Beyond my vineyard, I can see the towering, white-capped Andes. As I sip a glass of fabulous local wine, my cook is creating something in the kitchen that smells truly divine.'

"My friend can barely contain himself. He has just relocated to the Mendoza region of Argentina.

"His reports are so tempting, I'm ready to jump on a plane and head down there right away.

"He goes on, practically gushing:

"'My garden is bursting at the seams--though I don't look after it. My gardener does. Honestly, it's a feast for the eyes. The luscious grapes that hang from the vines around me are going to produce wine with my name on it. You've got to see this place to believe it.'

"He is so pampered here, he says, that he feels like a guest in his own home.


"Can all this beauty, service, and quality of life be affordable, too? Surprisingly, yes. Your gardener's salary? US$100 a month. Grandchildren coming to visit? A full-time nanny costs US$400 a month; a full-time maid the same. A round of golf is US$4; a cup of coffee is 95 cents. A good table wine is US$2--a really good one, maybe US$5..."

• El Valle?...

"We fell in love with El Valle the moment we set foot here. We'd visited the usual spots in Panama: Panama City, Boquete, Vulcan Baru, and Santa Fe. But there was just something magical about this place, and we connected with it immediately.

"When our pensionado visas were ready, we further explored the area looking for property to buy. We found it just outside of town and bought immediately.

"We bought the land in El Valle, returned home to Colorado, finished remodeling our house, sold it and most of our belongings, and moved here with our two cats.

"Today, we are known in the community by both Gringos and Panamanians alike, and we feel very accepted.

"This is a small community, so you have to be ready to live in an environment where people know what you're doing and who you're doing it with. But coming from a small place in Colorado, we're familiar with small-town living. We were also warmly welcomed into the La Mesa community, as our property also borders that village.

"We feel so fortunate to be here in this beautiful setting.

"El Valle de Anton sits in a volcanic crater. That may conjure up a picture of cramped (even hazardous) living conditions with mountains towering over you in every direction. Not so El Valle...

"The crater floor, where the town is situated, is three by five miles wide, and was formed by a volcanic eruption some five million years ago. With vistas that truly take your breath away, the town holds the world record for being the largest continually inhabited volcanic crater.


"El Valle is also known for its spring-like temperatures year round..."

• La Barra?...

"There are plenty of small beach towns along Uruguay's coast, but La Barra is special. It is a small, walkable town, yet it offers all the luxuries, services, comforts, and conveniences you could want.

"Furthermore, La Barra is clean, well-maintained, and safe. And, like all Uruguay, it enjoys firstworld infrastructure with good public facilities, drinkable water, and well-maintained beaches.

"When you first visit La Barra, however, you notice a few things that set it apart from Uruguay's other, more popular coastal towns.

"It's one of the few places that retains a good deal of what I'd call 'pure beachfront living.'

"In most of Uruguay, a beachfront road known as the rambla, separates the beaches from the closest private properties. In La Barra, you find several areas where the houses and low-rise apartments are right on the water.

"The cost of living in La Barra is somewhat higher than Uruguay in general, and notably higher than places like Atlántida or Salto, which offer, probably, the best bargain living in this country. In La Barra, expect to spend at least US$1,300 per month..."