Where to live well in retirement?

The best countries for pensioners are named

Yulia Kozhevnikova, Rossiyskaya Gazeta

International Living magazine has created a rating of the best countries for pensioners. The top five included Ecuador, Panama, Malaysia, Mexico and Costa Rica. Here you can buy an apartment at a price of 90 thousand dollars and live on only 900 dollars a month.

The average pension in Russia is about $ 300 (in Moscow – almost $ 400). It is difficult, if at all possible, to live on such money in Western Europe or the USA, and many developing countries remain closed to older people who do not have additional sources of income. But there is a way out: renting out real estate in a large city (Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg ...) and receiving a pension of at least $ 300 per month, you can comfortably live on the oceanic coast of some warm exotic country.

EcuadorThis South American country offers great opportunities for recreation and entertainment.

There are many sunny beaches, mountain villages and old colonial towns. "This country is spreading the red carpet in front of the elderly: there are 50 percent discounts on international flights and cultural events. In addition, Ecuadorians are friendly, friendly and good–natured," says Jennifer Stevens, executive editor of International Living magazine.

Those who do not want to live in Ecuador permanently, but only experience the harsh Russian winters here, will be especially pleased with the fact that Russians can stay in this country for up to 90 days without a visa.

This country, whose name translates from Spanish as "equator", remains undeservedly forgotten by our compatriots, but is extremely popular among American pensioners. Jennifer Stevens explains this by the cheapness of local goods and services compared to the cost of living in the United States: "Our readers bought a small house in the mountains and an apartment with a view of the water and live there in turns. In the US, they would never be able to afford something like this."

In Ecuador, you can live on $ 1,600 a month, including rent. Real estate costs almost 10 times cheaper than in the USA. For example, a condominium on the coast of California can be bought at a price of $ 1 million, and in Ecuador a similar object can be purchased for $ 150,000 (about the same amount of good apartments in the most famous Russian resort – Sochi). A trip to an Ecuadorian doctor costs $ 25 for an initial appointment, subsequent visits are free. An hour-long massage costs the same amount.

Pensioners choose both large, cosmopolitan cities – Quito and Cuenca, and small settlements, for example, Cotacachi and Vilcabamba. The climate on the coast is tropical, but the Andes has mild spring weather all year round.

Panama hatPanama is a unique place where you can sunbathe on the Pacific Ocean after breakfast and swim in the Atlantic Ocean before dinner.

"Its capital is a dynamic, cosmopolitan city with excellent restaurants and excellent hospitals. It is a financial and commercial center where many foreigners live," says Jennifer Stevens.

Unlike Ecuador, Russians need to get a visa to travel to Panama. However, those who have a visa issued to the United States or any European country can enter this Central American country unhindered.

"Panama purposefully attracts foreign pensioners: the best motivational program in the world operates here, according to which you can easily get a residence permit," says Jennifer Stevens.

When buying a property worth at least 300 thousand dollars, a foreigner receives a five-year residence permit without the right to work. After this period, he can apply for citizenship, provided that the property has not been sold. Panamanian citizens can visit almost all Latin American countries, as well as the states of the Schengen area, without a visa. In addition, Panama has a program for issuing long-term visas (permanent residence) to pensioners. Holders of this document are entitled to discounts: from 10 to 15% – on medical care, 25% – on restaurants and 50% – on cinema, theaters and other entertainment facilities. And according to the Turista Pensionado program, pensioners are exempt from property tax in Panama for 20 years.

To live in Panama for a month, it is enough 1 700 – 2 500 dollars. This amount includes housing costs, trips to the cinema and restaurants, as well as the services of a cleaner who comes a couple of times a week. You can have lunch in a cheap restaurant for only $ 5, go to the cinema for $ 4.

A vacation in Panama has a positive effect on well-being. American Robert Cook, who moved to Panama from Kansas, says: "My stress level has decreased, and I feel healthier. I'm happy." According to him, there is almost no fast food in Panama, and all products are locally produced. He also notes that people do not like to rush and live in a measured way.

MalaysiaThe climate in Malaysia is tropical, the thermometer shows an average of +28 all year round!!!oS.

There are magnificent beaches, virgin forests and islands. Local restaurants, bars and cinemas are considered among the best in Asia.

Another plus is that Russians do not need a visa to visit this country if the period of stay does not exceed 30 days.

In exotic and distant Malaysia, life is inexpensive. Says 65-year-old American Lorna Taylor: "We moved to Malaysia because of the weather, golf and low prices. Our expenses are now a third or a quarter of what we spent in the US. We even have a cleaner who comes to clean four times a week. We couldn't afford it in New York. No, we will never leave Penang." According to her, cleaning services cost only $ 12 for four hours a week.

You can have lunch at a cheap restaurant for $ 2.2, go to the cinema for about $ 4, a monthly subscription to a fitness center will cost about $ 50.

"Our editor–in–chief and his wife rent an apartment with a sea view on Penang Island," says Jennifer Stevens, "along with the right to use the pool and gym, the rent costs $ 1,000 per month. They keep a small sailboat, have dinner in restaurants five times a week and pay a cleaning lady who comes once a week. All together, it costs them $1,700 a month." In addition, in Malaysia, you can buy houses, condominiums and land in freehold (freehold), which is rare for Asia.

Malaysia is a popular destination for medical tourism. The services are cheap, but they are of high quality. For example, a visit to the dentist costs $ 22.5 (for cleaning and filling). In the US, the same thing would cost $180. There are good hospitals in Penang and Kuala Lumpur.

MexicoAbout 1,500 Russian citizens permanently reside in Mexico, among whom there are many people of pre-retirement and retirement age.

There is even an Orthodox community.

This country has everything: beaches, luxury resorts, sleepy small towns, mountain villages. Foreign pensioners, among whom Americans predominate, prefer to settle in colonial cities such as Oaxaca, San Cristobal de las Casas and San Miguel de Allende. In winter, the San Carlos resort is especially popular among pensioners.

Russians need a visa to visit Mexico. If you already have an American visa, you do not need to apply for another one, and then you can stay in the homeland of tequila for a maximum of 180 days. Then the visa can be extended.

A small house in Mexico can be rented for $800. per month, a colonial–style villa or an apartment with a sea view - for $ 1,500. You can buy a house for about 150 thousand dollars, but prices vary depending on the city.

You can have lunch in a cheap Mexican diner for about $ 4.5, arrange a three–course meal for two in a medium–level restaurant for $ 23, go to the cinema for $ 4.5.

Healthcare in Mexico is considered good. Many centers live off medical tourism. To get access to the national health system, you need to get a residence permit and get insurance, which costs $ 300 a year.

Costa RicaCosta Rica has endless beaches, mountain ranges, volcanoes and nature reserves with rain forests.

No wonder it is called the most beautiful country in the world. However, foreign pensioners choose Costa Rica not only because of the beautiful nature.

There is a favorable migration legislation in this state. To get a residence permit in Costa Rica, you need to invest at least 200 thousand dollars in local real estate. After nine years, you can apply for citizenship. The passport grants visa-free entry to all EU and Latin American countries, as well as to New Zealand, South Africa, South Korea and Japan.

However, Russians will need a visa to travel to Costa Rica. It does not need to be issued again if you already have a valid entry document to visit the USA or the EU. According to various estimates, 3-5 thousand Russian-speakers live in this country, of which a large proportion are pensioners. Among the indigenous there are those who graduated from Soviet universities and also speak the language of Pushkin and Tolstoy well. Russian Russian newspapers are being published, and there are centers for speakers of Russian culture.

Houses in Costa Rica are sold at a price of 140 thousand dollars. Rent costs from $400 to $1,000 per month. You can refresh yourself in an inexpensive cafe for $ 6.5, a three-course lunch for two in a restaurant will cost $ 40, a movie ticket costs $ 6.

Medical services in Costa Rica are inexpensive compared to many other countries. For example, the American Bob Luks at home paid $ 340 a month for medications to help control blood pressure and cholesterol, as well as $ 1,000 for health insurance. Becoming a resident of Costa Rica, he pays $ 49 per month - the amount is calculated based on income. Many services, for example, an electrocardiogram, are free of charge.

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru14.08.2013