Guatemala

At Home in the Heart of Central America: Guatemala

Here in Central America, there’s a Land of Eternal Spring (also know as Guatemala). In the middle of the country is a small but enchanting 15th-century Spanish-colonial city set in an idyllic valley surrounded by three tree-covered volcanoes.

While most of Guatemala is still for only the most adventuresome of overseas retirees, there are a few places where you could consider settling down.

Our top choice for living in Guatemala is Antigua, an overlooked colonial city in the heart of Central America with plenty to offer the would-be retiree. Real estate is affordable, the people are friendly, the climate is perfect with little to no humidity, overseas income is free of local tax, and you can live a very good lifestyle for less than US$1,400 a month, including regular entertainment eating out, and a furnished rental at US$800 monthly.

In fact, though, you could live in Antigua on much less…you could rent small and basic in this town for as little as US$250 a month. That’d make your total monthly budget but US$950. Own your own place, and you can do away with rent altogether…meaning you could enjoy life in this beautiful colonial city for as little as US$700 a month. Antigua is internationally known and famed for its architecture and ambience. Tourists from all over the world walk the cobblestone street year-round, oohing and ahhing over the pastel colors of the perfectly preserved colonial buildings. Even those colonial structures in ruins are picturesque. There is a small colony of interesting expats and a vibrant social life.

The other thing worth noting about Antigua right now is that there have been interesting changes in the real estate market…