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The Best Places To Retire In 2025

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      Whether you’re looking for fun and sun, a peaceful retirement, or the chance to earn some extra income, you’ve got a real world of opportunity open to you… In short, we’ve done our best to narrow down your best options, but only you can decide the right country for you.

      • Spain
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      • Browse All Countries

      Best For:

      • The Best Places To Retire
      • Health Care Abroad
      • Cost Of Living
      • Investing in Real Estate
      • Establishing Residency
      • Gun Laws In The World
      • English-Speaking Countries
      • Safest Places For Retirement
      • Best Places In Latin America
    • Budgets

      How Much Will It Cost You To Live Overseas?

      The only honest answer is, we have no idea. And neither does anyone else. The only one who can answer that question is you. Here’s the most important thing to understand about budgeting your new life overseas…

      Super Cheap

      • Chitré, Panama
      • Santa Marta, Colombia
      • Phuket, Thailand
      • Dumaguete, The Philippines

      Cheap

      • Medellin, Colombia
      • Boquete, Panama
      • Kyrenia, Cyprus
      • Hua Hin, Thailand
      • The Algarve, Portugal

      Affordable

      • Valencia, Spain
      • Cascais, Portugal
      • Las Terrenas, The DR
      • Pisa, Italy
      • La Rochelle, France
      • Mazatlán, Mexico

      Luxury

      • Ambergris Caye, Belize
      • Kotor, Montenegro
      • The Panama City Beaches
      • Paris, France
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      • Home
      • Countries

        Top Destinations:

        Whether you’re looking for fun and sun, a peaceful retirement, or the chance to earn some extra income, you’ve got a real world of opportunity open to you… In short, we’ve done our best to narrow down your best options, but only you can decide the right country for you.

        • Spain
        • Portugal
        • Panama
        • Belize
        • Colombia
        • Cyprus
        • Mexico
        • France
        • Montenegro
        • Browse All Countries

        Best For:

        • The Best Places To Retire
        • Health Care Abroad
        • Cost Of Living
        • Investing in Real Estate
        • Establishing Residency
        • Gun Laws In The World
        • English-Speaking Countries
        • Safest Places For Retirement
        • Best Places In Latin America
      • Budgets

        How Much Will It Cost You To Live Overseas?

        The only honest answer is, we have no idea. And neither does anyone else. The only one who can answer that question is you. Here’s the most important thing to understand about budgeting your new life overseas…

        Super Cheap

        • Chitré, Panama
        • Santa Marta, Colombia
        • Phuket, Thailand
        • Dumaguete, The Philippines

        Cheap

        • Medellin, Colombia
        • Boquete, Panama
        • Kyrenia, Cyprus
        • Hua Hin, Thailand
        • The Algarve, Portugal

        Affordable

        • Valencia, Spain
        • Cascais, Portugal
        • Las Terrenas, The DR
        • Pisa, Italy
        • La Rochelle, France
        • Mazatlán, Mexico

        Luxury

        • Ambergris Caye, Belize
        • Kotor, Montenegro
        • The Panama City Beaches
        • Paris, France
      • Resources

        Global Living

        • Living & Retiring Overseas
        • Raising A Family Abroad
        • Foreign Residency & Citizenship
        • Offshore & Diversification

        Making Money

        • International Real Estate
        • Banking
        • Employment
        • Investing

        Follow Us:

        • Meet Our Experts
      • Real Estate

        Join our Weekly Newsletter
        Overseas Property Alert

        Sign up for our weekly newsletter to receive expert insights on the best international real estate investment opportunities.






          We Value Your Privacy! We will not share your email address with anyone else, period.

          Buying Real Estate For Cashflow

          • Discover tips and strategies used by global property investing veterans

          Explore Our Latest Posts

          • Learn how to invest and purchase property abroad…

          Go To The Overseas Property Alert Site

          • How To Become Independently Wealthy And Fund The Lifestyle Of Your Dreams
        • Conferences

          Upcoming Events

          • Explore Our Events Site

          International Property Summit

          Caribbean Virtual Conference

          Live and Invest In Spain Conference

          PANAMA CITY, PANAMA

          June 18-20, 2025

          VIRTUAL

          July 17-19, 2025

          Valencia, Spain

          Sep. 17-19, 2025

          LEARN MORE
          LEARN MORE
          PRE-REGISTER
          LEARN MORE
          PRE-REGISTER
          • MORE EVENTS

          Contact Our Events Team

          Toll-Free U.S. and Canada:
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          From Outside North America:
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          Monday – Friday 08:00 am – 17:00 pm EST.

          Reach us with your questions by email at: events@liveandinvestoverseas.com

        • Store

          Unlock The World

          • Access Your Library

          Overseas Havens Reports

          • Expats' comprehensive destination guides

          Conference Kits

          • Hours of coverage  from our latests conferences

          Lahardan Books

          • Titles on living and investing around the world
          • Explore Our Store
          Your passport to a life well-lived abroad

          Services

          overseas living letter offers affordable retirement guidance
          The Simon Letter Wealth Protection Insights
          Global Property Advisor Global Investment Opportunities

          Our Customer Service team is here to assist with any questions or concerns CustomerService@LiveandInvestOverseas.com

        • My Library
        Live and Invest Overseas
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        THE 10 BEST PLACES TO RETIRE IN 2025

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          Home Countries Colombia

          Worried About Soaring Utility Costs?

          5 Places To Escape Soaring Utility Costs

          by Kathleen Peddicord
          May 02, 2023
          in Colombia, Ecuador, Lifestyle, Panama, Portugal, Vietnam
          0 0
          Payment of utilities for electricity and water: receipt, bills and a calculator.

          Adobe Stock/ evgenii

          Worried about soaring utility costs? You’re not alone. Over the past year, energy costs across the United States have increased 23.8%.  The cost of electricity, specifically, is up 15.8%. That’s the greatest 12-month increase in 41 years. Russia’s war… continuing post-pandemic economic struggles worldwide, and generally hotter summers and colder winters are to blame. But you don’t have to suffer.

          I’m not talking about lowering your thermostat or investing in more blankets. I’m talking about leaving cold winters… and steaming summers… behind for good. Don’t worry over how to reduce your utility costs. Make a plan to eliminate them… By relocation to one of these ideal climate destinations where you’ll need neither heat nor air conditioning…

          Cuenca, Ecuador

          Cuenca, Ecuador
          Adobe Stock/mehdi33300

          Cuenca is a highland historical town of 330,000 people. Found in the foothills of Ecuador’s Andes Mountains, it sits at an elevation of between 7,710 and 8,400 feet.

          This altitude plus its proximity to the equator means that Cuenca’s temperatures are stable year-round. It enjoys a consistent spring-like climate where the average daily high is 69°F and the average daily low is 52°F.

          Other than the occasional use of a space heater on chilly mornings, homes in Cuenca don’t require air conditioning or heating. An expat couple that rents their accommodation can expect to pay about US$1,350 per month on life expenses in Cuenca, including US$70 per month on gas (for cooking and hot water) and electricity.

          Cuenca is a place where you can live comfortably on a Social Security or pension check (US$1,542.22 as of June 2022), but the fact that you don’t need to heat or cool your home enhances its appeal.

          Further savings come from general lifestyle changes that living in Cuenca inspires. Take car ownership, for example. Instead of the two cars in the driveway that most expat couples had before leaving North America, most have none in Ecuador. Expats get by with public transportation, resulting in hundreds of dollars in savings per month. It’s also a great place to get around on foot.

          Da Lat, Vietnam

          Valley of Love park, Dalat
          Adobe Stock/saiko3p

          Da Lat is a former colonial hill station that the French carved out of Vietnam’s Central Highlands in the early 1900s. Sitting at an elevation of 5,000 feet above sea level, its temperate mountainous climate is pretty much perfect—never too hot or cold, the temperature hovering perpetually at about 65˚F.

          Da Lat’s climate is what attracted foreigners here in the first place: It served colonists as an escape from the sweat and tropical malady of the lowlands. The cool weather, misty peaks, and pine forest (not to mention French architecture and ambiance) are a novelty in Vietnam and continue to draw expats here to this day.

          Vietnam is fantastically affordable for expat retirees. The Vietnamese Dong is one of the world’s least valued currencies, so the exchange rate benefit works in your favor here.

          Da Lat isn’t a mainstream tourism or retirement destination. It’s priced for the domestic market, so prices for everything from rent to meals to entertainment remain low. Best of all is the cost of electricity. Thanks to the year-round temperate weather, electricity cost about US$20 per month for a couple, for a total cost of living of about US$1,000 monthly.

          Start Your New Life Today, Overseas






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            Medellín, Colombia

            Panoramic of El Poblado in Medellin City
            Adobe Stock/JuanFernandoVelez

            Medellín holds a global reputation as the City of Eternal Spring. With an average high of 82°F and an average low of 63°F (with little temperature fluctuation throughout the year) most agree that its climate is ideal. Though it’s located near the equator, it’s cooler than other cities at the same latitude because of its altitude—4,905 feet above sea level.

            The second-biggest city in Colombia with 2.5 million people, Medellín’s star as an overseas retirement destination is rising, especially among Americans. Here, a couple can live comfortably here on a budget of US$2,000 to US$2,500, including rent and utilities, which, bundled together with gas, water, and electricity, should come to about US$50.

            Medellín also boasts an efficient and innovative public transportation network, including the only metro system in Colombia and cable cars that reach the hillside neighborhoods. It’s easy and cheap to get around, and free bikes are readily available. This helps keep life costs down and is a safeguard against future gas-price hikes.

            Boquete, Panama

            Boquete, Panama. utility costs
            iStock/Markpittimages

            Boquete is one of the most famous overseas retirement communities in the world where expats make up 25% of its population of 20,000. It’s nestled in the folds of Panama’s Central Mountain Range at an elevation of about 3,900 feet above sea level.

            On top of natural beauty, including volcano and river views plus myriad flower species that grow throughout town, expats cite the weather as their motivation for moving here.

            Boquete is far from the relentless heat and humidity of Panama’s lowlands, where air conditioning is a must and can rack up a high monthly electricity bill. Temperatures in Boquete hover between 55°F and 75°F year-round.

            Expats spend about US$50 per month on electricity, as opposed to about US$120 per month in Panama City. A couple can expect to spend about US$1,600 per month total living in Boquete.

            Plus, if you get residency under Panama’s Pensionado Visa, you’re entitled to a 25% discount on electrical, telephone, and water service, plus other discounts and incentives.

            Madeira, Portugal

            Beautiful panorama over the cityscape of Camara de Lobos in Madeira island, Portugal. utility costs
            Adobe Stock/cristianbalate

            Madeira is an autonomous region of Portugal that’s found 670 miles from the mainland in the North Atlantic Ocean. Madeira is known as “Garden Island” for its abundance of vegetation and flowering plants and has been voted the best island in the world several times.

            An archipelago made up of a handful of volcanic islands, Madeira is home to many microclimates, but it’s generally known for having some of the mildest year-round temperatures in Europe. The average high is 73°F and the average low is 62°F. Being surrounded by ocean means that temperatures are stable throughout the year.

            Utilities costs, including electricity, water, and garbage collection, can start at US$70 and US$90 per month. Total monthly cost of living is about US$1,500 to US$2,000.

            And don’t forget that Americans have a huge advantage in Europe right now, as the euro is at a historic low against the dollar.

            Your spending power in the eurozone is the best it’s been in 20 years.

            Sincerely,
            Kathleen Peddicord signature
            Kathleen Peddicord
            Founding Publisher, Overseas Opportunity Letter

            Tags: 'Boquete''Cuenca''Ecuador''Vietnam'ColombiaDa LatLive abroadlive overseasmadeiraMedellinPanamaPortugalutility costs
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            Kathleen Peddicord

            Kathleen Peddicord

            Kathleen Peddicord has reported on opportunities for Americans to live, retire, and do business overseas for 40 years. She has traveled to more than 75 countries, invested in real estate in 24, established businesses in 7, renovated and built properties in 6, and educated her children in 5.

            Kathleen has moved children, staff, enterprises, household goods, and pets from the east coast of the United States to Waterford, Ireland, then to Paris, France, and finally to Panama City, Panama, where she has based her Live And Invest Overseas business. Peddicord and her husband, Lief Simon, now divide their time between Panama and Paris.

            Peddicord was a partner with Agora Publishing’s International Living group for 23 years. She opened, staffed, and operated International Living publishing and real estate marketing offices in Waterford, Ireland; Panama City, Panama; Granada, Nicaragua; Roatan, Honduras; San Miguel de Allende, Mexico; Quito, Ecuador; and Paris, France. Peddicord launched Live And Invest Overseas group in 2008 and has built it into a successful multimillion-dollar business. Today, she shares her firsthand experience of expat life with more than 500,000 readers of her publications, including Overseas Opportunity Letter and Overseas Living Letter.

            Kathleen has been featured often in The New York Times, MSNBC, AARP, CNN, Bloomberg, CNBC, and more and writes monthly about expat matters, international real estate, and offshore diversification for Forbes and U.S. News.

            Kathleen has written several books including the memoirs “At Home In Ireland” and “At Home At Los Islotes” and her latest title “At Home Abroad,” all published by Lahardan Books. Her best-selling "How To Retire Overseas: Everything You Need To Know To Live Well (For Less) Abroad” was published by Penguin Random House in 2018 and her “Buying Real Estate Overseas For Cash Flow (And A Better Life)” was published by Wiley in August 2020.

            Start Your New Life Overseas Today!
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                  We Value Your Privacy! We will not share your email address with anyone else, period.
                  HOME

                  Top Countries

                  • Spain
                  • Portugal
                  • Panama
                  • Belize
                  • Colombia
                  • Cyprus
                  • Mexico
                  • France
                  • Montenegro

                  Best For:

                  • Health Care Abroad
                  • Retirement Living
                  • Cost Of Living
                  • Investing in Real Estate
                  • Establishing Residency
                  • Gun Ownership
                  • English Speakers
                  • Safety
                  BROWSE ALL COUNTRIES

                  Budgets

                  How Much Will It Cost
                  To Live Overseas?

                  Super Cheap

                  • Chitré, Panama
                  • Santa Marta, Colombia
                  • Phuket, Thailand
                  • Dumaguete, The Philippines

                  Cheap

                  • Medellin, Colombia
                  • Boquete, Panama
                  • Kyrenia, Cyprus
                  • Hua Hin, Thailand
                  • The Algarve, Portugal

                  Affordable

                  • Valencia, Spain
                  • Cascais, Portugal
                  • Las Terrenas, The DR
                  • Pisa, Italy
                  • La Rochelle, France
                  • Mazatlán, Mexico

                  Luxury

                  • Ambergris Caye, Belize
                  • Kotor, Montenegro
                  • The Panama City Beaches
                  • Paris, France

                  Resources

                  Global Living

                  • Living & Retiring Overseas
                  • Raising A Family Abroad
                  • Foreign Residency & Citizenship
                  • Offshore & Diversification

                  Making Money

                  • International Real Estate
                  • Banking
                  • Employment
                  • Investing
                  Meet Our Experts

                  Real Estate

                  Overseas Property Alert 

                   

                  How To Become Independently Wealthy And Fund The Lifestyle Of Your Dreams

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                  Learn how to invest and purchase property abroad…

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                  CARIBBEAN VIRTUAL CONFERENCE

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                  LEARN MORE
                  PRE-REGISTER

                  Live and Invest In Spain Conference

                  Valencia, Spain Sep. 17-19, 2025
                  LEARN MORE
                  PRE-REGISTER
                  MORE EVENTS

                  Contact Our Events Team:

                  Toll-Free U.S. and Canada:
                  1 (888) 627 8834

                  From Outside North America:
                  1 (443) 599 1221

                  Working Hours
                  Monday – Friday 08:00 am – 17:00 pm EST.

                  Reach us with your questions by email at: events@liveandinvestoverseas.com

                  Store

                  Overseas Havens Reports

                  • Expats' comprehensive destination guides

                  Conference Kits

                  • Hours of coverage  from our latests conferences

                  Lahardan Books

                  • Titles on living and investing around the world

                  Services

                  • Overseas Living Letter: Affordable Retirement Guidance
                  • The Simon Letter: Wealth Protection Insights
                  • Global Property Advisor: Global Investment Opportunitites
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                  THE 10 BEST PLACES TO RETIRE IN 2025

                  FREE REPORT: The 10 Best Places To retire in 2025

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