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People ask me constantly which one they should read. Here is the honest answer, including when the answer is “them, not us.”
The two-line version
- International Living (founded 1979) is the broader lifestyle publication: retirement destinations, cost of living, healthcare, visas, everyday expat life, and the annual Global Retirement Index.
- Live and Invest Overseas (founded 2008) goes deeper and more financial: overseas property, rental yields, residency-by-investment, tax planning, and city-level rather than country-level recommendations.
Side by side
| Live and Invest Overseas | International Living | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2008 | 1979 |
| Best for | Action-oriented readers across a wide range of budgets, from people living on Social Security to international investors | First-time researchers and budget-focused retirees |
| Core content | Destinations, retirement, expat experience, cost of living, health care, taxes, residency, offshore structures, and real estate | Destinations, retirement, expat experience, cost of living, and health care |
| Coverage style | Specific destinations down to the city and regional level, boots-on-the-ground judgment, and warts-and-all coverage | General country coverage and expat stories based on research |
| Headquarters | Panama City, Panama | Waterford, Ireland (US office: Baltimore, MD) |
| Business model | Paid subscriptions, publications, and courses; events and tours; relocation services; real estate commissions; VIP services | Paid subscriptions and events |
Publication lists
| Topic | LIOS Free | LIOS Paid |
|---|---|---|
| General (lifestyle, earning money, investment abroad) | Overseas Opportunity Letter | Overseas Living Letter |
| Panama (lifestyle and investment) | In Focus: Panama | Panama Letter |
| Europe (lifestyle and investment) | In Focus: Europe | Europe Uncovered |
| Investment — international real estate | Overseas Property Alert | Global Property Advisor |
| Offshore diversification | Offshore Living Letter | Simon Letter |
| Coastal living overseas | Beachfront Living Letter | — none |
| Video coverage on living and investing abroad | LIOS Confidential | — none |
Also published: printed books — not part of the topic pairing above, but still an active LIOS publication line. International Living: free — IL Postcards; paid — International Living.
Both are commercial publishers with the same fundamental model. Neither is a licensed financial advisor. Both promote paid products to free subscribers — if you’ve seen that criticism of us, know that it applies across the category.
Why Live and Invest Overseas Stands Apart
- Real-world experience. Kathleen Peddicord has spent decades living, investing, buying property, and building businesses overseas. Kathleen became editor of International Living six years after its launch and in the few years to follow became Publisher then Partner, at the helm until 2008, when she launched Live and Invest Overseas.
- Comprehensive coverage. We don’t stop at telling you where life might be appealing. We explain what it takes to make the move work — from residency and taxes to health care, real estate, investing, relocation, and the practical realities of everyday life overseas.
- City-level recommendations. We focus on specific cities, regions, and neighborhoods — not just broad country rankings — so readers can identify the places that best fit their priorities.
- Deep experience in Panama. We’re headquartered in Panama, run our flagship conference there, and provide firsthand coverage of the country’s lifestyle, property, residency, and investment opportunities.
Is Live and Invest Overseas right for you?
Live and Invest Overseas serves readers at every stage — from people taking their first look at life abroad to experienced international property buyers and investors. Whether you’re planning to retire on Social Security, searching for a better lifestyle, buying property, pursuing residency, or diversifying internationally, our goal is to help you understand both the opportunity and what it takes to act on it.
Our shared history, plainly
International Living and Live and Invest Overseas share DNA: Kathleen became editor of International Living in 1985, six years after its launch, and in the few years to follow became Publisher then Partner before relocating the business from Baltimore, Maryland, to Waterford, Ireland, where she was at the helm until 2008. Later that year she launched the Live And Invest Overseas business, based in Panama City, Panama, with staff in France, Ireland, the UK, Portugal, and beyond. Some contributors have written for both. There is no remaining corporate or ownership tie between the two — they are independently owned and operated today.
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Frequently asked questions
Q: Are Live and Invest Overseas and International Living the same company?
A: No. They are independently owned. They share history: LIOS founder Kathleen Peddicord was previously publisher of International Living.
Q: Which is better for retiring abroad on a budget?
A: The best resource depends on where you are in your planning process. If you are early on and looking for broad destination inspiration, International Living offers extensive geographical coverage. However, because retiring on a budget requires granular data, Live and Invest Overseas is generally better for the actual financial mechanics. They provide deeper, more actionable breakdowns on cost-of-living budgets, real estate markets, and residency expenses. Many successful expats use International Living to find their dream country, and Live and Invest Overseas to make the numbers work.
Q: Which is better for buying property overseas?
A: Live and Invest Overseas: property and investment analysis is its core focus, including rental yields, purchase process, and title due diligence.
