Live and Invest Overseas
The Best Places To Retire In 2025

FREE REPORT: THE BEST PLACES TO RETIRE IN 2025






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

        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
      • 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:
          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

          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
         Moving Out Of The U.S?

        THE 10 BEST PLACES TO RETIRE IN 2025

        the 10 best places to retire in 2025

        PLUS: A SPECIAL BONUS DESTINATION

        Simply sign up to receive the FREE daily e-letter, Overseas Opportunity Letter, and we’ll immediately email you our editors’ latest research report… absolutely FREE






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

          Home news Lifestyle

          A Dream Island Lifestyle

          by Live And Invest Overseas
          Dec 05, 2024
          in Lifestyle
          0 0
          Beautiful Beach Contadora Island, Panama island lifestyle

          Adobe Stock/Marc

          Las Perlas offers an island lifestyle reminiscent of the Virgin Islands back in the 70s…

          This string of islands has the best beaches and fishing, plus consistently perfect weather, within easy reach of Panama City. But each island in this 200-plus-island archipelago has a different culture, and none will remind you of a typical vacation destination… that’s how you know you’re someplace special.

          Las Perlas has retained the wild allure of the sea that, for over 400 years, has been plied by islanders navigating canoes and now panga boats—small, traditional fishing boats.

          The backdrop of the island boats mixing with the visiting yachts provides a rich tapestry connecting the past with the future; pangas weave through time as they do the archipelago’s many islands.

          Get Your Free Panama Report Today!

          Simply enter your email address below and we'll send you our FREE REPORT - Live And Invest In Panama: The #1 Retirement Haven In The Americas. 






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

            Many of these islands are uninhabited and noted for their natural beauty and marine resources. They’re steeped in history, with the pearl industry in the days of pirates and conquistadors starting around the 1600s.

            In the 1960s, Gabriel Lewis Galindo, a Panamanian diplomat and businessman, was stranded on one of these islands, Contadora, while on a fishing trip. He returned in 1968 to buy 110 hectares of land from the Government of Panama in order to build a family home and develop the island’s tourism potential.

            Tourism bloomed on the island, and in the 70s and 80s, Contadora became synonymous with the lifestyle of the rich and famous. For decades the now-defunct Contadora Resort and Casino was an icon of tropical luxury. It had peacocks, deer, and over 350 rooms, attracted Hollywood celebrities and was regarded as the most famous five-star island resort in Latin America.

            Despite its modern fame, the 1600s buccaneering allure of the islands continues to this day. Many sailors and adventures who happen across the archipelago decide to stake out a home base here…

            Each island in Las Perlas has a distinctly different look and feel. The most popular islands developed for tourism and attractive to expats looking for island property are Isla Contadora, Isla Saboga, and Isla Viveros. They are accessible by ferries, by Air Panama to the regional airport on Contadora, and by private boat.

            Panga boats and the pangeros who sail them are still the heart of inter-island transportation on the islands today. They transport people and goods to shore from yachts and commercial boats, ferry workers to their jobs on neighboring islands, and hire themselves out to tourists as water taxis and fishing guides.

            As a resident of Isla Saboga for a year and a half, and more recently on Isla Contadora for several years, what keeps me here full-time is the marine lifestyle, the magnificent greenery, the beaches, and everything about nature.

            It’s the perfect combination for me: the ability to live a productive life surrounded by nature—no noise, no traffic, no pollution—and I can work remotely and travel as much and as often as I want.

            The reasons U.S. expats John and Nancy settled on Isla Contadora in 2006 were, “Number one: There are no hurricanes and, of course, oceanfront… Where in the world can you find oceanfront at a reasonable price where there aren’t any hurricanes? I didn’t want to worry about having to rebuild the house a second time,” says John.

            Contadora has an international flavor. “You can run into and rub shoulders with people from all over the world in a nice recreational format where people like to have conversations. I find that really cool,” John says. “And it is a natural gated community because you can only get here by airplane or by boat.”

            Crime is very low on the islands, but people are people everywhere, and you invite trespassers if you leave houses unattended for long periods of time. You certainly feel safe walking around alone all hours of the day and night. The roads are good on the island, and most roads are lit at night.

            “There is fairly reliable trash pickup on the road and beaches thanks to the homeowners’ association ARPUIC,” says expat homeowner John.

            Get Your Free Panama Report Today!

            Simply enter your email address below and we'll send you our FREE REPORT - Live And Invest In Panama: The #1 Retirement Haven In The Americas. 






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

              Another reason John moved here is that Contadora has a regional commercial airport and a federal medical clinic. Antibiotics you might pay $100 for in Panama City, here you get for free.

              It’s important to note that the medical clinic is not a trauma center. They can patch you up until you can get to Panama City to the hospital, but you will have to make the journey to the capital for serious injuries or health concerns. For the everyday things (the flu, allergic reactions, accidents, etc.), they can help.

              Las Perlas has an impressive list of attributes that make it an ideal retirement destination… and I haven’t even touched on its recreational opportunities. These islands and their surrounding waters are home to mind-boggling biodiversity. Rare sea birds like the blue-footed booby nest here, and thousands of humpback whales migrate each year from Antarctica to Las Perlas to give birth and to mate.

              The cost of living on any island is driven up by the logistics and expense of getting the products and services to the island. The cost of manpower to unload groceries off barges, transport goods, and stock shelves adds to the cost of the items sold.

              In general, if something costs $1 in Panama City, it will cost $1.50 on the islands. Fresh fruit and vegetables are found on the days the barge lands. Of course, you can get a whopping deal on fresh fish and shrimp if you buy from the local fishermen; approximately $5 to $6 per pound. Or better yet, catch dinner yourself.

              Contadora has a couple of very small grocery stores with limited and mostly small quantities of goods. On other islands, you might be standing on the street buying goods through a window opening of a house that stocks a few items for sale.

              One full-time homeowner here reports the overall cost of living is typically $1,250 a month, not including mortgage payments or property taxes. Another expat who resides here only seasonally reports his monthly budget is $1,500, again not including mortgage payments or property taxes.

              Homeowners’ fees vary from $800 for inland property to $1,200 for waterfront annually.

              Although a budget for renting a house can be estimated at $2,000 a month, there are no long-term rentals on the island, as any space not occupied by owners or property caretakers are rented short-term to tourists.

              Water and electricity are expensive. Electricity on Contadora and Saboga is provided by a diesel generating facility on Saboga. Islanders rely largely on water catchment during the rainy season—April through November.

              A lake on Contadora serves as a community water source, but it dries up in the dry season, and then the solution is for water to be barged to the island from Panama.

              It is the most expensive water in Panama, though a planned infrastructure upgrade will provide delivery of potable water and a wastewater treatment solution.

              “Contadora is good for living and investing because it’s quiet, the value of the investments hasn’t ever gone down, that I know of,” says homeowner John. “I don’t think people have ever lost money.”

              Sincerely,

              Ilene Little
              Contributor, Panama Letter

              Tags: 'Expat Life''invest in panama''Panama Beachfront'buy real estate abroadretire in panama
              Share87Tweet54
              Live And Invest Overseas

              Live And Invest Overseas

              Live and Invest Overseas is the world's savviest source for top opportunities to live better, retire in style, invest for profit, do business, and own real estate overseas. Established in 2008, the Live and Invest Overseas' editors and correspondents have more experience researching and reporting on top opportunities for living well, investing for profit, doing business, and owning real estate around the world than anyone else you'll find.

              Start Your New Life Overseas Today!
              Sign up for our free daily e-letter, Overseas Opportunity Letter, and we'll send you a FREE report on The 10 Best Places To Retire In 2025.

              We Value Your Privacy! We will not share your email address with anyone else, period.
              Our Expertise Unlocks The World

              quick links

              • Best Places To Live
              • Best Places To Retire
              • Finding A Job Overseas
              • Real Estate

              LIOS Resources

              • New To LIOS
              • Ask An Expert
              • Media Center
              • Contact Us
              • FAQs
              the 10 best places to retire in 2025
              Sign up for our free daily e-letter, Overseas Opportunity Letter, and get your FREE REPORT: The 10 Best Places To Retire Overseas In 2025






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

                As seen in

                US Media Logos

                © 2008 – Live and Invest Overseas™ – All Rights Reserved.

                About Us / Contact Us / Privacy Policy / Terms / Unsubscribe
                Facebook-f X-twitter Youtube Linkedin-in Instagram

                Welcome Back!

                Login to your account below

                Forgotten Password?

                Retrieve your password

                Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

                Log In

                Sign up to receive the FREE daily e-letter, Overseas Opportunity Letter and we’ll immediately email you our editors’ latest research report…

                BEST PLACES TO RETIRE 

                FREE REPORT:






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

                  Sign up for FREE and learn how to live the good life on a modest budget, find bargain property, and more. Plus, check out our free report on the 10 BEST PLACES TO RETIRE.

                  RETIRE OVERSEAS AND LIVE LIKE ROYALTY






                    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

                    VISIT SITE

                    Buying Real Estate For Cashflow

                     

                    Discover tips and strategies used by global property investing veterans

                    READ MORE

                    Explore Our Latest Posts

                     

                    Learn how to invest and purchase property abroad…

                    EXPLORE

                    Conferences

                    INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY SUMMIT

                    PANAMA CITY, PANAMA June 18-20, 2025
                    LEARN MORE

                    CARIBBEAN VIRTUAL CONFERENCE

                    VIRTUAL July 17-19, 2025
                    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
                    VISIT OUR STORE

                    Free Report

                    THE 10 BEST PLACES TO RETIRE IN 2025

                    FREE REPORT: The 10 Best Places To retire in 2025

                    Sign up to receive the FREE daily e-letter, Overseas Opportunity Letter and we’ll immediately email you our editors’ latest research report…






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

                      LIBRARY

                      Follow Us:

                      © 2008 - Live and Invest Overseas - All Rights Reserved.