We live in a great big beautiful world that is bursting with opportunity around every corner if you decide to live overseas.Please believe me: The life you want is waiting for you out here…You just need to get up, get moving, and seize it for yourself.Where in the world might be best for you?After more than 36 years covering this beat, I have thousands of miles of boots-on-the-ground reconnaissance, decades of experience, and countless feedback from retirees to draw from as I work to help you find your answer to that question.In other words, I have a pretty good idea of your best options.Right now, here are the countries I’d like to put on your radar.These are all affordable, safe, and, frankly, incredible places to spend time. Beach haven, Old World village, exotic escape—no matter what kind of lifestyle you seek, you’ll find the world’s best options among these countries…
#1. Belize
An English-speaking Caribbean escape that values independence… this is an adventure wonderland with rain forests, reefs, Mayan ruins, rivers, waterfalls, and white-sand beaches…
#2. Portugal
A sunny and surprisingly affordable European destination, and home to our #1 choice for World’s Best Retirement Haven…This is one of the most popular expat destinations in the world, meaning you could easily get by on English alone…
#3. Argentina
Add tango and wine to full-fledged European-style living and you get Argentina… one of the most friendly and welcoming havens on our list…
#4. Greece
Its reputation as a bona fide beach destination is well-founded. Here you will find thousands of islands that make up the Greek archipelago, three in particular stand out as the ideal overseas retirement locale…
#5. The Dominican Republic
A quintessential Caribbean, sand-fringed island nation with a low cost of living and the best values in the region…This country also boasts one of the best residency and citizenship programs we’ve ever known…
#6. Chile
The ease of First-World living, plus easy residency with low hassle. Plus, U.S. dollar holders benefit from significant bargains thanks to favorable currency exchange rates…
#7. Colombia
After years of an unfair stigma, this country is finally emerging as one of the great expat and investment destinations…Specifically Medellín—a European-feel city with a Latin American cost of living… a personal favorite and part-time home for me and my family…
#8. Ecuador
Arguably the most affordable retirement haven in the Americas… a popular retirement haven that boasts colonial cities, great weather, and some of the cheapest coastal real estate found anywhere…
#9. France
The world’s best health care, the world’s most beautiful city, and more affordable than you might think, especially thanks to a weak euro.I can tell you the best value destinations both within and outside of Paris… including the “other” (and more affordable) South of France…
#10. Malta
A long favorite expat destination for the British, this Mediterranean island boasts a rich culture, stunning vistas, and the easiest (and cheapest) requirements for EU residency. Plus, English is one of the official languages, so getting settled in is a breeze…
#11. Italy
Your dream of la dolce vita is more affordable than you think. Our top regions here are affordable, coastal, and nearby to nearly everything, perfect for to live overseas…In one of our favorite places here, you could ski in the morning and surf in the afternoon…
#12. Mexico
Accessible, affordable, and home to an array of diverse lifestyle options… from the beaches to colonial mountain towns…This is the most popular overseas haven for Americans, and well more than 2 million U.S. and Canadians live here at least part-time (and for a good reason)…
#13. Thailand
Jaw-droppingly affordable and exotic… Thailand boasts an incredible melting pot of expats from around the world…This “Land of Smiles” is famously welcoming… and its soft-sand beaches are arguably the most stunning in the world…
#14. Philippines
A new edition to our list is this former American colony. Aside from stunningly beautiful beaches and English-speaking locals, the Philippines is one of the world’s most affordable places to retire, and welcomes foreigners to boot…
#15. Montenegro
This coastal nation sits across the Adriatic Sea from Italy… and it’s arguably the most affordable expat haven in Europe. The British have been coming to its coasts for years, and now we’re introducing it to the rest of the English-speaking world…
#16. Cyprus
Once an overlooked European outpost, Cyprus underwent an ambitious rebranding in recent years and is now the newest addition to our list. Boasting warm and welcoming communities, rich culture, and cosmopolitan living—Cyprus is a hidden Mediterranean jewel…
#17. Uruguay
Safe, stable, and tranquil… a great place to raise a family… like the America you remember from your childhood…
#18. Spain
An established haven for foreign investors and expats with great beaches, markets, restaurants, attractions, and fiestas… we’ve got the intel on the best places for expats and investors…
#19. Panama
The world’s #1 live overseas haven when considering lifestyle, retirement, and investment altogether…This is truly a “do-everything haven,” and it’s where I’ve chosen to call home. From the modern capital city to the Caribbean archipelago, this place has something for everyone…
The trouble is, if I’m being honest, this list doesn’t help you.Not really.I’ve whittled your options down out of nearly 200 countries in the world…But you aren’t going to retire to Panama or to Portugal—just as you aren’t going to “retire to the United States.” You might, for example, consider retiring to Naples, Florida, or Scottsdale, Arizona…But I’d strongly recommend you think bigger!How about Cascais, Portugal… Ambergris Caye, Belize… Phuket, Thailand… Mazatlán, Mexico… Pisa, Italy… etc….Sincerely, 
Kathleen PeddicordFounding Publisher, Overseas Opportunity Letter
