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 Travel

          Plan Your Scouting Trip Like A Pro: 10 Tips To Follow

          10 Steps To Finding The Ideal Place For You To Retire Overseas

          by Kat Kalashian
          Oct 07, 2022
          in Travel
          0 0
          A street in La Rochelle, France

          Adobe Stock/Sergey Novikov

          I traveled this week to La Rochelle on an easy three-hour train ride that took me from Paris to the medieval port town north of Bordeaux. I’ve heard great things about it recently and I know someone who has moved to the seaside town, so I’m here to see if it warrants further coverage from us. A favorite holiday spot for the French, La Rochelle is said to have the third highest quality of life in France. The area is known for sunshine and seafood, and, indeed, it’s nearly 20 degrees warmer here than it was in Paris, and the sky is clear. As I was preparing for this scouting trip, I realized that the checklist that guides me on these trips might be helpful to others scouting out their possible future homes overseas…

          Let’s assume you’ve narrowed down your options to a single country of interest, with just a couple of cities or regions within the country that you’re left hesitating between. That’s when you need to make the trip and get some personal experience.

          Here is my advice…

          1. Do lots of neighborhood research before you set out

          You don’t want to waste time staying in any part of town that you know you won’t like.

          Light sleeper? Avoid neighborhoods or streets with lots of restaurants, bars, clubs, and other late-night establishments. Retired? You might not want to live in a business-heavy district. Have no patience for tourist hordes? Make sure to dodge the most visited parts of town. Not a fan of kiddie noises? Look for local schools and plan around them. Have mobility issues? Don’t target the tops of hills…

          Also be on the lookout for proximity to transit. If you’re in a city, where is the closest metro or bus line? If you’re more rurally located, how far is the nearest train station?

          Research will only get you so far, of course. Once you’ve got your boots on the ground, try to see as much of the city, town, or region as you can to see for yourself what you are drawn to or repelled from.

          If you can, stay in a few different areas. Test as many neighborhoods as you can squeeze in on the same visit. If you’re looking at a city, stay both in the city and just outside. The suburbs of any city are significantly cheaper than living within the limits, and can often be a great compromise to those who love city life but can’t afford it or simply don’t need to be in the thick of things.

          2. Stay in a short-term rental

          You can’t get an authentic feel for living in a place by staying in a hotel—it would be a waste of a trip. Home rental services (Vrbo, Airbnb, HomeAway, etc.) are ubiquitous these days, so you should be able to find a rental no matter where in the world you’re looking to move. You may need to research which service is the most used in the region you’re looking at, though, as Airbnb isn’t always the most prevalent.

          Living in a short-term rental, you’ll be living in a local building with local neighbors. Whether it’s an apartment in a city or a farmhouse in the country, you’ll gain invaluable insight into living in the place. Construction quirks, how the plumbing works, grocery shopping, trash disposal, the types of appliances you can expect, figuring out the keys, intercom, elevator, etc…. all this is a major insight into what life will be like in the future, so take advantage.

          3. Cook your own meals

          As you’re in a home rental, you can hit the grocery store and plan at least a few of your own meals.

          Observe how the locals shop—are grocery stores common? If they’re hard to find, locals probably opt for markets or specialty shops instead of supermarkets. Are markets open every day in permanent spots or do they move according to the day? If you’re living on the coast is there are seafood market or a spot on the beach for buying fresh catches?

          Ask around for the best place to get X—at cafés, of your neighbors, and of anyone else you meet as you explore.

          Shop as though you were at home. What can’t you find on the shelves? What is surprisingly costly? Peanut butter is a common culprit of this complaint… we’ve heard countless times over the years that a place is unlivable because either American-style peanut butter is unavailable or it costs more than US$10 a jar.

          Not everything will be available or as affordable as it was back home—this goes both ways, though. Moving to France? Wine and cheese are going to be practically free compared to their imported prices back home.

          4. Use your own feet to get around

          As a resident, you probably won’t be taking taxis or Ubers everywhere you go and you need to get used to moving like a local. You don’t necessarily need to hoof it (though, in Europe, the best way to experience most places is on foot or by bike), but you do need to make your own way without relying on others.

          Most European cities offer the best public transport systems in the world—metros, buses, funiculars, trains, trams, ferries, water taxis… all costing less than 2 euros per trip. Plus, Europe is incredibly well networked by rail, so you can get from city to city, even country to country, by train.

          If you’re looking at living in a town or the countryside, you’ll likely need a car as a resident. Rent one and start getting familiar with the lay of the land.

          5. Window shop as if you were settling in

          Look for furniture, décor, sheets, electronics, clothing, pet food, appliances, tools, and whatever else you can think of that you’d need once you moved in. You’ll find all the various places you’ll need to shop, the style of options available locally, and even compare prices.

          Start Your New Life Today, Overseas






            We Value Your Privacy! We will not share your email address with anyone else, period.
            A world full of fun, adventure, and profit awaits! 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 Style Overseas In .

            6. Jot down a budget

            This is the best time you’ll have to gauge your future expenditures… Take note of how much you spend on groceries, gas or public transport, and whatever you scoped out in your window shopping.

            You need to separate the tourist from the future resident, though. Don’t be scared to splurge on some fun, but recognize when it’s vacation-type purchase and don’t let that muddy the waters of your accounting.

            I have a budget table that I fill in on every scouting trip—I ask everyone I can for their answer and average them all at the end:

            Monthly Expense:
            Rent
            Transportation (bus, taxi, etc.)
            Gas (cooking/heating)
            Electricity
            Water
            Garbage collection
            Telephone
            Internet
            Cable TV
            Household Help
            Entertainment
            Groceries
            Gym membership
            Medical appointment

            Create your own budget table for things that you know you spend money on.

            7. See real estate

            You’ll likely have digitally seen plenty of properties when you were looking for your short-term rental—that was great experience in itself. If you’re interested in buying, though, make an appointment with a couple (or a few) real estate agents. See what’s on the market, ask about foreigner financing, the buying process, etc.

            Research which sites are most used locally for long-term rentals and put in your criteria to see what would suit you. You don’t need to go view them, but be aware of what’s included or not, how much deposit is required, how quickly things come and go, etc.

            8. Find a banker, lawyer, tax guy, etc.

            Visit a local bank to ask what would be needed to open an account. If you’re an American, this is an especially difficult step, as most banks around the world no longer want to work with Americans—you may have to stop in several banks before you find one willing to take on U.S. clients.

            You’ll also need a local immigration attorney, and possibly a local tax expert. The only way to choose these service providers is by referral—ask other expats.

            9. Have some fun

            You chose this place because you love it—make sure to revel in that. Don’t get too bogged down in the daunting administration and the not-so-fun side of moving.

            Just because you live in a place doesn’t mean you’ll never eat out or visit the local tourist sites, so get out there and enjoy all it has to offer. Was it the beaches, the golf, the mountains, or the museums that you initially fell in love with? Whatever it was, get into it.

            10. Meet some locals and some expats

            Find a few expat forums or groups before you head out and try to make some connections prior to your trip. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to take an expat out for a drink and ask them all about life in your potential new home. Find the local expat haunts and go to trivia or darts night.

            If your new home speaks another language, it’ll be harder to meet locals, but don’t be afraid to try out your language skills. Go to church, a community center, library, the gym, or look into volunteering; these are all great ways that you might befriend locals.

            Kat Kalashian
            Editor, In Focus: Europe

            Tags: 'France''real estate'Parisretire abroadretire overseasScouting Trip
            Share126Tweet63
            Kat Kalashian

            Kat Kalashian

            Kat Kalashian has grown up around the world, living in the United States, Ireland, France, and Panama, and has traveled extensively in her few years. Growing up as a young expat she is familiar with the trials and tribulations of an overseas move and the adjustments that must be made in every new destination. After living in Panama for seven years, she and her husband relocated back to Paris, France, in 2018 where they now live full-time with their American-born cat, Panamanian-born dog, and two French-born daughters. She's now been living in Paris for over 10 cumulative years, and enjoys being able to explore France and the rest of Europe at every opportunity. As head of Live And Invest Overseas’ European Division, she is Editorial Director of Europe Uncovered, a monthly subscription service, MCs the Europe based Live And Invest Conferences, and scouts out new locations for coverage on the Continent.

            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.