Top expat retirement havens for 2018

Results of a recent survey show the top ten listings for expat retirement are changing fast.

International Living’s Annual Global Retirement Index 2018 has some surprises in store for retirees searching for the perfect place to begin their new lives. The survey itself has been updated with several new categories, and covers the all-important cost of living, visas, buying or renting property, healthcare, climate, amenities finding friends, fitting in and more. With the aim of recommending locations which represent value for money, the survey concentrates on countries where expats’ home currency goes further and is focusing on communities rather than averages.

Costa Rica, already a favourite with American retirees but less well known in the UK, took top place for its low cost of living, stunningly beautiful surroundings, white sand beaches and affordable accommodation. According to the survey’s authors, it’s dependable in an uncertain world, a quality most retirees love, and is proud of its low crime rate.

One new category, buying and investing, will be of strong interest to retirees with full pension pots as it links finding a home with the chance of its also becoming a good investment. Taking the cost of a suitable property in an attractive location, it examines how easy the purchase will be, whether renting is a better idea, property taxes, the costs of a new-build home and whether it’s just a good buy or also an investment over the longer term. Importantly, the governance category examines countries’ commitment to personal freedom, low levels of bureaucracy and safe, stable environments, all with retirees in mind.

With Costa Rica at number one, the rest of the Ten Best Countries are Mexico, Panama, Ecuador, Malaysia, Colombia, Portugal, Nicaragua, Spain and Peru. Former well-known retirement havens such as Cyprus, Thailand, the Caribbean, New Zealand, Australia and Italy, as well as Florida, have given way to Central and South American destinations, although British retirees might be pleased Spain and Portugal are still popular.