Colonial Cuenca—The World’s Top Retirement Haven in 2009

Date: 08/17/2009

By the staff of International Living

Shortcuts to Your New Life Overseas: If money were no object, what would your dream retirement look like? Finance a lifetime of overseas adventures Tap into unlimited income with the "Accelerated Income System" I found your home in the sun...and it's less than $100,000! Retire this year and still make more money than most doctors

In the place that wins this year’s Top Retirement Haven, you can’t ignore the doorways. In fact, if you have a camera with you, you’ll find yourself taking pictures of them. This one is arched. That one square. The wood is always ancient—like the cobbled streets you walk along. But it’s carefully tended—sanded and stained, or painted red or blue or teal.

Look up, and you see waves of terracotta tile roofs. And rising from them, renaissance cathedral domes—each a soft blue and white, carving a crisp arch in the cobalt sky.

Cuenca, Ecuador is a place of old world beauty, where you can enjoy the open welcome of an artists’ community, the comforts of modern conveniences, and the wallet-pleasing prices that deliver a private retreat for as little as $300 a month.

For a decade now, Ecuador has been one of our favorite locations for overseas retirement. In fact, it won the top honor in 1999 and has been among our preferred locales ever since. This year, it’s back at number 1—followed by Mexico, Panama, Uruguay, and Italy.

In years past, we’ve always discussed our top picks in terms of what each nation has to offer. But this year we’ve taken a slightly different approach. We asked our roving editors—folks who actually live in each of our top five countries and travel them extensively—to choose one destination within each nation. Pick, we said, the one place you’d tell readers to begin their search for the good life overseas.

Whether you imagine yourself in a colonial-era town... a sandy beachside getaway... or a cosmopolitan city, you’ll find in our list of the 2009 World’s Top Retirement Havens, something to please you.

Did You Know That... You can buy your dream home on the beach in Brazil for $63,000. Retirees in Ecuador never have to wait in line. You can buy your own vineyard in Argentina for $5,000 an acre. A complete facelift in Mexico costs as little as $6,500. You can get 24-hour care in Panama City for $25 a day.

1. Ecuador: Cuenca

Cuenca enjoys beautiful weather, with an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables available all year. It’s a city of almost half a million people—the third largest in Ecuador—so you have everything you need for comfortable, all-year living. There’s a new, modern shopping mall on the edge of town, theater, orchestra, and lots of good restaurants and cafés. The expat community is thriving and content.

And most importantly, Cuenca is one of most beautiful and best-preserved colonial cities you’ll find…and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The cobblestoned streets and architecture are much as they’ve been for hundreds of years.

You can rent a beautiful condo here for $300 a month or buy a large apartment for $43,000. (See page 7 of your issue for more properties for sale in this thriving city.) And the cost of living is low. A couple can live well here on less than $1,500 a month. See the sidebar on this page for a breakdown of monthly costs.

The city sits in the fertile Paucarbamba Valley, where four small rivers converge. One, theTomebamba, runs through the center of town, dividing the historic section to the north and the newer suburbs to the south.Cuenca is a center for some of Ecuador’s finestcrafts. The area is known for jewelry making, weaving, leather goods, furniture, ceramics, Panama hat making, and more.

If health care is a concern, you won’t need to worry if you retire here. One reader who lives in Cuenca recently wrote to use to tell us about her experience. A friend visiting from Florida came down with a bad case of flu. They went to an English-speaking doctor and waited only 15 minutes before being seen. The visit cost just $25 and the medication $8. And that evening, the doctor called to check if she was ok. Now that’s a service you won’t find back in the U.S.

A Sample Monthly Budget for a Couple Living in Cuenca: Housing (rental of a luxury two-bedroom apartment): $500 Utilities (including, phone, Internet, and cable television): $150 Maid (twice a week): $60 Groceries: $275 Maintenance and fuel for one car: $140 Clothing: $70 Entertainment (two people dining out eight times a month at top restaurants or other entertainment): $200 Health care (four $30 visits to a doctor per year for two people, divided by 12 months): $20 Total per month: $1,415; Total per year: $16,980.

For more information on retiring to Cuenca, or elsewhere in Ecuador:

Try A New Life in Cuenca, Ecuador for $300 a Month

The Hidden Paradise Where A Couple Can Live Well On Less Than $600 a Month!

International Living's FREE Resources on Ecuador

Enquire About International Living's Ultimate Event, scheduled for early 2010 in Ecuador

Pathfinder's Real Estate Portfolio in Ecuador

2. Mexico: Merida

Merida is the biggest small town in Mexico. Clean, prosperous, and safe, here you find a blend of Mexican and Maya culture with historic influences from Europe and the Caribbean and come up with something unique. The air connections in and out are excellent, which means you can fly to or from almost anywhere. It’s half an hour from Gulf Coast beaches, but not exposed to the coastal weather. And you won’t be bored. There’s lots of theater, art, shopping, and entertainment.

If you’re from the U.S. or Canada, you’ll have all the services you’re used to...except snow removal. No need for that with Merida’s year-around tropical climate. Merida is the easiest and most convenient city south of the border for retirement living.

The city is a center of commerce and home to universities, hospitals, friendly locals, and lavish houses that might cost three times as much in San Miguel de Allende or any of central Mexico’s other, more-discovered colonial enclaves.

At sidewalk cafés, friends sit under the shade of awnings and leafy branches sipping tall glasses of iced coffee. On the main square, the oldest cathedral in the Americas stands as a testament to this city’s centuries-long attention to elegant detail.

Despite all of Mérida’s culture and sophistication, the price of real estate is still surprisingly low. Colonial houses in the heart of town routinely list for less than $100,000—sometimes much less.

Unlike many other cities in the world, Mérida is growing with both forethought and grace. The local government is actively preserving the interior of the city, offering incentives for those who paint the fronts of their homes, and keeping the many plazas trash-free and inviting. If you’re looking for an attractive, safe, and easy place to live that’s close to home and within easy access of a sandy beach...book a flight to Mérida (flight time from Miami is only two hours).

For more information on retiring to Merida, or elsewhere in Mexico:

The Four Cs of Merida

Why Are One Million Americans Moving to Mexico?

Why There Will Never Be a Better Time to Start a New Life in Mexico

International Living's FREE Resources on Mexico

Pathfinder's Real Estate Portfolio in Mexico

3. Panama: Coronado

Over the past decade, cosmopolitan Panama has steadily gained popularity as a retirement destination. For beachfront buys, you can’t beat Coronado. It boasts the area’s best infrastructure and it’s less than an hour and a half by car from Panama City. Best of all, the beach—a mix of bright white and glittering black volcanic sand—goes on for miles.

The real estate in Coronado proper lists in the $200,000-range. But there is plenty of inexpensive property on beaches within 15 minutes of Coronado, where you can buy from between $100,000 and $150,000 and still be close to all of Coronado’s amenities

This beachfront area is known as the Arco Seco or “dry arch.” The name came about because the region, which arcs over the Pacific, gets less rain than other areas of the country.

Retirees and local residents say the region has become remarkably international over the past five years. And the living has gotten ever more convenient. You’ll find opportunities for community service and social outings. And there’s plenty to keep you occupied – from tennis to Mahjong to golf (the golf club here features a championship course designed by Tom Fazio). There’s even an Olympic pool and an Equestrian Club.

Despite this growth, the cost of living remains low. At little beach shacks like La Posada you can still have a meal for $5. A burger is $1, a steaming bowl of traditional sancocho, a chunky chicken soup, is $2. At the newest Mexican restaurant, Cholo’s, warm freshly made nachos cost less than $2 and you can buy a local beer for $1. At the San Fernando Clinic, a consult with an English-speaking doctor will set you back just $35…about half what you’ll pay in Panama City.

Coronado has always been a popular beach destination, but the long-awaited San Fernando Clinic has really sealed the deal. The 24-hour facility opened its doors in October of 2008, and is equipped to offer a wide range of services. It boasts modern medical equipment so patients can get X-rays, CAT scans, Ultra Sounds, lab tests, and even cosmetic surgery. A dentist and ophthalmologist also work out of the clinic, which has English-speaking doctors on staff.

For more information on retiring to Coronado, or elsewhere in Panama:

Business Ideas for Expats in Panama

Let's Set the Record Straight About Panama

Panama Money Secrets

International Living's FREE Resources on Panama

Pathfinder's Real Estate Portfolio in Panama

4. Uruguay: Punta del Este

In lively Punta del Este, the standard of living is among the highest in Uruguay, yet retirees enjoy a small-town atmosphere, without the crime or problems associated with a big city. The beaches are clean, wide, and well-groomed. And although it’s a world-class resort, prices are still unbelievably low for a home near the beach. There are plenty of properties for sale for less than $150,000.

Punta del Este is a coastal resort town that boasts 20 miles of sandy beaches and blue waters, along with the country’s hottest nightclubs, the best casinos and shows, and the highest concentration of fine restaurants.

The department of Maldonado puts a lot of money into keeping things nice in Punta del Este to keep the visitors coming back. Crews walk the beaches every morning at daybreak, raking the sand, emptying trash receptacles, and picking up any stray refuse. The roads and streets are clean and well kept, and even the shrubs growing wild on the dunes are trimmed every year. New wood walkways traverse the dunes here and there for people who may have difficulty walking in the sand.

For more information on retiring to Punta Del Este, or elsewhere in Uruguay:

Everybody Wants to Come to Uruguay

International Living's FREE Resources on Uruguay

Pathfinder's Real Estate Portfolio in Uruguay

5. Italy: Calitri

If you seek the real Italy and a charming village house for a bargain price (by bargain, we mean move-into for $60,000 or less), get to Calitri before the rest of the world discovers it. Above the greenery of the olive groves, pastel-colored houses scatter helter-skelter down a hill. A timeless little town of 6,000 people lost in the folds of Italy’s south, Calitri is the real, traditional deal.

Along with bags of medieval magic and authentic local cuisine, it has a great weekly market. Emerald green lakes are on the doorstep—and the spectacular Amalfi Coast, Naples, and historic Pompeii are only an hour’s drive away.

For more information on retiring to Calitri, or elsewhere in Italy:

Secret Passages, Donkey Feasts, and Homes for $15,500

How to Buy a Home in Italy for $1.30

International Living's FREE Resources on Italy

International Living's Top 30 Countries to Retire in 2009

Country	Real Estate	Special Benefits	Cost of Living	Culture	Health	Infrastructure	Safety/ Stability	Climate	Total
Ecuador	90	84	73	67	73	59	92	95	79
Mexico	85	76	68	72	82	64	92	91	78
Panama	80	86	65	67	77	73	93	79	77
Uruguay	83	61	69	72	79	73	100	89	75
Italy	64	63	58	100	80	67	100	87	73
France	60	45	50	98	100	95	100	87	72
Brazil	92	45	70	68	79	65	92	83	71
Argentina	81	40	68	71	86	63	100	88	71
Costa Rica	66	70	62	64	78	65	93	75	70
Australia	65	52	55	68	90	90	100	89	70
Malta	64	65	52	70	91	34	100	96	70
Spain	60	49	57	75	94	71	100	87	69
Belize	67	84	65	50	69	53	93	60	69
Chile	70	47	68	71	76	68	100	85	68
Nicaragua	87	68	62	60	69	38	79	75	68
Malaysia	87	65	66	70	65	47	86	40	68
Greece	75	49	55	68	79	60	100	79	67
New Zealand	75	36	43	83	92	65	100	84	66
Thailand	80	50	69	69	70	49	71	43	65
Portugal	66	33	59	76	80	66	100	86	65
Colombia	83	34	57	63	76	59	71	91	63
U.S.	58	27	59	79	70	100	100	86	62
Slovenia	72	46	42	65	76	56	100	83	62
Honduras	68	55	66	34	69	41	79	83	62
Dominican Republic	67	55	52	50	72	34	86	57	60
Ireland	25	65	29	85	85	57	100	59	59
Croatia	61	20	45	70	80	56	100	85	57
U.K.	23	55	30	87	81	71	100	60	57
South Africa	87	23	47	60	50	47	75	88	54

How our Global Retirement Index is scored Real Estate. Countries where real estate prices are low and the purchase of real estate is relatively easy receive the highest scores. We use our own experiences plus reports from our contributing editors and real estate contacts around the world to rate each country. Weight: 15% Entertainment, Recreation, and Culture. This category considers the number of newspapers per 1,000 citizens, the number of museums and cinemas per capita, the number of university students, the literacy rate, and the variety of cultural and recreational offerings. Weight: 10% Cost of Living. This score is based on statistics from the Indexes of Living Costs Abroad, Quarter Allowances, and Hardship Differentials, published by the United States Department of State, and on data published by Business International. We also use our firsthand experiences living and traveling in these countries. The lower the score, the higher the cost of living. Weight: 20% Safety and Stability. This measure of unrest in each country is based primarily on Interpol data and State Department statistics. It also takes into account the civil liberties and political rights granted by each government. Our own experiences and reports from expatriates living in these countries also influence the safety scores. Weight: 5% Health Care. Considered in this category are the cost of a typical visit to a general practitioner and the cost and coverage particulars of health insurance. Weight: 20% Climate. Countries with temperate weather throughout the year, moderate rain fall, and little risk of natural disaster come out on top in this category. We use data representing each country as a whole instead of favoring one region over another. Weight: 5% Special Benefits. This category considers government provisions that make moving to and living in each country easier and more affordable for foreigners. Taken into account are property rights for foreign residents, property tax rates, duty-free imports on personal belongings, currency controls, employment restrictions, voting rights, and transportation discounts for seniors. Weight: 20% Infrastructure. This section considers the number of cars and telephones per 1,000 residents, the length of railroad track in usable condition, the number of airports, the quality of the country’s road and highway network, and the availability of telecommunications. Weight: 5%

Publications

International Living Magazine

For nearly three decades, the monthly International Living magazine has provided a scope and depth of information about global traveling, living, retiring, investing, and buying real estate that is not available anywhere else at any price.

Subscribe now or view a sample issue.

Mexico Insider

Make your dreams of living or retiring in Mexico a reality. You'll learn everything you need to know to safely and affordably buy real estate in Mexico, the world's top retirement destination.

Panama Insider

To take full advantage of Panama, whatever you may be thinking about doing—investing, traveling, retiring, or starting a business—our Panama Insider publication will provide the up-to-the-minute, on-the-ground information you'll need to make it happen.

VIP Services

NEW: Real Estate Trend Alert

Real Estate Trend Alert is designed for a very small group of aggressive yet prudent individuals. It's for people who want to make serious money by taking advantage of situations long before they become common knowledge.

Publisher's Roundtable

As a member of the elite International Living Publisher's Roundtable, you are entitled to full access to every single resource ever produced or provided by International Living—for life.

Lifetime Society

As a member of the Lifetime Society, you'll enjoy savings and special benefits on every product and service we offer and every event we sponsor. Each member benefit has been designed to help you in your pursuit of profits, fun, and adventure in undervalued, appreciating overseas markets.

World Club

As a World Club member, you are part of a very special group eligible to explore many of the world's best opportunities in like-minded company, spending much less money than you dreamed possible in the process, and all the time enjoying the personalized attention, perks, and privileges reserved for our VIPs alone. Your World Club membership opens up the entire slate of International Living events to you in a whole new way.

Mexico—still the world’s best retirement haven

Date: 08/31/2008

See International Living's 2009 Retirement Index.

by the staff of International Living

For the second year running, Mexico wins our annual Global Retirement Index.

With rapidly rising fuel, health care, food, and travel costs, it’s nice to know there are still places where you can live well without burning through your retirement nest-egg. And Mexico is one of those special places. In Mexico, you can still enjoy a lifestyle that’s probably all but unaffordable for most people in the U.S. and Canada.

Mexico offers the perfect mix of centuries-old traditions and contemporary lifestyles. It’s easy to get a residence visa. And the services, amenities, and discounts offered to retirees here are just as bountiful as in Panama, with its famous pensionado program—as are the overall cost savings. Plus, Mexico is closer to home.

Moving to Mexico means you can still have all the comforts you are used to north of the border: cable TV, high-speed Internet, and modern home appliances. And if you prefer, when you move to Mexico you can even bring all your favorite things with you without paying import taxes.

Goods and services cost less, so you can afford the kinds of luxuries only the wealthy enjoy up north: a maid, a cook, and a gardener, for example. Whether your vision of the ideal retirement involves shopping, fishing, sunbathing, diving, biking, mountain climbing, parasailing, collecting crafts, visiting archeological sites, partying, going to concerts, attending the theater, or fine dining, in Mexico you can engage in all these activities, and many more.

This country is so diverse that everybody can find exactly what they want: beautiful, warm oceans, crystal-clear tropical lakes, fertile farmlands, temperate-but-majestic mountains, starkly gorgeous deserts, small towns or sophisticated cities.

And because of its geographic diversity, you can also choose your favorite climate: from warm and dry to warm and sultry to spring-like temperatures all year in the Colonial Highlands.

And if you’re looking for the home of your dreams, you can find it in Mexico—for much less than it would cost you most anywhere in the US or Canada. The real estate market offers endless possibilities for your retirement. You can own beachfront—not just ocean-view property—in Mexico for less than $100,000.

Mexico’s top 3 retirement havens

Mexico is a big country. So, for your convenience, we have chosen our top three retirement havens, offering you three different areas of Mexico. These are: Merida, Manzanillo, and Xalapa. First up (and in no particular order) is Merida.

Merida: A bohemian "people city"

Weather and climate: 7
Health care: 10
Overall attractiveness: 9
Housing availability: 9
Housing cost: 9
Accessibility to an airport: 10
Cultural activities: 10
Other activities: 9
Communication infrastructure: 9
Daily living cost: 8
TOTAL: 90

Merida is a “people city.” A few months ago Mexico City’s leading La Reforma newspaper polled the country’s citizens and asked them to name the most livable cities in Mexico. Merida ranked second, behind Colima, near the Pacific coast. Every night of the week you will find live music of a different variety in a different plaza around town. The food vendors will be there…grab a freshly made hotdog, hamburger, or taco for a buck or two, and for dessert, a cone filled with homemade ice cream will set you back another buck.

During the day, you’ll often find students in these same plazas (Merida is known for its fine high schools, technical schools, colleges and universities), some diligently tapping away on laptop keyboards. The mayor of Merida is installing free wireless Internet service in 50 locations around the city, including parks. The most popular gathering spots are already wired.

The city has also allocated 60 million pesos (about $6 million) to beautify its central historic district. Workers are busily restoring and painting building facades, and removing overhead power lines and placing them underground. Some city streets will be inaccessible to bus traffic.

“Merida is like the French Quarter, but cleaner and safer, like Santa Fe but cheaper, and it’s what Key West used to be,” says real estate agent Eric Partney. “There is a lively street life here, and that gives the city a bohemian feel.”

Merida is the best of genteel, easygoing Old Mexico, yet it offers the sophistication you’d expect of a city with nearly 1 million inhabitants. You’ll find Mexico’s largest shopping mall here, the Gran Plaza. Two more mega shopping malls are now also being built. The city offers a lively cultural life, with several theaters where you can take in a play, the symphony, or the ballet. There are also several excellent health care facilities, including the Clínica Merida and the new Star Medica, featuring state-of-the-art laboratory and diagnostic equipment.

As for the property market, if you’re interested in renovating, there are plenty of colonial homes for sale in Merida. In Centro, you’ll find small fixer-uppers of 1,000 to 2,000 square feet for as little as $30,000 (although there aren’t as many at that price as there used to be). Labor and construction costs are low, too—the average construction laborer makes $85 to $100 per week. Spend just a little and live in a comfortable humble home or spend a bit more and turn your pumpkin into a palace.

Keep in mind that there aren’t as many of these old homes at rock-bottom prices as there used to be. Prices for colonial-style homes in need of complete renovation run from about $30,000 and up. Renovated homes typically start at about $100,000, although occasionally you can find them for less.

You can still find old haciendas, too, if that kind of property appeals to you. In the city limits of Merida, just minutes from Centro, one is currently offered for $250,000. On 2.4 acres of land, it has been somewhat restored and features a large living room and dining hall with a beamed ceiling. There’s even the requisite chapel.

What about the suburbs? You can find a well-built modern home in Merida’s suburbs for $60,000 and up. In the most elite neighborhoods, including Country Club and Campestre, you will pay much more.

Manzanillo: A casual city-living lifestyle

Weather and climate: 9
Health care: 8
Overall attractiveness: 9
Housing availability: 8
Housing cost: 8
Accessibility to an airport: 10
Cultural activities: 7
Other activities: 10
Communication infrastructure: 8
Daily living cost: 8
TOTAL: 85

Manzanillo—along with Puerto Vallarta, which lies about 165 miles north—is one of the biggest beach resort cities on this part of Mexico’s Pacific coast. But where Vallarta is sleek and chic, with great shopping and high-end restaurants, Manzanillo offers a more casual lifestyle. Here there are great (but simple) seafood restaurants, scuba shacks, and great beaches. The city boasts two five-mile stretches of beach, on two bays that are separated by a peninsula.

One of the nicest, cleanest beaches is at Las Brisas, in the Bay of Manzanillo. This area tends to be more residential, with condominium complexes and the occasional small B&B. It lies right beside a naval base, and on some mornings you can hear the naval band or see teams of naval recruits and officers exercising on the beach. (Their presence may also account in part for Las Brisas’s reputation for safety.)

Transportation connections are good, too. It is well connected by road with communities up and down the coast and with cities in the interior. Manzanillo has an international airport, with direct flights from Houston and Los Angeles. In addition, the large international airport at Guadalajara is only three hours away by highway.

To keep you busy in your retirement, the area offers many sports-related activities, including sport fishing, golf (there are five golf courses in the area), hiking, horseback riding, and boating. Swimming, surfing, scuba diving, and snorkeling, of course, are popular, and the equipment is readily available. Plus, Manzanillo also has several spas and gyms for indoor workouts.

Real estate in Manzanillo, even for beachfront property, remains surprisingly affordable.

Single-family homes right on the beach are much rarer here than condominiums. We did recently view one 4,000-square-foot house on the first line of beach, however. It sits at one end of a double lot, with 132 feet of frontage, so there is plenty of open space to build on. (There’s even space for a second house or guest quarters.) The asking price is $500,000.

Once you get away from the first-line beach, property prices begin to drop and can be dramatically lower even a few blocks inland. Lot size, as a result, can go up. Single-family homes become both more affordable and more available. Many of the gated communities fall into this category—offering sea views but no direct beach access. For example, you can get a single-family house in a gated community from $150,000 to $200,000.

In addition, many small subdivisions are being built on the inland side of Manzanillo, often with small parks and pools as amenities in the public areas. Small two- and three-bedroom modern houses in these subdivisions sell for anywhere from $55,000 to $100,000 each, with many falling in the $60,000 to $80,000 range. Houses at this price and in this area can command monthly rents in the $800 to $900 range.

There’s a lot to like in Manzanillo: a warm climate; attractive beaches; friendly population; scores of restaurants and hotels; and still-affordable real estate.

For real estate information for Manzanillo: Property Pros (Susan Dearing and Carlos Cuellar), tel. (52)314-333-0642 (office) or (52)1-314-358-5042 (cell); e-mail: propertypros@gomanzanillo.com

Xalapa: An affordable cultural gem

Weather and climate: 8
Health care: 8
Overall attractiveness: 8
Housing availability: 9
Housing cost: 9
Accessibility to an airport: 10
Cultural activities: 10
Other activities: 8
Communication infrastructure: 9
Daily living cost: 8
TOTAL: 87

In Xalapa, the roads wind among lushly green hills and ravines, where rivulets and small waterfalls are a common sight. In spring, coffee bushes in bloom, their tiny white flowers scattered like snowflakes on the green leaves, grow in every ravine under arching banana trees. This is the heart of Veracruz State’s coffee-growing region, where the foothills meet the mountains.

The air here is rich and moist and the temperature mild, though you may need a light jacket in the evening. It’s hard to believe that you’re only an hour from the coast, with its temperatures in the 90s. But in that hour’s drive you’ve gone from sea level to 4,000 feet, and from Veracruz’s black-sand beaches to this capital city nestled in the hills.

With a population of about 400,000, Xalapa is no longer a tiny capital.. But it still gives the feeling of a small city that you can easily escape into the countryside. From the city’s heights you can see green hills in almost every direction, blending into blue-tinged mountains. It’s no surprise that Xalapa is a hub for mountain sports, especially eco-tourism and white-water rafting on the area’s many little rivers.

For many people, though, Xalapa’s cultural life is the main draw. This is a city that exudes creative, intellectual energy. Known as the “Athens of Veracruz,” Xalapa is home to three universities and arguably the best music school in Mexico. Chic coffee shops and bistros fill during the day with shoppers and into the evening with students, academics, and writers, their conversations a roar over the tinkle of wine glasses and coffee cups. Walking through the city center, you see placards at almost every corner announcing concerts and plays. Xalapa’s symphony orchestra is considered the best in Mexico—but there are all styles of music here, from rock to jazz as well as classical. And if history is your passion, you’re in for a treat—Xalapas’s anthropological museum is widely considered the best in Mexico after the one in Mexico City.

If you’re looking for a medium-sized inland city with great amenities, Xalapa (sometimes spelled Jalapa but always pronounced ha-LAP-ah) could be a good fit. From film to theater to music, it offers as many cultural activities as a city twice its size.

Housing and overall cost of living are remarkably inexpensive. There are plenty of properties for sale for less than $150,000. And there are lots of options on where to buy—city neighborhoods where you can walk to shops, gated communities with expansive green areas, and nearby villages that offer colonial charm and are within an easy drive of Xalapa’s cultural amenities. One modern house recently for sale offers the advantages of city living and all the space of suburban life. It’s just a few minutes’ drive from Xalapa’s colonial center and is in a gated community. There are parks, a small supermarket, and other shops practically next door. Even better, there is an open-air vegetable market three blocks away where you can also get freshly prepared, handmade tacos hot off the grill. ..

The two-story, three-bedroom house has more than 2,100 feet of construction on a 1,600-square-foot lot. Price: $150,000.

Just 10 to 15 minutes by car outside the city, there is a three-bedroom home for sale for $95,000. The house has a large balcony offering mountain views.

For colonials and rentals in the Xalapa area, contact: Bienes Raices Xalapa

For real estate in general, contact: Cassa Bienes Raices (Ileana Cruz), e-mail: informes@cassabienesraices.com

Editor's note: Our rating system for our three favorite Mexico retirement havens, above, is entirely subjective. (Note that these ratings are not the same as our rating in the overall Retirement Index, where we rate countries as a whole.) We assign points based (from 1 to 10 with 1 being dismal and 10 being excellent) on our perceptions of what is most important to us. As for housing costs, if we think they are extremely reasonable, we give the location a 10 ranking. This, too, is subjective, as housing costs in resort areas can be expensive yet still reasonable based on the fact that it is a popular destination where prices are likely to continue to appreciate.
Total points available for any one destination: 100.

How our Global Retirement Index is scored

Real estate: Countries where real estate prices are low and the purchase of real estate is relatively easy receive the highest scores. We use our own experiences plus reports from our contributing editors and real estate contacts around the world to rate each country. Weight: 15%

Entertainment, recreation, and culture: This category considers the number of newspapers per 1,000 citizens, the number of museums and cinemas per capita, the number of university students, the literacy rate, and the variety of cultural and recreational offerings. Weight: 10%

Cost of living: This score is based on statistics from the Indexes of Living Costs Abroad, Quarter Allowances, and Hardship Differentials, published by the U.S. Department of State, and on data published by Business International. We also use our firsthand experiences living and traveling in these countries. The lower the score, the higher the cost of living. Weight: 20%

Safety and stability: This measure of unrest in each country is based primarily on Interpol data and State Department statistics. It also takes into account the civil liberties and political rights granted by each government. Our own experiences and reports from expatriates living in these countries also influence the safety scores. Weight: 5%

Health care: Considered in this category are the cost of a typical visit to a general practitioner and the cost and coverage particulars of health insurance. Weight: 20%

Climate: Countries with temperate weather throughout the year, moderate rainfall, and little risk of natural disaster come out on top in this category. We use data representing each country as a whole instead of favoring one region over another. Weight: 5%

Special benefits: This category considers government provisions that make moving to and living in each country easier and more affordable for foreigners. Taken into account are property rights for foreign residents, property tax rates, duty-free imports on personal belongings, currency controls, employment restrictions, voting rights, and transportation discounts for seniors. Weight: 20%

Infrastructure: This section considers the number of cars and telephones per 1,000 residents, the length of railroad track in usable condition, the number of airports, the quality of the country’s road and highway network, and the availability of telecommunications. Weight: 5%

Learn more from IL’s Mexico resources

Mexico Insider
Sign up for our monthly online publication Mexico Insider to make your dreams of living or retiring in Mexico a reality. You’ll learn everything you need to know to safely and affordably buy real estate in Mexico, a country with the best lifestyle and climate we’ve ever experienced.

Mexico: The Owner’s Manual
Let us take you as close as you can get to your retirement in Mexico without buying a plane ticket and hiring an expert. Once you finish reading our brand-new 2008 edition of Mexico: The Owner’s Manual, we think you’ll agree that Mexico deserves its top position as the world’s top retirement haven.

Live and Invest in Mexico seminar
Join us for our Live and Invest in Mexico seminar this Nov. 6–8 in Merida, Mexico, and see for yourself why we’ve chosen this country as the world’s top retirement haven.

Living the Good Life - For Less - Overseas

Articles on living the good life - for less - overseas. Discover what to do, and how to enjoy your new life, abroad.

Offshore

Always cover your assets: Learn about offshore banking, investing, and asset protection. Now is the time to diversify your portfolio and move outside the U.S. and its sinking dollar.

Health Care

Health care is one of the most important factors to consider if you move abroad. This is a hot topic right now, especially for the 40 million Americans who can't afford health insurance in the U.S.

Make Money Overseas

Fund your new life in paradise! There are many opportunities for making money while overseas.

Taxes

Save both time and money by learning the ins and outs of taxes overseas.

Travel

Tried-and-true tips for when you're traveling abroad.

Expat Matters

Learn the ins and outs of expat life from our experts.

International Health Insurance

International Living has partnered with HTH Worldwide to provide access to global health insurance solutions.

Concerned about Global Instability and looking for a refuge to build a self-sustainable home? Want the ability to produce power, water and food? I have 90 acres of beautiful land that has the ability to do all of that. Located only 30 minutes from spectacular Punta Del Este Uruguay. I need a person to buy half of my land for their own residency and then to share the costs of common development. Uruguay came in at #13 in Quality of Life 2009 survey. Cost of the land is only $6,000 per acre. Email me now at hollis@hedrichandassociates.com or call 626-593-7036.

Paraguay: 7 Acres Park-Like Property For Sale. 100+ Fruit Trees, Creek & Great Views: www.SubtropicalHome.com

Grand Cayman Island

Luxury Canal Front Home

Details:www.pallareshome.com

Panama Farms Properties is currently developing Mountain View Farms in Boquete, Panama.

Our gorgeous, titled home sites are large, and sold directly to the buyer at a fraction of the per acre cost of

all other projects in Boquete. You will benefit from our ethical business practices, excellent service, and appreciating land values.

Our sister company can get your home built for you. Save money, add value and benefit as a smart investor.

See details at www.boqueteland.com, or write timb88@gmail.com for immediate response

Tel: 401-644-5881

A very extensive and high quality property in one of the best climates in the world.

Please see ALL the details including video's at www.timbuktuecuador.com

For sale Bed & Breakfast in US Pacific NW. WA state Columbia River Gorge Scenic Area. Built 1860, operating as hotel restaurant and B&B for over 25 years. 7,000 sqft, 7 bedrooms, ¾ acrea parcel on main highway, zoned commercial, expandable to a 50 room hotel with historic quality. High Season June through Sept . Pictures and contact info at www.joslynhouse.com $US 650,000

Welcome to our newest fractional ownership property along the sunny beaches of Mexico. Casa Manzanillo has a pool, caretaker & millon dollar views of dolphins and whales. www.international-property-shares.com

Colonial Quito – Spanish style condo with terraza and spectacular view. Newly restored in older building. $51,000. Please contact us for details and more properties at www.colonialecuador.com.

A beautiful home for sale in the Finest Gated Community in Boquete. A $500K value offered at $400K. All first class throughout. Furniture, car, and golf cart available. For more info contact panamacase@yahoo.com

Huatulco, Mexico - Sueno del Mar

22 world class luxury condominium residences in Mediterranean style

Panoramic Pacific Ocean and Sierra Madre mountain views

High Quality European craftsmanship

Located on Bay of Chahue , beach, promenade, tropical gardens and parks walking distance to town/restaurants/shopping/marina

Semi-Olympic size pool with bridge and waterfall,

Ocean view lounging area, yoga/exercise room, fountains, BBQ kitchen

badamofsky@suenodelmarcondos.com

Tel. USA (312) 698-4466 (EST)

www.suenodelmarcondos.com

COSTA RICA

3000 ACRE RANCH, rivers, pasture, mountains, volcano views, 20 miles from Liberia airport, near Bagaces, $4 million, musztan@usztan.com

Your Gallery by the Sea awaits you in Buzios, Brazil. This five bedrooms, 7-bath house with pool, 2 Jacuzzis and BBQ – visit our website for a virtual tour through your beach home.

Pricing:
$885K (U.S. Dollars) - No furnishing
$985K (U.S. Dollars) - All-inclusive, including imported dinnerware.

Visit:http://web.me.com/frye1745

Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia, Canada

23 acre oceanfront development with 1/2 mile of beach frontage.

1 and 2 bedroom log chalets now available for purchase from $127,000 Canadian.

www.villageonthecove.com

www.beachhousepanama.com
SPECTACULAR
$3.5M

BELIZE – A tranquil haven awaits you. The Belize Retirement Program offers duty free benefits on boats, cars and household items. To qualify you must be 45 years of age and prove a monthly pension income of US $2,000. Invest in real estate and own a piece of paradise. We have beach front and jungle properties for sale. Contact member Santiago Gomez at International Services Ltd. at gomezisl@btl.net or call 1-954-323-8314 for more information. www.easetaxburden.com

For Sale: Finest Home in the Finest Gated Community in Boquete, Panama. All first class throughout. $410,000K. Furniture, car & golf cart available. E-mail panamacase@yahoo.com for more details and photos.

FOR SALE
400 ACRES JUST N. OF MANTA, ECUADOR
1 1/2 MILES OF BEACH FRONT.
MOUNTAIN MEETS OCEAN.
ecualand@live.com

Panama Farms Properties in Boquete, Panama specializes in developing exclusive projects with large, titled HOME SITES of increasing value and beauty. Our per acre prices are very low, and a fraction of most land prices in Boquete. You'll get Investment quality land and superb service not available elsewhere. Our latest project in Boquete is Mountain View Farms. See details at www.viviun.com ad number 82501 or at www.boqueteland.com

Write timb88@gmail.com for immediate response

Tels: USA: 401 644 5881 Panama: (507) 6 615 5328 & 6 613 6993

2 luxury, oceanfront condos, SJD, Cabo, Mx. torlon@comcast.net

4 Beachfront lots for sale near La Ceiba, Honduras, one acre total, contact lsutliffmd@suddenlink.net or call U.S. 325-651-7306 for photos and more information.

Le château de Courtomer is an exquisite 18th-century chateau in the heart of Normandy, set amidst acres of parkland, fields, and pasture. Embellished with period antiques, refurbished to 21st-century standards of comfort and convenience, le château de Courtomer offers you the perfect setting for intimate family gatherings, romantic moments, and elegant retreats…or just a grand get-away with special friends. You’ll be within an hour or two of Paris, Deauville, Mont-Saint-Michel, and the Normandy landing beaches…and minutes from bustling country markets, gourmet restaurants, antique shops, and historic chateaux and churches.
For more information about stays from one night to two months for up to 15 guests, please contact us by telephone: (001) 410-783-8463, or fax: (001) 410-783-8464 (please note that phone numbers are USA-based), or visit our website: www.chateaudecourtomer.com

2 luxury, oceanfront condos, San Jose del Cabo, Baja, Mx. for rent or sale. cabomx@comcast.net

DISCOUNT TICKETS
www.csa-travel.com
206 726 1498

Live Well Ecuador: Travel, Adventure, Real Estate

www.livewellecuador.com

HOW TO BEAT THE TIME SHARE TRAP

short video reveals how at: www.Cheap5StarTravel.com

Tours and travel in Uruguay & Argentina
www.01argentina.com

+ 54 11 4621 4725

Spanish Schools in Uruguay & Argentina

www.spanishuruguay.com

+ 54 11 4621 4725

HOW TO LEGALLY PROTECT YOUR ASSETS, new 2nd edition, by Oxford Club Wealth Advisory Panel Member, International Attorney, former judge, retired litigator and author, David Tanzer. Book and DVD for domestic and international asset protection, global investment diversification, estate planning techniques, and more. www.DavidTanzer.com or 970.872.8304 to order.

OFFSHORE LIVING & INVESTING. A comprehensive hardcover book for international investing, offshore banking, risk management, dual citizenship, foreign residency, international trusts, portfolio diversification, privacy, tax minimization & compliance, asset protection, foreign currencies, and much more is fact filled & easy to read. Visit www.DavidTanzer.com or (800) 220-6777 to order book.

New Mexico LLC $149 Complete!
Versatile. Private. Valid Everywhere.
FREE Details:
www.Bumby-Brook.com/LLC

Great Investment Opportunity in the Forex Market.

High Returns with an Exceptional

Risk Management Strategy

You can access your money at any time.

Historically more than 200% annual return.

Ask about our

Security Reserve principle-protection fund.

Call Whitehill Capital, Inc 1 916 457 8556

or toll free (within the USA) 866 457 3486

www.whitehillcapital.com.

Diversify! www.thomaswassmann.com

www.OverseasHealth.com

International Health Insurance for anyone traveling or living overseas.

Major medical, emergency evacuation, repatriation plus much more.

Put our 39 years of experience to work for you. We shop for you!

Plus, when you buy just mention “International Living” and we’ll send you

a FREE travel gift too. Apply on line & get quick confirmation of coverage!

Feel free to email or call Adam or Mark!

Insurance Services of America – 800-647-4589 / Health@OverseasHealth.com

Opportunity to Take Ownership of your Income, Finances, and Time

Serious entrepreneurs wanted for lucrative, recession-proof, online opportunity in rapidly expanding US-based international business. CEO-level income potential fromanywhere in the world. No calling, selling, closing. Not MLM. www.TotalFreedomNow.net

Create The Lifestyle You Desire & Deserve
Wealth = Freedom = Time to LIVE YOUR LIFE - On YOUR Terms
Global Opportunity.
NOT MLM - Consistent Support & Training.
http://www.wealthbusinessfromhome.com
Serious Entrepreneurs Only.

Recession Proof Business
Generate $10,000/month leveraging proven online Marketing system.
Info at www.TotalFreedomNow.net

Goal $1000+/day trading only few hours E-mini Dow futures, one-on-one private session in real time, futurestrading@leogindin.com, 678-701-9300

INVESTMENT PARTNER. Gorgeous 3/4 acre breezy ocean lot. New beach community.

Southern tip Azueros Peninsula , Panama .

Investment share $70K. House to come later. Details and photos:

popquiz9@gmail.com

Center For Study Abroad
Educational Programs Worldwide.
Open to all adults. Low cost.
Academic credit. Since 1990!
www.centerforstudyabroad.com