5 Places to Retire for Under $500 per Month

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Thank you kathleen for the informaiton on how to retire within our limited social security.
Do you have any names or emails that we can contact some of these poeple who have actually retired in these five places that you have written about please> Thank you.

Grace Thompson of IL 12:43PM March 29, 2012

Thanks for your article!
$210 a month for studio in Medellin, that sounds great! Could you provide me with a contact. I'm planning on staying in Medellin for a month or two and that price sounds great...anything under $500 a month.
Thankss

Devin of CA 5:22PM November 11, 2011

Any info on the Visa requirements in France? I don't suppose (hail mary pass) their national health insurance is on the table?!?

Paul 1:14AM July 30, 2011

Thanks for the article and the comments. I have lived abroad most of my adult life but in Europe where it is gawdawful expensive. My pension will be meager here but would take me far in Asia. I have lived in Asia before and loved the experience. It was enriching and gave me a whole new insight into life. But that was years ago and I was in the Peace Corps. Recently I went to Cambodia where the people were lovely and the cost of living was amazingly low. However, I am setting my sights on Chiang Mai which seems to offer so much. I did spend some time in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, which was lovely but you're not going to be able to live there on $500 a month. The thing that people need to check out is the income requirement for retirement for living in many countries. Sometimes the requirements are quite high, actually. Also, purchasing a place can be a legal hassle. However, I know of a couple who bought a retirement home in Arizona for $7000 to use as a base but travel to other places the rest of the year. I find their way of doing things to be very appealing since they travel anywhere and everywhere.

EW 5:41AM July 06, 2011

I swear, why do some of you even comment? Especially if you've never even lived abroad. The truth is, locals in many of the places mentioned live comfortably at well under the $500/month (and, supporting a family!).
I can live like that in Costa Rica and it's probably the most expensive in CA. The Trick? Know the locals, eat like the locals, have the locals help you find a place. Yeah, you won't be living in upscale Escazu, but what do you expect... the question wasn't, "where can you live like an middle-class American, in an expat zone, in a country where toilet paper is flushable, where I can get DirecTV and internet for $500." The question is what it is and the reader can take all the places mentioned and research which places offer the best bang for the retirement buck.
And for the Medellin comment (that can't even spell it correctly), get real! Lose your 1998 edition of Time magazine and GO THERE. You only hear about the bad stories, but what about the millions of good ones? They don't report about them because "Sallly Smith's" trip to the Botero museum wouldn't really be newsworthy, would it?

Juan Tootree 10:08PM June 15, 2011

Cambodia is pretty cheap to live. with $200 it's huge for 'em. comfortable? Don't expect everything to be same as the home country. Vietnam, Laos , China and Malaysia are still cheap with decent lifestyle though. by the way, they use dollars no need for conversion though. but if you live like king everywhere is expensive. Just adapt yourself a bit!!!!!!!

dunkin of OR 3:21AM June 15, 2011

I don't know where you were in Nicaragua, But that is not the Nicaragua I know. Sure the people are poor here and they do beg. I know for a fact that women are treated good here. women are in politics, police force, army, judges so when you say it is a woman hating country, It is not so and this country is safe (the safest in Central America)

Frank 10:17AM June 14, 2011

Nicarugua is POOR and when there is poor there is robberies.PEOPLE WALK THE STREETS BEGGING FOR FOOD.KIDS ARE SNIFFING GLUE BECAUSE THEY ARE HUNGRY.What is wrong with you,the citizens pay money to the gangs so they can sell their goods without getting robbed.My friend walked down th estreet and they tried to pull her timex watch off her wrist.Other freinds had their necklaces pulled off their neck while sitting at a stop in a taxi!!The United States sends millions monthly to the government who in turn uses it for the rich people's condos and homes.The regular citizen makes 20 dollars a week if they are lucky!! The men eat first and the woman eat when the men are through eating !The women eat what is leftover!!When a mother dies with no husband the sons have right to take her house...Please this is a backward,woman hating society.not safe for women!!

tired66 of FL 12:03PM May 30, 2011

HEY I'M JUST LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO LIVE THATS DOABLE ON 2000.00 A MONTH FRIENDLY EASY GOING NEAR A BEACH AND I'M JUST A PERSON TRYING TO FIT IN....NOT THE UGLY AMERICAN

CHAD of WA 9:38AM May 04, 2011

I don't know where you were in Thailand but it's not the experience that we have had in Thailand. We are not retired but live here because our company has an office here. We have been here four years without a single incident of crime. Thais have gone out of their way to be gracious and helpful. I had a flat tire one morning and before I could even figure out how to get the jack out a Thai man stopped and helped. I offered him money and he would not have take it. The king does not smile because that would not be culturally appropriate for him to do in a picture. If you are into the bar scene then you will certainly find sex trafficking. X Thailand Expat you need to get some culture lessons before you judge everything that is different as bad.
The author's assessment of living here is correct. You can live nicely and be frugal. There are lots of places to eat for 1-2 USD. Lots of fruits and vegetables available in the markets that are fresh and inexpensive. Health care is good and it is inexpensive. Mountains are visible in every direction. Chiang Mai is a good place to live and retire. But it's not America.

David 4:33AM May 01, 2011