The Lowest Tax States for Retirees

Looking For Best Economical Place to Retire--

Jean Cochran of GA 8:52AM February 07, 2011

Alaska is one of the best places to live and in most of the state there is some sales tax. in Wasilla, its 2.4%. Anchorage there is none, but most everywhere else there is.

C of AK 12:22AM June 12, 2010

I personally have found a great place to live, at least for me. I'm just 5 miles south of the US border (San Diego) living in Mexico. I have a panoramic ocean view with almost no taxes. Since I'm retired and obtained Mexican citizenship my property taxes are $15 a year! That's for a $400k house in the best neighborhood! Mexico doesn't tax property the way the US does. On the other hand gasoline costs the same as the US, and most of that is tax.

In the 5 years I have lived here I have also found that for most things medical care here is not only lots cheaper, but many times actually better. English is commonly spoken this close to the border and many people are dual nationals.

There are Home Depots, Walmarts and Costcos not to mention Subway, Mcdonalds, and all the other stuff we commonly associate with living the US.

I have the broadband internet for $15 per mth unlimited and other utilities are reasonable. We don't need A/C this close to the ocean. Never gets that hot. Ceiling fans work for the warmest days and the air is always fresh off the ocean. I have Directv and get all the US channels for half the US rate.

My social security check pays for everything including a weekly maid and gardener.

There isn't the quantity of life here there is/was in the US, but certainly the quality is just as good if not better.

Whenever I want to go the US I just go in the middle of the week - no lines - and spend the day seeing movies, shopping, or at the library.

And guess what - no CA taxes!! None!! No state income taxes at all.

I always see the bad publicity about the violence and crime in Mexico, but I don't live in those areas and have never seen anything close to what they talk about on the US news. How often do you go to the worst areas of your city and hang out? Neither do I.

So do what you will fellow gringos this American transplant has found a life style that works for me.

the white Mexican 12:47AM April 21, 2010

Hawaii does not have a sales tax; it has a general excise tax(GET). Each step of the sale transaction is taxed. Similar to a value added tax(VAT). What I read in Hawaii is that if the GET was calculated like a sales tax, it would be in the range of 12+%.

This information is widely available and almost all financial writers get it wrong. I guess these writers are too lazy to look up the facts. Makes me wonder about what else they are stating. How much of that is wrong?

Keiko

keiko of HI 2:12PM April 19, 2010