America's Best Affordable Places to Retire

Jacksonville, Florida is a terrible place to live. Crime is everywhere, even in nice neighborhoods -- and I mean rapes, muggings, your local bank being robbed. The public schools are awful and their budgets are still being cut, meaning the next generation will not be able to perform intelligent or thoughtful work. The river is so polluted that you sail or eat fish from it at your peril. There is virtually nothing to do, unless you like football. I have to stay because I'm retired and my insurance plan won't let me leave. But you have now been warned.

Eliabeth of FL 1:14AM August 02, 2010

I am one of over a million Americans living my retirement in Mexico. Like you do now, I believed the media hype on the violence here. It is true to an extent, but only in the border states and Mexico City. I will not mislead you, you will have a huge anxiety attack. It will be the result of the fear of the unknown, your statis as a foreigner, and the poverty that you will see around you in some places. I live in Aguascalientes (6900ft) in the middle of Mexico, and I feel safer here than I did living in East Dallas. I walk and drive around this city (the size of Fort Worth with a million more people) with little fear of being mugged or attacked. I have no fear of the police. They have never bothered me. I have been living here for four years, and I have only been stopped six times, all at army checkpoints while traveling. Most Americans live in places like Merida, Yucatan, San Miguel de Ende, Lake Chapala, or the coastal resort cities. I have met many foreigners and Americans living here, and they feel the same as me. Living here is nothing like what they expected. It is so Americanized here. We have almost everything here that I had back home. Home Depot & Lowes, Sears, Wal-Mart Sam's & Costco, Autozone and Grease Monkey, Applebees & Chili's, BurgerKing Hardies Mcdonalds & KFC, Domino's & Pizza hut, Starbucks & Italian Coffee Co., Office Depot & Office Max, and more are some of the brand names here. Movie theatres show the movies in English with subtitles. The weather is fantastic. On average, it ranges from 55 to 85 ten months of the year. Winter is January, but it never freezes. Summer is May (mid 90's). We have a cross between PPO and socialized medicine here. I pay nothing for my medicines, and I have access to more and better medicine than I was getting in the U.S. Dental is much less expensive. Crowns are $8.00, fillings $4.00, & root canals $6.00 thru the dental college. I had a molar removed at a regular dentist office for $80.00, far cheaper than in the U.S. Eyeglasses are cheaper here, too; Exam-free, frames-$12.00, lenses $13.00. My retirement money stretches ten times further, here. At the current exchange rate of 12.8 pesos for every dollar, you can live very well. You can rent a 3-bdroom, 2 1/2 bath two story condo in a gated upscale secure community like mine for $650.00 a month.

Life here is very laid-back, most of my neighbors speak English ( we play dominos every Thursday night), the people are very friendly, the mountains are beautiful after the afternoon rains, the weather is great, and the places that I have traveled to here are beautiful. I still have to smuggle in some things from the U.S. that they do not have here (i.e. Jello pudding, corn bread mixes, and others), but for the most part, I can find most of what I am looking for here.

More and more Americans are moving here everyday. They are discovering the same thing that I have found. I really enjoy retirement and living here.

dennis 12:14PM July 26, 2010

Boomers have less saved for retirement & are rethinking how & where to retire. Lake Weir Living (LWL) in Central Florida has evolved the active adult/retirement lifestyle concept to answer the needs of today's Boomers. Boomers can still have fun and play hard. LWL, is a "Toy-Friendly" Community (8 miles from The Villages & 55 miles to Orlando), for Boomers frustrated with oppressive HOA restrictions & fees. New custom-homes from the $90s with no HOA and toy-fitted garages for "Toys" such as boats, motorcycles, RVs, and more. Visit their Blog for videos of new homes:

http://www.lakeweirlivingblog.com

lakeweirliving of FL 8:50PM July 18, 2010

Most places where retirement is affordable are that way because they are such well kept secrets. Becoming unaffordable is often not too far behind the increased demand that is bound to follow becoming too well known.

It is difficult for me to imagine retirement elsewhere. I have no need to vacation unless I travel to visit family and/or friends or take an ocean cruise or the like purely for change. I am on a permanent and continuous vacation right where I am.

I have an above average rented accommodation. I operate an older but serviceable and dependable car. I dress attractively and eat well. I have every form of entertainment and recreation at my fingertips that most anyone could ever need or want - arts, live theatre, movies, outdoor band concerts, dances and dancing, sidewalk cafes with dining and entertainment, recreational and competitive swimming for all ages including masters(i.e older people), waterparks, zoos, golfing, tennis, biking, hiking, walking, horseback riding, equestrian shows and competitions, camping, canoeing and boating, parks, downhill and cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, seniors ice hockey, most other sports, card parties every day and evening of the week including bridge (competititive if you prefer), frequent church and organizational lunches and dinners, bingos, etc. All this surrounded by nice, friendly and helpful people as well. Need I go on!

The list seems endless. You name it and it is likely available and affordable. Although my total income is little more than $1,500.00 monthly, these means reasonably accommodate most all these activities, at one time or another, in my regular day to day lifestyle to the fullest limits of my physical abilities believe it or not. Am I missing something?

Canada 4:24PM July 06, 2010