The high cost of living in the United States has many retirees looking to move abroad.
But retiring abroad has its challenges. Retirees have to learn new languages, adjust to new cultures and environs, and financially adapt to new currencies.
However, there are three countries where American retirees are welcomed, English is spoken, and the American dollar is widely used.
Ecuador
Ecuador is a very safe country to retire to for Americans relative to other countries in the area. The population numbers under 18 million. Ecuador is located in the northwest of South America with Colombia bordered to its north, Peru to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west.
The country has adapted its constitution and currency to accommodate Americans and especially American retirees.
According to Articles 36, 37, and 38 of the Ecuadorian Constitution, foreign residents and retirees over the age of 65, especially American retirees, are all afforded the same protections, rights, and benefits as Ecuadorian citizens.
Foreign retirees are entitled to tax exemptions and discounts, automatic discounts in utility bills, free phone service for domestic calls, half off on domestic travel services, half off on international airfares depending on the airline and dedicated express lines for the elderly in every business.
There are over a dozen visas that allow Americans to retire in Ecuador. And Americans can own property there as well.
To mitigate the constant volatility and depreciation of its national currency, the sucre, Ecuador officially adopted the American dollar as its national currency to strengthen business ties with the United States.
American retirees can live in Ecuador on $1,500 to $2,000 monthly.
Panama
Panama is an isthmus, a curved sliver of landmass, that connects Central America to its east with South America to its west. It is bordered to the north by the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean to its south. The population numbers over 4 million.
Retirees will find unparalleled beachside, jungle, and mountain town paradises in Panama. Many Panamanian doctors and health experts have trained in the United States. And the country is rife with expatriate communities.
Panama’s Pensionado Program allows foreign residents ease of access to foreign retiree residence visas and benefits. And the country uses the dollar along with its currency, the balboa, to benefit from the market stability of the dollar.
Depending on your frugality, you can live in Panama from $1,300 to $2,800 monthly.
Belize
Belize is a small country located on the eastern coast of Central America. Mexico borders it north with Guatemala to the west. The Caribbean Sea borders Belize to the east. And the population numbers just over 400,000.
Belize’s Qualified Retired Persons Program is available to anyone 45 and older who can prove they have a pension or regular income of at least $2,000 monthly. And you must have over $24,000 in an international bank account every year.
Under the QRP program, capital gains and international income is never taxed. You can own an online business that does business outside the borders of Belize. And you can import all of your property from the States, like a car, plane, boat, and household items, without paying taxes.
Belize is an internationally recognized retirement haven and English is the official language. And the American dollar is tethered to the Belize dollar at a rate of 2-to-1. The dollar is used everywhere in Belize.
As long as you have an internationally based income or retirement-based income of $24,000 annually, you can retire in Belize comfortably.
