Part 2 in our Retirement Series
Part 1 Here - Why Not Canada?
Retiring Abroad: Our Thought & Planning Process
Once the decision was made not to retire in Canada, the question was where to retire and how to make that decision.
Enter International Living Magazine. This great online resource publishes a yearly Global Retirement Index that ranks countries based on:
- Housing
- Cost of Living
- Visa/Benefits
- Affinity Rating (defined loosely as quality of life for ex-pats)
- Climate
- Development
- Health Care
Top Countries to Retire Abroad
Although the order of countries has changed over the years, they consistently rank the following countries (in alphabetical order).
- Belize
- Columbia
- Costa Rica
- Ecuador
- France
- Greece
- Italy
- Malaysia
- Malta
- Mexico
- Panama
- Portugal
- Spain
- Thailand
- Uruguay
These countries frequently appear at the top of rankings for the best places to retire abroad in other various online publications.
Our Criteria
International Living Magazine's criteria became ours as well. However, we needed to narrow it down even more.
Housing
We wanted a house and not an apartment, so we could have some land. Our vision of retirement included having:
- land enough to garden and rewild
- build some small ponds to attract wildlife
- going with all native plants
- go off-grid with solar and/or wind for power, greywater system, and septic tank
Location, Location, Location
European countries like Italy, Malta, Greece, Spain, and France boast undeniable Old World charm and appeal. From rich cultural experiences and thriving expat communities to excellent healthcare systems and a pleasant climate, these destinations offer plenty of benefits. However, we ultimately ruled them out due to their time zone differences with Canada—a crucial consideration since our children are likely to settle there.
Asia holds a special place in our hearts. We adore Thailand and Malaysia, both of which are incredible destinations. Kuala Lumpur, in particular, is a favourite city of Derwin's. They offer amazing food, quality healthcare, and a vibrant lifestyle, ticking many of our boxes. That said, the high humidity and significant distance from Canada led us to reluctantly remove them from consideration.
Uruguay, with its picturesque landscapes and tranquil vibe, also stood out as a strong contender. Our vacation there was unforgettable, but factors like its distance from Canada and relatively high cost of living ultimately placed it off our list.
Climate
We relied on Weather Spark to thoroughly evaluate the climate of various countries, regions, and cities. Its detailed insights into temperature, humidity, and other climatic factors were incredibly helpful in narrowing down our options. After researching recommended retirement destinations, we would turn to Weather Spark to analyze their weather conditions more closely.
Since we prefer a moderate, mountain climate, we quickly ruled out Panama and Belize. While both countries are highly ranked as retirement destinations, their heat and humidity made them unsuitable for our preferences.
What Countries Are Left?
After narrowing down our options, we were left with three strong contenders: Costa Rica, Mexico, Ecuador, and Colombia. Each offers its own unique appeal and a variety of reasons to consider them for retirement.
We also kept Vancouver Island and the Vancouver region in mind, though we knew the cost of real estate was prohibitive. Still, knowing that we'd be in Canada close to where the kids are likely to settle kept us checking real estate sites frequently.
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| Ajijic, Mexico |
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