Living the expat life à la famed author Ernest Hemingway may be the dream of many, but whether you're looking to move abroad for retirement or just searching for a change of pace, choosing the right place to move to can be a daunting task. Luckily, International Living published a shortlist of the easiest locations abroad to move to.

In determining its top such spots, International Living advised readers to keep in mind how close a new location is to their old home, whether it is relatively easy to get long-term visas for residency there, offers a low cost of living and is home to a preexisting population of foreigners like you.

Read on to see what the magazine ranks as this year's top five easiest places in the world to move to (in no particular order).

— By CNBC.com's Natalia Wojcik
Posted 18 April 2017
Source: InternationalLiving.com

Just a stone's throw from the United States, Mexico is one of the most attractive places abroad to move to. With many of the comforts of home and open-ended permanent visas, Mexico already plays host to a slew of Americans.

The cost of living there is also fairly low, as a couple can live comfortably on about $1,900 per month.

Source: InternationalLiving.com

No need to go through the hassle of currency exchange here; Panama uses the U.S. dollar. The narrow country, famous for its eponymous canal, is set to host World Youth Day in 2019.

Bordered by two oceans, Panama boasts fresh seafood and traditional dishes such as paella and ceviche.

Source: InternationalLiving.com

Just north of Panama lies the next country on our list: Costa Rica, which continues to remain a bastion for American expats. Renowned for its hospitality, this small Central American paradise is one of the most stable and prosperous countries in the region.

Costa Rica is so keen on environmental protection that it is working to become carbon neutral by 2021 and has been ranked No. 1 on the Happy Planet Index in 2016, having previously topped the chart in 2009 and 2012.

The cost of living the so-called pura vida ("pure life") in Costa Rica for a couple can range from $2,000 to $3,000 per month.

Source: InternationalLiving.com

Belize is bordered by Mexico and Guatemala to its north and west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. This small nation is known for its annual September Celebrations events and has English as its official language.

You can obtain permanent residence in Belize by renewing a tourist visa every 30 days until a full year has passed or, if you're over age 45 and meet certain criteria, by applying through the Qualified Retired Persons program.

The cost of living in Belize is around $1,400 to $2,000 a month, though it can reach up to $3,000 a month depending on where you choose to live.

Source: InternationalLiving.com

Roatán is a subtropical island belonging to Central American country Honduras. This Caribbean paradise boasts its own international airport and some great diving.

The cost of living on Roatán really depends on what you are looking for. A couple can live very comfortably on about $3,000 a month, but it's also possible to live on less than $2,000 a month.

Source: InternationalLiving.com