5 affordable places to retire abroad
- You don't need a million dollars to live a luxurious retirement, so long as you're willing to leave the U.S. behind.
- International Living, a website for expatriates, is out with a list of "5 Places to Live Like a Movie Star, Without Their Bank Balance."
- Around 680,000 Americans currently receive their Social Security checks at a foreign address.
You don't need a million dollars to live a glamorous retirement, so long as you're willing to leave the U.S. behind.
"Most people assume that a high-flying existence like that is the purview of the rich and famous alone," said Jennifer Stevens, the executive editor of International Living.
They're wrong, Stevens said.
The website for expatriates is out with a list of "5 Places to Live Like a Movie Star, Without Their Bank Balance."
Around 680,000 Americans currently receive their Social Security checks at a foreign address, although the number of retirees abroad is likely higher since many people maintain their U.S. bank account.
Here are the five destinations.
1. Italy
Although Rome, Tuscany and Venice are popular destinations in films, you don't need a Hollywood budget — or much more than "Three Coins in the Fountain" — to retire here.
According to International Living, a couple could live well in this European destination on a monthly budget of $1,829.
2. Bali
Many flock to Bali hoping to recreate Liz Gilbert's transformative experience in the film "Eat Pray Love."
The tropical climate of Bali and its world-class dining are attractive to retirees, says International Living.
And you can live comfortably on this Southeast Asian island with a budget of around $1,500 to $1,800 per month.
3. Costa Rica
Films set in Costa Rica include "Jurassic Park," "Spy Kids 2" and "Paddington Bear."
A couple can enjoy a great retirement in this Central American country on $2,000 a month.
4. Mexico
The 1964 John Huston film "The Night of the Iguana," starring Richard Burton and Ava Gardner, put Puerto Vallarta on the map as a tourist destination. The Pacific Coast port, along with Acapulco, Cancun and other Mexican resort cities, has steadily attracted more and more U.S. visitors — and ex-pats — over the ensuing decades.
International Living says that costs of living for retirees can range widely in Mexico, but it's possible for a couple to live well on $1,890 per month.
5. Vietnam
Vietnam is one of the lowest-cost retirement destinations in the world, International Living says. Couples can live well in this Southeast Asian nation on as little as $1,000 a month.
Countless films, including "Kong: Skull Island" and "The Quiet American," have been set or filmed in the country.