Retiring to a third world county? (houses, movies, living in)

[Guntersville Boomer]

Maragarita Island is part of Venezuela. We stopped there on a cruise and had set up a private tour with a US couple who had moved there and gave tours to cruisers from the US, we fgound them on the internet. They took us all around and told us about how cheap it was to live there. It is clearly a place where you either have money or you live in poverty, I do think safety would be a bit of a concern if you didn't reside in a pretty secure area. We didn't ask about the health care issue so I don't know what might be available there but I do have to say it was a very pretty place if you want to live in a year round hot climate.

[Teak]

Originally Posted by vantexan

I am planning to spend some time in the Philippines looking for a wife. Who knows, might end up staying, but I'm thinking Argentina is it unless it becomes much more expensive.

Vantexan,

I like your posts, good info. I just wish that you would put a paragraph break in now and then!! (Need to take a breath sometime. )

Just curious: if you want to live in Argentina, why look for a Filipino wife?

Women usually want to live close to their relatives. I would think that you could find a wife in Argentina which would be beneficial for the fact that she would be comfortable living in her home country AND would provide you (and her) with a support structure of family and friends. Marrying into a social group is actually a very good idea, otherwise, you have to create one from scratch, and adults are usually loathe to make new friends if they already have an established network.

Just my opinion, and experience.

[Teak]

I took a look at the spreadsheet that my wife has been keeping, which documents our expenses over the course of several years.

Last year (2008), we averaged US$850 per month in total costs: food, electric, internet, cable TV, air-con, eating out occasionally, but little travel. (When you live where you used to vacation, why go anywhere??) We did make a trip back to the USA, and if those costs are added in (airline tickets, food in the USA for six weeks, transport between relatives, etc.), it comes to US$1,200 per month.

We own our house outright, so that helps a LOT. But still, rent is typically in the range US$110-300 per month for houses up to five bedroom. (I rented a five-bedroom for several years at US$210 per month.)

FYI. This is for the east coast of Malaysia, the sandy beach coast (west coast is mangrove swamps and mud flats).

[vantexan]

Originally Posted by Teak

Vantexan,

I like your posts, good info. I just wish that you would put a paragraph break in now and then!! (Need to take a breath sometime. )

Just curious: if you want to live in Argentina, why look for a Filipino wife?

Women usually want to live close to their relatives. I would think that you could find a wife in Argentina which would be beneficial for the fact that she would be comfortable living in her home country AND would provide you (and her) with a support structure of family and friends. Marrying into a social group is actually a very good idea, otherwise, you have to create one from scratch, and adults are usually loathe to make new friends if they already have an established network.

Just my opinion, and experience.

Sorry, get a bit wordy at times! Certainly been my experience that most women, not all, prefer living around family, friends, work, etc. But alot of Filipinas marry foreigners and move overseas. And many are working overseas as nurses, maids, and nannies. So really not a stretch to ask a Filipina to move elsewhere. Plus they speak English, which would make life easier. But I certainly won't ask her to do anything she won't be comfortable with.

What's your opinion of Penang? I've read the food is amazing! And it's the only Malaysian state that isn't majority Malay/Muslim. Something like 60% Chinese and a large Indian minority. Argentina might cost too much by the time I retire so I'll keep tabs on what's happening elsewhere.

[Conroy25]

My wife and I are going to purchase a vacation home in Puerto Rico now, so by the time we retire it will be paid off. We will be able to live off my military retirement and hopefully a nice chunk of change from from our houses in the mainland, also from our IRA's.

[Teak]

Originally Posted by vantexan

What's your opinion of Penang? I've read the food is amazing! And it's the only Malaysian state that isn't majority Malay/Muslim. Something like 60% Chinese and a large Indian minority. Argentina might cost too much by the time I retire so I'll keep tabs on what's happening elsewhere.

Penang is nice. It is certainly the most popular place for foreigners who retire in Malaysia. Because of that, there is quite an active social scene for expats. I am not into that, so I stick with my east coast town, which is definitely cheaper than Penang.

Actually, Malaysia might be a good spot to retire with a Filipino wife. English is widely spoken here, and her home country is one or two short flights away. The food, climate, and culture are also quite similar.

Yeah, Penang has a Chinese majority. And the food is some of the best in Asia: Chinese, Baba Nyonya, Malay, Thai, western, Indian, great stuff.

[alexanderaf]

Originally Posted by bgreen4080

i heard COSTA RICA is a pretty nice place to live...

supposedly the Singapore of central america...clean, efficient, relatively
good standard of living..


can ANYONE back up this claim?


and Belize is suppose to be like paradise...gorgeous beaches etc

I thought the same of Belize. I visited and it was a Sh**hole and a half! I walked a couple blocks in Belize city, and after being approached by so many panhandlers I went back from where I came for fear of my life! I guess I had money written all over me even though I was in a t-shirt and sandals.

I stuck out like a sore thumb...being a caucasian American and all. However, escape the city and Belize is beautiful GEOGRAPHICALLY. I could just never live there being so alien from the locals.

[Keks]

I would not retire to a third world country EVER. They call it " third world" for a reason. When you're old you will need medical attention even more than ever. And you will probably have a low quality of life. It's not worth the money you might save.

[Teak]

Originally Posted by Keks

I would not retire to a third world country EVER. They call it " third world" for a reason. When you're old you will need medical attention even more than ever. And you will probably have a low quality of life. It's not worth the money you might save.

The term third world is probably out-dated. Some countries listed as third-world have quite good medical services. Do you think that Zimbabwe and Malaysia are equal in quality-of-life and medical services? Both have been listed as third world. Costa Rica and Albania?

I want to live in that elusive second world!

[tijlover]

Originally Posted by Keks

I would not retire to a third world country EVER.

So now that you've excluded the U.S. from your retirement plans, which country are you considering? LOL!