Retiring to a third world county? (living, move to, housing)

[ChrisC]

Originally Posted by tijlover

so now that you've excluded the u.s. From your retirement plans, which country are you considering? Lol!

Got that right!

[russjw]

Originally Posted by msta999

russjw,
how did you find out about margarita island? I have never even heard of it. Can you tell us a little about the area, people and such?

Thanks.

I just looked around the world for what I thought would be the next spot to really have alot of growth. It cost 70% less then the other islands in the caribbean, no hurricanes, 4 cent a gallon gas. And the more dangerous caracas gets the more people come here, and the more prices go up. so we will be pushed through this economic downturn with this real estate here going up about 30% a year. One of my other reasons for coming here is 20 percent on your money in the banks. I have alot more reasons aswell I can share if your interested.

[russjw]

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.

We live in what is considered a third world county and its damn near the same as the states, we have everything and more, like a choice for health care you can pay for it at about 25% of the cost in the states or you can use the free ones and they are great. I use them with my wife and children and me. And you do not even have to be a citizen. So you should not box your thoughts in.

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by vantexan

Regarding living on $500 a month. Most families in most 3rd world countries get by on less than that but it's not a comparable life to the U.S. or Europe.

So true!

The other thing people should keep in mind...is that people COULD try to live like a local...but local living is seriously going without a lot...PLUS, the more 'local' you try to go, the more accessable you are to more people, which means more and more people will be trying to overcharge you here, add a little over there, and you'll be footing the bills almost 10 times out of 10 whenever you are invited out to something - thinking of southeast asia in particular.

In short, trying to live like and SPEND like a local in a third world country should NEVER be a part of someone's retirement plans.

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Also, for vantexan...bringing a FILIPINA to another country. You are certainly right about them able to adjust to other places quickly and easily. HOWEVER, in that situation, I personally just think it gets too complicated to be two foreigners trying to live in Argentina for example.

I've seen the same scenario countless times...I'm living in Japan and also lived in Korea for years...white caucasian marries southeast asian and brings her up to a third country to live (which isn't a home country for either one of them, and they are of two different nationalities themselves)...it just doesn't work very well, and particularly long-term.

Plus, if you like Argentina, PLENTY of Argentine woman, and once you'd marry, you marry into their family and an Argentine life and Argentine connection. If you marry a Filipina and bring her over, you have zero connection with Argentina, and really zero reason to be there...and the most common scenario is you'd end up either in the Philippines or your home country.

Just my opinion...but I like your thought process on everything - I mean constantly looking at all of the options, the researching the possibilites, and such...pretty cool.

[vantexan]

Originally Posted by Tiger Beer

So true!


Also, for vantexan...bringing a FILIPINA to another country. You are certainly right about them able to adjust to other places quickly and easily. HOWEVER, in that situation, I personally just think it gets too complicated to be two foreigners trying to live in Argentina for example.

I've seen the same scenario countless times...I'm living in Japan and also lived in Korea for years...white caucasian marries southeast asian and brings her up to a third country to live (which isn't a home country for either one of them, and they are of two different nationalities themselves)...it just doesn't work very well, and particularly long-term.

Plus, if you like Argentina, PLENTY of Argentine woman, and once you'd marry, you marry into their family and an Argentine life and Argentine connection. If you marry a Filipina and bring her over, you have zero connection with Argentina, and really zero reason to be there...and the most common scenario is you'd end up either in the Philippines or your home country.

Just my opinion...but I like your thought process on everything - I mean constantly looking at all of the options, the researching the possibilites, and such...pretty cool.

Appreciate the thoughts and you and others are probably right. Definitely don't want to complicate my retirement. Just wish I had the experiences you've had! It's all theory for me for a few more years.

[tijlover]

If had a serious medical issue while in a 3rd world country, I would feel in far more trusting hands there than back in the U.S. I became a medical tourist some years ago. And most of my medical care has been in Latin America.

I've thought many times, if I don't become an ex-pat, to move to Tucson where they have bus service to Nogales (and Hermosillo) where I can have all my medical care done.

[msgsing]

This doesn't exactly qualify for this particular thread since Singapore isn't a Third World country. Here's my situation. Wife and I recently retired. She's a Singapore citizen but hasn't lived there for years. We married there when I was in the military. I'm aware of the retirement incentives offered in Malaysia. Wife actually was born and grew up in Malaysia but for a number of reasons has no desire to retire there. Anyone familiar with the guidelines for residency, retirement and access to healthcare in Singapore given my set of circumstances?

[Teak]

Alloexpat has forums for Singapore that discuss visas, immigration and so forth. I am not affiliated with Alloexpat in any way, but do regularly peruse their Malaysia forums.

[WanderingFoot]

Has anyone spent time in India... like several months to a year? We're aware of the poverty issue, but so many Indians here in Seattle for a number of years, working for M$, then going back home, and yes, we are also aware of other issues, and that we would stick out, being white. But we are interested in spending time there, just exploring, not doing the usual "hit the hotspot tourist places and leave" sort of thing. Maybe renting a place near Goa for a while, then heading upcountry, but nowhere near Pakistan. (I am a bit nervous about the whole border area). We love Indian food, movies, and we have studied the culture, and we'd love to have a relatively safe time in-country, maybe 3-6 months, but we know no one who has done this.

I loved the Uruguay/Argentina area, though if we spent significant time there, would consider Atlantida area outside Montevideo for living...BA too expensive, and we are generally the self-entertaining types. I pick up languages fairly easily, and Spanish is easy (I found UY Spanish is heavily mixed with Italian words and phrases). I don't know about Hindi. Hubby spent quite a bit of time in Central America in the 80's, prior to our meeting/marriage, and loved it.

He's retiring as a teacher next year... we have NO interest in going to another country and then sequestering ourselves in an American/English enclave... we are adaptable folks, interested in learning as much as possible about other cultures and ideologies, so long as it is not life threatening.
We have already tried living high altitude... I can't (altitude sickness that does not go away, even after 10 months), so I must live sea level or up to 3500 ft above, no higher, was medical recommendation. Otherwise, we are good... boiling heat is not good, but a breeze helps, and proximity to some sort of water, either ocean, clean river, or large lake, is a desire.

Suggestions from others?

[tijlover]

How about Central America? You say you can't deal with high altitude(Guatamala City @ 5000 feet wouldn't do it) and hate heat. How about Tegucigalpa, Honduras? It's a bowl city at 3300 feet. I refer to it as the San Francisco of Central America with vertical streets with houses cascading down the steep streets. A lot of bowl cities are bowls, nothing more. But with Tegus, you get hills at the bottom of the Valley as well. And it's not a great distance from there to the ocean.

At that altitude, the climate is almost picture-perfect. Guatamala City/Antigua is too high up and I know see why they wear leather coats at night walking around those cities. It can get chilly, with a breeze.

And there's not many Americans around Tegus. It seems that most of the American who go to Honduras are on the Caribbean coast or Roatan. Not my cup of tea as there's too much heat and humidity over there.