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There are a lot of foreigners working in Santiago, however it doesn't strike me as much of an expat location where people would love to move. Honestly, I'm not a big fan at all of Santiago and would not choose to live there. It's not a very nice place to be and it's so busy and congested. In my opinion, Costa Rica gets the most attention from retirees, Ecuador being a second. The real question is how many expats come to Latin America with no knowledge of how things are and go back home with their tail between their legs.
* Santiago is crowded, dirty and the sun is usually obliterated by the smog. Instead, we like Puerto Varas for its German heritage and Puerto Montt for the great trout fishing.
* Costa Rica is one of the safest countries in Latin America. We've been living here for about two months now and have found it a very comfortable country, much like Belize was 40 yrs ago.
* Belize is one of the most dangerous places in CA, following Honduras, Guatemala & mainland Mexico. We haven't been back there since 2004 - just can't handle all the murders and breakins.
* Ecuador used to be a great place to go and fish - but in the past seven years or so, the wholesale billfish slaughter has been ongoing from Salinas up to Las Esmeraldas. The economy in Manta crashed in 2009 when the US military pulled out and left many without jobs. See my notes on Cuenca - HHI is recruiting for their "reality" programs. It's all smoke and mirrors - slanted towards what they want you to see - not how it really is there.
* Santiago is crowded, dirty and the sun is usually obliterated by the smog. Instead, we like Puerto Varas for its German heritage and Puerto Montt for the great trout fishing.
* Costa Rica is one of the safest countries in Latin America. We've been living here for about two months now and have found it a very comfortable country, much like Belize was 40 yrs ago.
* Belize is one of the most dangerous places in CA, following Honduras, Guatemala & mainland Mexico. We haven't been back there since 2004 - just can't handle all the murders and breakins.
* Ecuador used to be a great place to go and fish - but in the past seven years or so, the wholesale billfish slaughter has been ongoing from Salinas up to Las Esmeraldas. The economy in Manta crashed in 2009 when the US military pulled out and left many without jobs. See my notes on Cuenca - HHI is recruiting for their "reality" programs. It's all smoke and mirrors - slanted towards what they want you to see - not how it really is there.
Yes, many American's go there with blinders on.
It would be very enlightening for a channel to show "true" retirement or expat stories with budgets many more people can identify with. All these HHI episodes where the man of the house is getting some whopping housing allowance and a job with a salary which rivals the President of their new home and has a wife who wants every creature comfort "for the kids" do zero good for most people. However I am gathering the only thing that makes for good TV is to perpetuate the fantasy about how good one can live outside the US. Even with people are on much smaller budgets it still seems to gloss over real issues one has trying to live off say $2000 a month in another land.
Does anyone have any experience with La Paz or Asuncion?
I've spent time in both Bolivia & Paraguay, but not in recent decades.
La Paz would be way down the list for most lowlanders like me. The 12,000' elevation is too much for most people who have spent their lives at lower elevations. I was young and in excellent condition when I visited there but the altitude sickness that I got was horrible. Even after 4 days I had bad headaches, and I drank many cups of coca leaf tea. La Paz is also cold year round due to the elevation.
Paraguay is another story. It's way off the tourist radar, and for some reason I like the place. If visiting I would probably avoid the peak summer heat (December-March). Asuncion climate is similar to Orlando, FL. Paraguay's economy has been growing at a 5 or 6 percent annual rate in recent years, which is encouraging for a country with so many people who are poor. That is why the cost of living there seems so low, probably one of the least expensive places in the Americas. Food is excellent, most people are friendly and open, and they love their national soccer team.
It would be very enlightening for a channel to show "true" retirement or expat stories with budgets many more people can identify with. All these HHI episodes where the man of the house is getting some whopping housing allowance and a job with a salary which rivals the President of their new home and has a wife who wants every creature comfort "for the kids" do zero good for most people. However I am gathering the only thing that makes for good TV is to perpetuate the fantasy about how good one can live outside the US. Even with people are on much smaller budgets it still seems to gloss over real issues one has trying to live off say $2000 a month in another land.
A truth in advertising program - won't sell. Most that watch the program, aren't poor like most of us. They have multiple pensions or one just really good one - not totally dependent on social security or SSI.
Lima is a nice place. A very international city with many international companies. A wide variety of flights to the USA. Great food. Peru has a very interesting ancient culture and history mixed with modern influences. Prices are low. Government is stable and not socialist. Crime/violence is so-so. Just have to be careful and take the normal precautions and you will be fine. Safer than places like Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, for sure. The economy is growing very well also.
For me the biggest drawback was the weather during the winter - very gloomy and cloudy, but you get used to it. In all, it's a very nice place.
Panama City has become popular with American ex-pats and as a result it's no longer the big bargain it once was. What other major city (not beach resort towns for example) is seemingly picking up that reputation in your opinion from the following choices?
I've been to almost every city on your poll except for one. I can also say that ALL of them have American expats, European expats, and every other kind of expat. Any of them can be good.
Looking for the next Panama implies that you are looking for the next really expensive place where a lot of Americans think they SHOULD go, because of aggressive marketing strategies and whatnot. The other place that has aggressive marketing and real estate agents eager to overcharge recent American retirees would probably be Costa Rica.
So, if you like aggressive marketing tactics to separate Americans from their retiree bank accounts, you might want to put Costa Rica as second on your list after Panama. Ecuador kind of attracts them too, but isn't aggressively attracting them. So when you find you've been overcharged on your real estate, it might be harder to overcharge the next American that comes on down after you, as they'll be fewer of them going there than Central America.
If you want to escape all of the 'next Panama' marketing and real estate stuff....then just look for normal places that actually appeal to you for other reasons than 'the next Panama' hyped place.
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