Why This is the Best Retire Overseas Index I've Seen

Every year, respected publications publish their “best of” indexes for living overseas.

This year, Live & Invest Overseas has done a phenomenal job. The index is robust, at more than 300 pages, and it zeros in, not on countries, but on specific cities and towns.

Best of all, this resource is free for you if you subscribe to their magazine. (By itself, the Overseas Retirement Index costs $47 — and if you’re seriously planning an overseas move, totally worth it!)

Note that “overseas retirement index” may be a little misleading. . . These recommendations are very helpful for retirees. They’re equally helpful for anyone with a portable career who wants to live abroad, so if you’re not yet retired, mentally substitute the word “living” for “retirement.”

Let’s take a look at why I think this year’s index is so terrific.

#1. It Breaks Out Results According to What’s Important to You

There are sections devoted to the best types of places to live:

Beach / Island destinations
City
Small town
Highland
Historical
“The best of the rest,” including best LGBTQ, best for single women, best for kids, best for millennials, and best to find romance

This structure makes it super easy for you to find what you’re looking for.

#2. Recommendations are Graded

hurricane damage in the neighborhood — If you don’t want to deal with the aftermath of a hurricane, like this, pay attention to the climate information.

Grades are based on important factors, with clear explanations for how each grade was arrived at. They include:

Cost of living
Climate
Health care
Entertainment
Recreation
English spoken
Expat community
Infrastructure, including important things like:
- internet
- electricity
- domestic access (roads, public transportation)
- international access (airports, direct flights to US and Canada)
Environment, including pollution, drinking water, litter, etc.
Crime
Affordability of real estate
Real estate restrictions
Residency
Taxes

#3. “Best of” Specified for Each Region

You’ll find the best beach and island communities in Latin America, Europe, and Asia. Ditto for the best small towns, cities, etc. So if you already know you want to enjoy the Old World, for example, you can skip directly to the European choices.

#4. Best of the Best

Finally, you’ll find the best overall picks for each region.

These include a monthly budget breakdown in the local currency, with the total translated into US dollars. It also includes a summary of the grades awarded.

This page is suitable for printing so you can take it with you and study it!

This series of tables makes it very easy to directly compare several locations of interest.

#5. Even More Information

As if that all weren’t enough, you’ll also find helpful information about some of the most vexing questions, like

How to move your pets overseas (I’ve done it, and it’s a very detailed and time-sensitive process)
How to get mail abroad
Smartphone apps to install before you go
Best golf courses where you’re going
Best fishing spots

There’s even a corruption index, so you know in advance where you’re mostly likely to be asked for a bribe if you’re the subject of a traffic stop.

There are lots more extras, too, including graphics that show clearly the differences in internet speeds, or climates, in the various recommended locations.

I’ve been reading these “best of” indexes for years, and this one is the most thorough and interesting of any I’ve seen. Hats off to the staff of Live & Invest Overseas for producing such a great resource.

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