A lower cost of living, better weather, lower taxes and a better quality of life are all reasons to think about moving to another country when you prepare to retire – and leaving the United States for greener pastures, so to speak, is not a novel idea. According to the Aegon 2021 Retirement Readiness Survey, living abroad is an important retirement aspiration for 12% of Americans.
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However, while being able to stretch your retirement nest egg further is key when deciding where to move in the world, security is also paramount. To determine the safest countries to retire on under $2,000 a month, GOBankingRates used data from the Institute for Economics and Peace to find the safest countries around the world and LivingCost.org to find the average monthly cost of living in each selected country.
To help you weigh your options, here are the nine safest places to retire abroad for less than $2,000 a month.
Ireland
Besides stunning landscapes, you will find rich cultural traditions in Ireland. Plus, you won’t have to worry about a language barrier as English is one of the country’s official languages, along with Irish.
Other benefits of moving to the Emerald Isle include a stable economic and political climate.
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Canada
You won’t have to leave the continent to move to Canada, which means it should make it easier for friends and family to visit. Not only that, but most people living in Canada only settle about 100 miles from its border with the United States.
Like other places on this list, Canada is family friendly and safe. Economic and political stability is solid and the country also has a well-developed public health system.
New Zealand
Future retirees who want to live in a wide variety of landscapes – including glacier-created fjords, subtropical forests, stunning alpine vistas, sandy beaches and green hills – will put New Zealand at the top of the list. .
The country is valued for its high quality of life and friendly, happy people. It also has a fairly well-developed public health system.
Denmark
One thing that helps keep the cost of living low in Denmark is its universal healthcare system, which means most citizens receive healthcare for free. And if quality of life is what you’re looking for, you’ll find it here too – politically and economically, the country is strong.
Another advantage of the cost of living in Denmark is that it has an abundance of public transport, which means you may not have to invest in the purchase and maintenance of a vehicle. .
Austria
In addition to having an average monthly cost of living of less than $1,500 per month, Austria is a country steeped in a rich historical culture. Not only is its architecture varied and complex, but its capital, Vienna, has hosted great classical composers like Beethoven and Mozart.
Austria is also home to the Alps, which can make for spectacular sightseeing.
Japan
Japan has a strong economic situation and an above-average public health system. Moreover, its average monthly cost of living is quite affordable.
To save even more money, you can skip buying a car thanks to Japan’s well-developed public transport network, including ferries, buses and its famous bullet train.
Slovenia
Slovenia is a small country in Central Europe with a population of just over 2.1 million. Tourism strongly supports the economy, and literature, art and music are its cultural pillars.
However, pensioners might find it difficult to communicate easily there, as Slovenian is the official language and English is considered a foreign language.
Czech Republic
Expatriate retirees should have no trouble communicating in the Czech Republic. Although Czech is the official language, English is widely spoken by younger generations, especially in Prague.
The country, also known as Czechia, offers both free public healthcare and private healthcare. However, free public health care is only available once you are deemed a permanent resident.
Portugal
The chance of retire abroad in Portugal for less than $1,000 a month is probably tempting for many. Not only is it affordable, which can make retirement more comfortable, but it also benefits from a temperate climate and friendly culture.
Although Portugal has a public health system, retirees will need to have private health insurance for at least the first few years until they become permanent residents and qualify for it.
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Methodology: To find the safest places to retire abroad for $2,000 a month, GOBankingRates first used data from the Institute for Economics and Peace to find (1) the safest countries in the world. GOBankingRates then used LivingCost.org to find the (2) average monthly cost of living for each selected country. All data was collected and updated as of October 6, 2022.
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 9 Safest Places to Retire Abroad for Under $2,000 a Month
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