If you’ve been racking your brain about where to retire on a budget, it might be time to think outside the U.S.
A report by International Living, which publishes information about living overseas, lists destinations where you can coast through retirement on less than $30,000 a year.
To be sure, retiring in a new country will require studying up on tax implications, along with pulling off some other logistical maneuvering.
Yet for many older Americans, the work will be well worth finding a new, affordable place to spend their golden years.
The average monthly Social Security check is $1,404, and more than 40% of single adults receive more than 90% of their income from that check, according to the government.
Here are the international cities where that check will go far, according to International Living.
1. Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica
A couple can live comfortably in this coastal town on the Caribbean Sea for just $2,025 a month, or $24,300 a year, according to International Living.
You’ll find warm weather, beaches, and Italian, Argentinian and French restaurants.
2. Lagos, Portugal
Couples can live in this town in southern Portugal for $2,080 a month, or $24,960 a year, according to International Living.
Lagos, on the Atlantic and boasting with moderate climate year-round, is great for retirees who want to live near the ocean. Transportation options abound and the city is fairly flat, making it great for walking, too.
3. Akumal, Mexico
Couples can retire in this tropical town south of Cancun for $2,240 a month, or $26,880 a year, according to International Living.
“Famously known for its spectacular clear bay filled with sea turtles, Akumal has matured from a secretive destination for divers to a growing tourist hotspot,” the overseas retirement site says of the town, which lies between resorts Playa del Carmen and Tulum on Mexico’s Caribbean coast.
4. Volcan, Panama
Volcan will cost couples around $1,500 a month, or $18,000 a year, in living expenses.
This inland town lies in the middle of a farming community in a valley, and has a population around 14,000. You’ll need to speak some Spanish to be able to communicate with locals and do business, according to International Living.
5. Medellin, Colombia
Medellin, population 2.5 million, is Colombia’s second-largest city. A couple could live well here for $2,000a month, or $24,000 a year.
The city, snuggled in a valley in the towering Andes Mountains, is filled with more than 30 universities, as well as art and history museums and restaurants.
