The Expat Retirement Thread (or expat thread)

Quote: petroglyph

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/americans-gave-up-citizenship-in-record-numbers-in-2020-up-triple-from-2019-reports-tax-specialists-americans-overseas-301222817.html

"A record 6,705 Americans gave up their citizenship in 2020
A 260% increase from 2019 when 2,577 Americans gave up their citizenship
Renunciations triple despite U.S. consulates being closed for large parts of the year due to COVID-19
This is the highest year on record; the previous record was 5,411 cases in 2016"

Quote: Evenbob

Here you go, $200 a month for
an apartment that includes all
utilities, even cable. You can
live like a king on $1000 a
month.

Quote: AZDuffman

Cayman Islands.

Not a cheap or easy place, but if you have cash might not be bad.

Quote: SOOPOO

I think they used to have banking rules that made it a good place for the very rich to have a residence. Plus nice weather! I was there as a cruise ship port of call. Seemed nice.

Quote:

Housing: In my 14 years of living in Mexico, my regular monthly expenses have hovered around $1,000. I've never paid more than $400 per month for a rental (and that was for a brand new 1,600-square-foot condo with ocean views). Now I pay about $200 for a one-bedroom.
Bills: Electricity is typically $10 a month, rising to about $35 in the summer depending on air conditioning. Wi-Fi and a cell phone plan (with unlimited international calls) each run about $18 per month.
Food and entertainment: I spend between $100 to $150 per month on gas for my car. You can go to a movie for under $5. I like going out to breakfast and pay about $6, including tip. A fancy dinner might cost around $18. My grocery bills are anywhere between $250 to $300 per month.
Healthcare: I use an international health insurance company for $1,500 per year, and my deductible is $1,000. If I have a cold or a simple health issue, I can go to any pharmacy and consult with a doctor for about $3. A visit to a specialist — like an ear, nose and throat doctor — might cost $35. Dental care is equally affordable; I recently paid $150 for a crown.
House calls: A plumber or handyman charges about $20 per visit. My vet makes house calls for routine checkups and vaccinations for my two cats, charging $12 to 20 per visit. Recently, an electrician spent six hours at my house installing a ceiling fan, and the bill was only $45. (Speaking Spanish and having local friends definitely helps avoid special expat prices.)

Quote: rxwine

While I doubt very much l’ll ever do the exPat thing, still read stuff about it.

Quote: Pacomartin

(Speaking Spanish and having local friends definitely helps avoid special expat prices.)

If you retire to San Miguel de Allende which has numerous American retirees, often doctors, you will pay large expat prices.
Obviously you are going to pay big at Puerto Vallarta, Cancun or Los Cabos.

If you retire to Huatulco, a beach resort community frequented by Brits and people from Mexico city, you are going to pay a lot less