The World’s Best Retirement Destinations in 2019 Have Been Revealed.
Panama is the best place to retire in the world.
The world’s top 10 retirement destinations, according to International Living’s freshly issued Annual Global Retirement Index for 2019, are:
#3 Mexico #8 Peru #4 Ecuador #9 Thailand #5 Malaysia #10 Spain #1 Panama #6 Colombia #2 Costa Rica #7 Portugal #3 Mexico #8 Peru #4 Ecuador #9 Thailand #5 Malaysia #10 Spain properties
Panama, the winner of the 2019 Global Retirement Index, has been a consistent performer in the Index over the past ten years, rising from third place to claim the top spot.
The Central American jewel crams a lot into its little footprint: a fast-paced, colorful capital city, palm-fringed beaches, and wooded valleys with year-round spring temperatures.
Its Pensionado program is what makes it genuinely unique. The Pensionado visa is given to anyone with a monthly lifetime pension of above $1,000 to entice retirees to the country. Seniors can also get discounts on a variety of goods and services, including as medical consultations and cinema tickets, through the program.
“It’s really thrilling for me to be here today because Panama City is an international capital that’s coming into its own,” says International Living Panama Editor Jessica Ramesch. “It’s a well-known business destination with excellent infrastructure, particularly in terms of cellular and internet access. It’s the busiest air hub in the region, the only metro line in Central America, and the only city in the region with its own rainforest “ Few people realize, however, that this is also a cultural capital. Every art form is honored in Panama City, which is home to busy, lively populations from all over the world “This is a global metropolis where an ocean view condo can be rented for as low as $1,500 per month. Where else can you get so much for such a small sum of money? Consider the advantages. This is Central America’s sole First World city. We’re close to both the United States and Canada (Miami is about three hours away by plane).
Panama is tropical and warm, though it lies outside of the hurricane belt. The US dollar is the official currency. The tax burden is manageable. There is a sizable English-speaking community, which includes a number of top-notch doctors.”
Panama took the top rank in 2019 as a global hub with a flourishing economy, bursting with energy and opportunity. All of this adds up to a business-friendly locale that is a deserved winner of International Living’s Annual Global Retirement Index 2019.