I agree totally. I currently live in Cairo and it’s much more affordable if you integrate…. not enough people do this!

Thanks,
Forest
http://frugalzeitgeist.com/cheapest-places-to-live/

@Alex – Having a GF with kids before I met DW, I believe that kids, maybe below a certain age, say 8, don’t really care what nationality or language the other kids speak. Also, the kids will pick up the new language REALLY fast. As for the school system, many developed countries’ school systems would be an improvement over the US K12 system. I think the US ranks twenty-something. Private schooling would be worth it insofar the kid is bright. But if the kid is bright, it should be no problem to home school them. My beliefs in children’s education revolves around the apprentice system and responsibility which is pretty much the opposite of the institutional system based on degrees and testing, so if you believe the latter is preferable at least in usefulness and fitting in, then take my suggestion with a grain of salt.

Does anyone have any thoughts or this or experience living with a family abroad?

True, it is not the “real” Mexico… Rosarito has about 14,000 ex-patriot residents living here full time. The United Society of Baja is an umbrella organization with regular monthly events for foreign residents to get together while also having the opportunity to meet and mingle with local Mexicans and Mexican organizations. Serena Full Assistance is a private business, but offers assistance with obtaining every kind of assistance you may need to live care-free in Baja… health care, home repairs, visas, assisted living, road assistance, etc., all through a 24/7 bilingual hotline and local offices. (Full disclosure, I am affiliated with Serena.)

We also have a “Friends of the Library” association which has been very successful in working with local government to improve the local libraries; “Flying Samaritans” provide health clinics to locals at no cost; Rosarito Theater Guild” offers quality, exceptional local theater. Our social life is not lacking at all, and we have opportunities to mix with locals and other ex-pat residents.

For better or worse… we have a local WalMart Super Center, Home Depot, Applebees, Smart and Final, and a Sam’s Club is on the way; among a host of other gringo-friendly dining and shopping offerings.

High Speed internet is available through the telephone company, DSL, or the cable company also offers internet, all priced similar to the states. Cable TV gives us all the US networks and local affiliates out of San Diego, CA.

We have several local private and public hospitals. Local infrastructure has been getting massive improvements. The current Mayor has been a tremendous asset to setting a very high standard for open government, integrity, and reform. The police force is now an example of improving training, standards, and pay; which is being followed by other cities to the point of creating a regional Tourist Police department with training, etc., to create a corruption-free law enforcement from Tijuana to Ensenada. It will take time, but the improvements we are seeing in Rosarito have been effective and vast.

In Baja Norte, public utilities are in place, and reliable. Water supply, sewer, electricity, telephones, drainage, internet, are all in place… Baja Norte is very focused on providing a welcoming and reliable environment for the foreign resident and tourist.

Housing is the best bargain. If you eat like a gringo, you will not enjoy as great a savings, but the local restaurants are available and excellent. Heck, even the Rosarito Beach Hotel has a great, daily luncheon special for under $6US.

With the undeserved bad publicity the region has received, coupled with the passport requirements which went into effect this year, and the flu scare (no flu here), encouraging the return of the foreign visitors and retirees has become very important to the local economy. Now is the time to take advantage of favorable conditions!

Feel free to write me with any questions!

Ken in Rosarito

But I’m just dreaming about someone who had an RV (or not, you could probably just drift without the vehicle) cruising slowly down from North to South America. . . You could take years to do it.

The real key i guess when it comes down to money, is going to the less developed countries, so the Dollar can help propel you further along with lower standards in general in various regions.

As far as English speaking places being viable for this, Phillipines is the 3rd largest English speaking country in the world, Belize has quite a good fluency rate as well, and Panama is both protected by the US, and has many ExPats there from all the commercial interests surrounding the channel.

Those are probably the top 3 places to go that are still in that “developing/frugal” window.

Personally, I wouldn’t mind going to say Canada to eventually get on their healthcare system, but their standard of living is so simmilar to the USA it doesn’t make much sense.

Something to keep in mind though for sure, rather than just keep plunking away in the US.

Ok, snapping out of it!

Jacob, What about moving to another country in order to learn the language? I mean, the last time I went to Mexico, my Spanish background came largely from a few quick trips to Spain with friends, some language partners and lots of practice on those ‘learn at home’ DVD’s. I was conversing pretty well withing weeks and could use all the public transport, do shopping, handle social situations. I had a blast. If I’d stayed for a year, I’m sure I’d be fluent by now. . .

I already spoke French and I guess I’m a relatively fast learner as languages go, but still. . . When we moved to the US for the first time, DH really didn’t speak English, of course, he had me to help with everything, but he learned–even though he’s not a ‘language person’ (according to him–I think all humans are ‘language people!’ we all speak at least one!)

Anyway, what about the idea of retiring to a nomadic life and just traveling around, spending a year here, a year there and crawling slowly over the globe? Since most of the people on this blog are considering retiring young, the rough conditions of some of those fascinating places aren’t too much of a problem . . . ok, when I was in Africa I caught all kinds of bugs and it took me 2 years to get rid of the Malaria relapses, but I say, it was worth it! Besides, Malaria–it’s like a permanent and free souvenir. Hah!

I only drew upon a fraction of my savings. In one month’s work in the west, surely it would be possible to live for one year in a pleasant, cheap country? Why not, you only live once?

It’s actually closed, but before that it was quite interesting with a bit of drama.

There are actually some better sites than that by far, here are a few from my research:

http://www.worldscheapestdestinations.com/livingabroad.html

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1558680713/?tag=oildepletiove-20

Weigh the Pros and Cons of Retiring Abroad

I was a foreign exchange student in Mexico during my second year of college. While it is possible to live very frugally in Mexico, most of those savings you’ll only see if you are fluent in the language. I’ve seen the boasts on how one can live like a king in Mexico on your Social Security check. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Anybody “down there” catering to English-speakers is going to charge a higher price, whether they are selling you groceries or renting you an apartment. Many homes and apartments in Mexico lack dishwashers and washing machines (hiring a maid has always been relatively cheap), so that “modest apartment” the retirement articles may mention could lack things that many apartment shoppers here might take for granted. (OH BOO HOO!)

What Americans may not see at the tourist traps is that water is in short supply for the “average Mexican.” Your water supply may just be a cistern on the roof, refilled at regular intervals. No long showers. Be sure to include room in your budget for bottled water service. The tap water may not be quite safe.

Senior citizens may want to take note that Mexico does not have the same requirements for “handicapped accessible” public spaces that the US has imposed. Imagine trying to negotiate uneven cobblestone streets and curbs without any ramps for crossing the street, and forget about leaving space or ramps for wheelchairs. You may be fit and healthy now, but that may not be the case later.

A trip to the doctor and most basic medicines are cheaper in Mexico, but the ridiculously low price for a doctor’s visit you may have seen probably won’t be for someone American-trained and/or English speaking. Again your language skills have to be strong to realize any “savings.” And unless you are in one of the major cities, I wouldn’t count on the availability of the hi-tech treatments. Check the details of your medical insurance, if any. If you have a Medicare Supplement plan, coverage is probably only offered on emergency care during leisure travel. You have to be in the US more than six months of the year. Medicare itself may cover care in Canada, but I don’t think it will cover care in Mexico. If you have a big problem and want Medicare to cover it, you’ll have to go back to the States.

Mexico is a beautiful country, but living there is much different from a trip to Acapulco. It may be cheaper to winter there than, say, Arizona, but weigh your options very carefully before living there on a full-time basis. Don’t necessarily view it as a backup plan in case your 401k takes a dive.

Warnings aside, food, alcohol, and restaurants are pretty cheap. Having a car is not absolutely necessary since bus and taxi service is widely available (a mercy since driving there is not for the faint of heart). Clothes can be as cheap or expensive as you want them to be. Books, electronics, and CDs I found to be quite pricey. International phone service is very expensive, unless you live right near the border. You will have to rely on the kindness of relatives to call you. Also, living in a foreign country is quite the learning experience. It can be a wonderful way to spend your winters or your retirement or it can be misery if you don’t easily adapt.

If you would like to do some reading on the subject, the Culture Shock serie

Forums:

http://www.expatexchange.com/

1.) Phillipines

ESL jobs are hard to find. :{

200,000+UK/USA expats

1.) PANAMA!

Pensionario program(michelle disabilieshttp://www.frugal-retirement-living.com/retiring-to-panama.html

2.)Malta

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malta

3.) Belize

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belize

4.) Mexico

Lark
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11/2/2009 23:59
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Well, I moved to Rosarito, Mexico about 1-1/2 years ago. It’s a small town about 30 miles from the border. I know, everyone will tell you how dangerous it is and how people are just running around shooting and kidnapping. Nothing could be further from the truth.
We rarely go to Tijuana because it can be dangerous but we don’t mind driving through it at all during the day to go over to the states. The rent here, on the best, for a beautifully furnished 1/1 in a gated community on the beach is $500. A 2/2 condo with bacony and ocean view is $700. Single-family homes rents for $500 to $800 (of course there are always those that are higher). Groceries, utilities, clothing, doctors, dentists, and services are really affordable, much less than the US. There is a US post office (I am not kidding, an official US Post Office) here where you can receive and send mail at an American address for American rates. We use MagicJack so our phone has an American number and our friends and family call at American rates. We can call them at American rates also. Our cellphone costs $25 per month for basically unlimited calling from USA Cell Co. Restaurants are very reasonablly prices. We love it here and can’t imagine moving. We didn’t even bring a car, we can walk everywhere! Taxi’s are 20 pesos ($1.50) to anywhere in town. (We pay more but don’t have to.) Good luck and think of Rosarito, Mexico, only 30 minutes from San Diego.

http://www.internationalliving.com/

http://www.escapeartist.com/

NEPAL Expat

http://vagabonders-supreme.net/

http://livingboondockingmexico.blogspot.com/

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=cheapest+place+to+live+in+the+world&aq=f&oq=&aqi=g10

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080213140608AAfFN2U

http://opentravel.com/blogs/the-cheapest-places-to-live-in-the-world-500-a-month/

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2009/06/know_a_cheap_place_to_retire.html

http://www.shelteroffshore.com/index.php/living/more/5-cheapest-places-retire-abroad-10225/

http://www.shelteroffshore.com/

http://answers.yahoo.com/search/search_result;_ylt=AsnblHMOaCjNhuN2u4hjm23py6IX;_ylv=3?p=overseas+retirement%3F

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Amc5tIohH7llh4PoAH3NnIIjzKIX;_ylv=3?qid=20090504053719AAjzfsl

http://www.frugal-retirement-living.com/

http://www.mexperience.com/liveandwork/

http://www.retiring-overseas.com/

http://www.liveabroad.com/

http://www.supertramp.com.au/forum/

http://www.transitionsabroad.com/listings/living/index.shtml