Wow, Ubud Bali #1. That’s awesome. The traffic is absolutely horrible with scooters and vehicle congestion. The sidewalks are not user friendly for those disabled. They have parts of the walkway missing where you could fall into a big hole. You definitely need to be mobile and not disabled because they don’t have elevators in majority of buildings as well. You absolutely need insurance otherwise they will not see you in a hospital.
Thanks for your great info. Just retired and now living one month in Da Lat. For me are the most important things, value for money, weather and food. Thailand and Vietnam has the best food in the world and I will stay 6 months in Chiang Mai and 3 months Da Lat and side trips to Laos, Cambodia and other cities in Thailand and Vietnam.
What do you think of Da Lat so far? I really want to come. I've heard the weather is great year round there. How much of an issue is the language barrier?
Filipino food is terrible, they mix old food with fresh food, Never eat street food, many times I got diarhea, and the meat comes from resturant dumpsters where Filipinos pick at night take the meat home wash it and sauetay it and sell it, this is called "PAG-PAG, many times I got stomach cramps.
Very thorough and complete top 15 places to retire. This past year I’ve traveled throughout Vietnam. Vietnam is now my top country to retire, but I’m still a slow traveler. I’ve checked each day for a couple of months for this report and am very appreciative you sent it out. Thank you for your effort 🙏🏼
@@Chris-dw6cu I like Nha Trang best of all in Vietnam. It's a tourist city with all the facilities you can wish for: beaches, restaurants, hot springs (Suoi Nuoc Nong Thap Ba is best), big English language reference collection in the provincial library, a good climate for ten months of the year, sea breezes during the day and mountain breezes at night, mountain streams (Suoi Da Giang). I stayed for twelve years until my daughter needed an education in Australia. I don't like big cities, so Hanoi and Saigon were out. Dalat for me was too cold, wet and miserable. Danang was too hot.
I don't want to contradict you, however Bali is no longer the value it once was. I have had a place here for over 27 years. New restrictive and expensive visa policies have been implemented - staying or retiring here long term is not as feasible as it used to be. I'm looking forward to following your suggestions for Vietnam as I am coming to explore this week.
Mr. Dan & Ms. Qiang Hui...You two do an excellent job with this channel. Thank you for another fine video and all the work you do to make your videos available to us!
Hi guys. You haven't been to Puerto Morelos lately. Everything now is too expensive. Restaurants on sea side have USA prices. 2 years ago I have rented a condo en el Alborada for 10k pesos but this winter it was 15k. Same thing for Puerto Escondido which is not a hidden gem anymore. No more Mexico for me. Viva South East Asia.
Now, no longer in SEA. Am in the US and I want to be gone. I am starting in Mexico, then heading to Ecuador and then to Panama. Only have a puppy and freedom.
Great list Dan, I had fun guessing what was coming up, guessed about 2/3rds of them. Porto was a surprise. Great to see the 1000 videos, can't believe how many hours that means I've spent watching you guys! People who aren't yet members, just do it.
I feel so blessed to have lived in Bali for 2 years Dan. I recently visited Coron in the Philippines and still live in Puerto Galera (one of your former top 5,lol. You having thinking a lot about Viet Nam now and yes. I still need to visit Boracay. Loved Dumagueti and Siquior and Bohol was awesome. Thanks Dan, was interesting to hear about the Mexican peso. Glad I lived in Playa Del Carmen while it was still affordable😂
Dan, congratulations on your 1,000th youtube video creation 🥳 I have enjoyed many. Over time, my thoughts settle where I would enjoy most to live. Thanks always for the incredible insights you offer. The videos & info on each destination really help to understand what it would be like to visit there. You are living the dream & sharing a wealth of knowledge. Best wishes for 1,000 more ❤️
Perfect Timing..planning our next trip. You are my modern day travel agent. I’m scouting for a 1/2 year retirement destination. Your list cuts to the chase. Thanks for doing the leg work.
If your an American, the best and cheapest place to retire is the Philippines, they speak english, have great food, great islands and beaches, the people are so friendly and easy to talk to. All the other places on your list would just be vacation destinations. Over all, if your american, head to the Philippines, no Hassel visa program and no visa runs, great medical services too.
We also love the Philippines. In fact, this top 15 list includes 3 places there. But people like choices so I share my top 15 in the world. Thanks for your thoughts. :-)
@@VagabondAwake did you feel safe there? Why are there so many stories about kidnapping and so on? Are travelers and expats ever targeted for this kind of thing or is it related to local politics?
Living in México City I see that this nice vagabund couple has selected three places in my country to retire that I know and I agree with both; Querétaro, Oaxaca and Puerto Morelos. Very enjoyable video ❤❤
I’m surprised that you did not picked Dominican Republic. Due to fact that l have two children, l decided to retire in Las Terrenas or Cabarete in Dominican Republic. Thanks to your video on Lass Terrenas , l visited Dominican Republic and love it.
Hi @QueensNY718, We have youtube playlists for each of our retire cheap in paradise countries. We have been to several places in DR and made videos. Evry country playlist is at this link. You will find that information on your requested country there: th-cam.com/users/VagabondAwakeplaylists Thank you , Dan
Hi! So you live In DR? How do you like It? Is It safe? I am looking at Panama at the moment, never considered the DR but now i am curious. Thanks In avance
Watching this video for the second time. 😃 I am going to include our current city ( Quetzaltenango, aka Xela, Guatemala ) in your number 15 spot. Xela is the second largest city in Guatemala. Some advantages here are perfect cool weather at almost 8000 feet in elevation. Low 70s in the afternoon and 45-50 at night. We also don’t have to deal with throngs of tourists. There are 3 large modern malls and even a huge Walmart. We expected something similar to Nicaragua, but immediately you see that Guatemala is much more prosperous. We are spending about $1100-$1200/month without budgeting. We have a 3/1 house, 4 blocks from the main park, with a fantastic view. If someone likes cool temps and Mountain View’s, you should visit Xela.(Shay-La)
Another great milestone that shows just how much work you both have put in. Congratulations Great sale. I still haven't been able to go through all the reports. Definitely worth the full price. Now like a buy one get one for another family or friend that loves to travel. 😊👍🌞💪
Thank you! Consider going the next step and getting my free eBook (if you haven't already). vagabondbuddha.com/fire-your-boss-travel-world/ Thanks for watching and commenting! Dan
Congratulations on your 1000th video, what a milestone!!! You guys are a real inspiration to so many people. My wife and I are planning a scouting trip this June (Mexico/Costa Rica/Panama/Portugal/Spain) to find our retirement home after retiring at 60. We would love to travel to Southeast Asia, but not sure we could live there. The USA is just too expensive especially the healthcare. We're still trying to navigate healthcare abroad (I emailed Alex the healthcare broker in your video) and think we're just going to purchase in-patient coverage and pay out-of-pocket for out-patient care since it's relatively inexpensive in the countries we're looking at. Wishing you both the best.
I've been to 15. Antigua, Guatemala 14. Bangkok, Thailand 13. Boracay, Philippines 12. Puerto Morelos, Mexico 7. Queretaro, Mexico 2. Da Nang, Vietnam. I think I'm going to settle in Da Nang or Vung Tau.
I really appreciate that you displayed the names of each destination showing the correct spelling making it much easier to research the area. Thank you.
Thanks for the update and quick rundown. Maybe add some comments about how the locals feel about long-term visitors, outside of the tourist areas and definitely safety factors. Thanks for sharing! Just wishing it wasn't so hot and humid so it was great hearing some of the Cool-er places made the list. Aloha from Maui 🤙
Thanks Dan, and congratulations on 1000 vids! I spent time in Queretaro and Puerto Morelos in ‘22 based on your recommendations. Loved the towns, people, food, etc., but the sargassum in PM definitely puts a damper on beach life. Question: as someone who is a “mosquito magnet” 😢 would you suggest avoiding any of your listed places? Appreciate all you do for slow travelers.
Something that works for mosquitos is to eat a lot of fresh garlic and reduce sugar consumption. If you do, they won't be attracted to your blood.. Also, citronella essential oil (rubbed gently on the skin during dawn and dusk, when they are most active) keeps them away very effectively..
Hi Dan, I don't judge anyone else for their opinion or their decisions on this, but normally, I wouldn't buy a membership due to having a fairly low income, but your information and your pitch made sense to me. Most of the time, I avoid sales pitches like the plague, but I appreciate the fact that your information will likely save us hundreds, if not thousands of dollars over the next couple of decades when we take the plunge and begin traveling. Our first stop will be the Visayans, in the Philippines, and for a while, at least will likely serve as our home base to wherever we desire to go next.
My wife and I retired to Vienna, Austria and we spend 2000€ per month. We do not live on a tight budget either. We retired well and we can afford to do a lot and take frequent trips. Not sure where you come up with 4K a month for living expenditures.
Hi @LukeGettering, Would you like to be a guest start on one of my videos? Here is an example guest star video: th-cam.com/video/ySM_2jAC4v4/w-d-xo.html Your interview could be just your voice or we could do a zoom call showing your face. If you would like to be a guest star and share your story please leave a personal message here: vagabondbuddha.com/contact/ Thank you for your comment. The detail of your comment makes this real for people. If you have a business, service, or TH-cam channel, you could share that on the interview. Best, Dan
Fabulous content. I can really tell you have so much passion for spreading this knowledge!, thank you so much. I'm going to binge your content this weekend from a rainy cold UK and plan my travels!
Currently watching some of your videos now. You are a great inspiration. I am retiring next year and can't wait to travel even though we're moving to Puerto Rico. My wife and I still want to travel the world and follow your recommendations will keep you posted please keep the videos coming
Thanks Dan, I can see you put a lot of effort into this video. Another great place to retire is a place I have visited, Port Maria, Jamaica. This is where Ian Fleming and Noel Coward lived. This small town has not been affected by tourism. The views at this spot are breathtaking. This is my paradise! 😊 have a great day!
@@Chris-dw6cu Hi Chris, thanks for your message. If you are in the UK you can go to Jamaica for 30 days without a Visa. Further information is available on the government website concerning the Visa requirements. Thanks Alan
Great video! Always look forward to these annual lists! Have you ever considered going to some European hotspots, like Bulgaria, Georgia, etc. Would love to get your take on these places! Keep up the good work!
Welcome to Australia have followed you from the start and what a fantastic adventure. You have done a great job navigating Triteia solo across the Pacific and takeing us with you. Cant wait to see what happens next. All the best from Les Rigby , Rockhampton Queensland.
I’ll have to swing by Koh Samui sometime to see if it can be my number third 😊 I haven’t been anywhere in Thailand that I haven’t enjoyed yet, so I’m sure that I will absolutely love it. 🙂👍🏻
Hi Dan and Qiang, been watching your videos for a while and congrats on your 1,000th! All your videos have been visually well crafted and full of worthwhile information. Thanks also for the discount on your membership bc I finally signed up.
Wow! 1000th video that is some going, as its not like they're 5 minute videos. Surprised by Porto, not far from the UK for us. I think that we'd be tempted to do a bit of country hopping in South East Asia rather than the retirement visa for Thailand although it would be my primary choice as the wife is thai. Like you say, the government looking to tax your income might be less than helpful.
Hey Dan, I was hoping to see the Dominican Republic in your top 15 destination. I go every year for the past 10 years. Will be moving to Samaná beach. I will first rent then buy a two bedroom apartment or even villa. I think the money goes a long way in the DR and its still cheap compare to the USA. Also, I find Samaná to be expats/tourist-friendly and very safe. Thanks for sharing.
Even though I'm about 20 years from retirement age, I find myself pondering this question as the cost of living in the US is spiraling out of control. I was surprised that you recommended Koh Samui. We were there in early April and I was completely miserable for most of the visit. The heat is pretty bad, but the humidity is off the charts. And most places are not air conditioned, not even the airport! I also found the sand (at least on the northern part of the island) extremely coarse and unpleasant to walk on. That's why I'm about to check out your cool weather locations video haha.
I’ve lived on this world for 73 years. I’ve traveled more than the average person and have made friends with people in many of the places I visited. There are so many places worth visiting but when it comes to living there that is a whole different thing. It’s also we are all different in our likes, desires, tolerances and so on. So stick to basics. You know yourself best just be realistic and put your absolutes and then at least you can eliminate most of the world. I don’t want to live on a beach for instance but ChangMai was a favorite but not perfect for instance. Good luck in your search!
I just turned 21 and I simply can't wait to explore and live in all these places especially your TOP 5 but before that I need to find a way to earn atleast $3-5k/month online to live mindfree❤️
Great insight! Grateful for your hands-on research! Is there any info on dealing with illnesses and parasites one may contract in tropical and warm climate countries, I seem to often run into gut issues and love tropical countries. Thank you!
@barbarab8182, here is how I stay safe from mosquitos: vagabondbuddha.com/top-11-tips-to-stop-dengue-and-malaria/ But we haven't seem many here so far. Thanks for asking, Dan
Heya Dan, it would be cool if you did a vid about places that are cheap that have winter. Personally, I like the seasonal differences ... but I'm not sure where the cheap places are that have the heat of summer but also a cooling fall, snowy winter and a green spring ... and are safe and clean etc ...
Thanks Dan. I always appreciate your videos, but it seems like a list for travellers like yourself. Its not pennies anymore when Thailand starts taxing 30% of your worldwide income or you need to take $200k out of your interest bearing investments to sit in a Malaysian bank to qualify for their visa. Vietnam doesnt even have any long term visa options. I'd love to see a list that actually factors in things like this for people who actually want to stay still somewhere.
Great point. But they change the laws practically every year. That is why I don't thin forever is a real concept anymore. Just is why I just travel lite and enjoy life rather than going in too deep anywhere. Plus, I never get bored.
@@VagabondAwake Yes, it changes frequently. But you say over and over again that you are making videos for people who want to retire cheap. Im just guessing, but i think 99% of retirees want to establish a home base and not be constantly moving, especially as they get older. I think a lot of people are watching these videos and getting a very wrong idea of the actual cost or possibility of retiring in one of these spots.
I'm from Porto, Portugal, now living in France, Porto it's not a cheap city, you get a room in a house living with others persons for 400€ a month. The rent price has skyrocket in the last 3 years, and all the rest is also expensive. Im in the south of France near Saint-Tropez, and I can tell you that life here is now cheaper than in Portugal.
Cool that you have traveled to so many countries. I have been to 70. I have lived at least a year in 10 countries. When was the last time you lived in Austria? I ask because if your monthly expenses were 4,000€, you were totally ripped off. Strange too because Austrians are very honest and the laws are enforced. We retired to Vienna and our expenses stayed around 2,000€ per month. We tnen relocated in Innsbruck and our expenses are 1800€ per month. We also live in an upscale neighborhood. Same with our residence in Vienna.
Our rent is 850€ per month based on a 3 year lease. Since we are residents we have access to health care and the same amenities as the locals. We do pay tax, but not on Social Security. As for rebates, this year we received just shy of 3500 €
To the folks in the comments, this is just a quick summary of these wonderful places. You’ll obviously need to do a more in-depth research and even visit a place for at least 30-90 days to get a good idea whether a country will work for you.
I’ve been pricing rentals in Ubud on facebook with the thought of spending 6 months. The prices are much higher than anticipated so if I go I’ll get a 1 week AB&B and look in-person.
@@papadougpapadougsadventures it's the most common accommodation in Bali. Basically a family compound with different buildings, some of which are set aside for guests. Most also serve breakfast and provide drinking water. If you do a search "bali homestay" a bunch will come up
@@papadougpapadougsadventures ...Homestay is a form of hospitality and lodging whereby visitors share a residence with a local of the area to which they are traveling.
I’m in Ubud now and I don’t get the attraction. The traffic is terrible with air pollution to match and the prices are the highest I have seen in SE Asia. I LOVE my resort. It is outside of the town, down a little path with rice fields on one side and a ravine/jungle on the other. However, after a 10 minute walk down the path, I am back in the traffic and noise. You might be able to find a cheap Warung 5 miles out of town but who wants to travel that far when the traffic is so bad?
Yeah the town center is absolutely awful. Pennestanan is nice though. That's where I lived. They definitely do their best to squeeze money out of tourists in Bali. Prices are super inflated and they refuse to bargain. For the locals It's a point of pride to cheat foreigners.
You are right if you live the way you describe. We lived on a walking street, no cars. We ate in local restaurants all in walking distance 1-3 blocks from our house. We never got in a car. What you are describing, I agree, is terrible, ... but different than what we did. Watch our video there to see what I mean: th-cam.com/video/5WDpVGjwigg/w-d-xo.html
@@VagabondAwake I am on a walking street too, but who wants to live somewhere that they are confined to a few blocks in order to avoid traffic. Maybe okay for a month but not for the long term.
Pennies?))) 😉 I have been out of the US for 20 years and visited 73 countries. I lived in a few long term. We definitely have different lifestyles. I decided to settle in the Austria. Luck to you.
Vietnam definitely has the most beautiful women! Bali has been commented recently to not be as welcoming to tourists, is that true? A nice place in Europe is Albania where you get visa for one year at a time. Lunch $3, a 180 degree seaview for $500/month. Not that cheap but you will live like the millionaires in Florida. Visa runs cost some money too with flights.
Congrats on your 1000th video on TH-cam! You guys rock. I wish you would have talked about Indonesia's Visa requirements. Or their health care system. Or locals understanding/speaking English. It's okay though, I have the internet. I can look that stuff up myself.
Living in the tropics is not for everybody. There is a rainy season and a dry season and it can drive you as crazy as a long gray Winter. In Australia going insane from the rainy season is called "going tropo". There are seasonal risks for all locations. Leave the option open to travel out of the bad weather to enjoy your retirement. Why settle for one beautiful place when you can have a few and let them compete for your business.
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Ksamil island in Albania. The Maldives of Europe.
Pennies? I can’t wait…show me Mr. Dan
15. Antigua, Guatemala
14. Bangkok, Thailand
13. Boracay, Philippines
12. Puerto Morelos, Mexico
11. Penang, Malaysia
10. Oaxaca, Mexico
9. Baguio, Philippines
8. Dumaguete, Philippines
7. Queretaro, Mexico
6. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
🎉1,000th Video Celebration - 50% off Lifetime Membership🎉
5. Porto, Portugal
4. Nha Trang, Vietnam
3. Koh Samui, Thailand
2. Da Nang, Vietnam
🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁
1. Ubud Bali, Indonesia
I was gonna do that...THANK YOU!
Wow, Ubud Bali #1. That’s awesome. The traffic is absolutely horrible with scooters and vehicle congestion. The sidewalks are not user friendly for those disabled. They have parts of the walkway missing where you could fall into a big hole. You definitely need to be mobile and not disabled because they don’t have elevators in majority of buildings as well. You absolutely need insurance otherwise they will not see you in a hospital.
@@elsienorback7689 soooo... don't pick that one. The list is still useful.
BTW I Agree with you, Ubud is definitely not for everyone.
pennies and 1200 USD per month lol
And surprise Taipei is ot o the list update ❤❤
Thanks for your great info. Just retired and now living one month in Da Lat. For me are the most important things, value for money, weather and food. Thailand and Vietnam has the best food in the world and I will stay 6 months in Chiang Mai and 3 months Da Lat and side trips to Laos, Cambodia and other cities in Thailand and Vietnam.
Great to hear!
What do you think of Da Lat so far? I really want to come. I've heard the weather is great year round there. How much of an issue is the language barrier?
What a great plan!
You are living the dream. 🌅🛵⛱✈️🛟⚓️☀️🌈🌎
Filipino food is terrible, they mix old food with fresh food, Never eat street food, many times I got diarhea, and the meat comes from resturant dumpsters where Filipinos pick at night take the meat home wash it and sauetay it and sell it, this is called "PAG-PAG, many times I got stomach cramps.
These videos about living overseas are so fantastic
2:30 Antigua, Guatemala
4:00 Bangkok, Thailand
5:15 Boracay, Philippines
6:45 Puerto Morelos, Mexico
8:30 Penang, Malaysia
9:35 Oaxaca, Mexico
10:40 Baguio City, Philippines
11:55 Dumaguete, Philippines
13:15 Queretaro, Mexico
14:40 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
16:15 Porto, Portugal
17:55 Nha Trang, Vietnam
19:40 Koh Samui, Thailand
21:00 Da Nang, Vietnam
22:40 Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Pin 📌 it
Very thorough and complete top 15 places to retire. This past year I’ve traveled throughout Vietnam. Vietnam is now my top country to retire, but I’m still a slow traveler. I’ve checked each day for a couple of months for this report and am very appreciative you sent it out. Thank you for your effort 🙏🏼
You are welcome
What are the places you like most in Vietnam and why did it become your #1 place?
@@Chris-dw6cu I like Nha Trang best of all in Vietnam. It's a tourist city with all the facilities you can wish for: beaches, restaurants, hot springs (Suoi Nuoc Nong Thap Ba is best), big English language reference collection in the provincial library, a good climate for ten months of the year, sea breezes during the day and mountain breezes at night, mountain streams (Suoi Da Giang). I stayed for twelve years until my daughter needed an education in Australia. I don't like big cities, so Hanoi and Saigon were out. Dalat for me was too cold, wet and miserable. Danang was too hot.
@@Ralph-m9n thanks for telling me about nha Trang - sounds great! You've already got me wanting to go
I don't want to contradict you, however Bali is no longer the value it once was. I have had a place here for over 27 years. New restrictive and expensive visa policies have been implemented - staying or retiring here long term is not as feasible as it used to be. I'm looking forward to following your suggestions for Vietnam as I am coming to explore this week.
Thanks for your thoughts
What are the new policies? I left in 2018 and I already thought the visa was too much of a hassle then
I’ve not watched all 1,000…but I’m close. CONGRATULATIONS
Wow, thanks. You have made our life possible. :-)
Mr. Dan & Ms. Qiang Hui...You two do an excellent job with this channel. Thank you for another fine video and all the work you do to make your videos available to us!
Amazing video for retirement dreams on a budget! Shows paradise spots where your pennies go far. 2024 retirement planning just got exciting!
El Salvador is the new place to go safe ,cheap , and tourism visas last 180 days up from 90..
@@rickstevens1479 Venezuela was that 10 years ago & it's horrible now
@@kimgordon3695 That's because they have a communist president
I left Haultulco MX last year to now live in HauHin Thailand...loving my life. Bangkok is too big for me.
Did Thailand change law ? Now you get taxed on money you bring into the country if you live there ?
That clip at 6:03 was so good. I thought it was a professional clip taken from a commercial. Good job.
Congrats on the 1k milestone, Dan. Always enjoy your input and insight.
Hi guys. You haven't been to Puerto Morelos lately. Everything now is too expensive. Restaurants on sea side have USA prices. 2 years ago I have rented a condo en el Alborada for 10k pesos but this winter it was 15k. Same thing for Puerto Escondido which is not a hidden gem anymore. No more Mexico for me. Viva South East Asia.
Thanks for sharing!!
I love SE Asia. I am sorry to hear about Puerto Morelos. I am heading to Queretaro in August and hope it will be great to live.
@Hammocktraveller, Where are you now in South East Asia?
Now, no longer in SEA. Am in the US and I want to be gone. I am starting in Mexico, then heading to Ecuador and then to Panama. Only have a puppy and freedom.
@@dlwilliamson5644It is definitely a great place to live but getting more and more expensive each year
Great list Dan, I had fun guessing what was coming up, guessed about 2/3rds of them. Porto was a surprise. Great to see the 1000 videos, can't believe how many hours that means I've spent watching you guys! People who aren't yet members, just do it.
Thanks 👍Thanks for the boost John. :-)
I feel so blessed to have lived in Bali for 2 years Dan. I recently visited Coron in the Philippines and still live in Puerto Galera (one of your former top 5,lol. You having thinking a lot about Viet Nam now and yes. I still need to visit Boracay. Loved Dumagueti and Siquior and Bohol was awesome.
Thanks Dan, was interesting to hear about the Mexican peso. Glad I lived in Playa Del Carmen while it was still affordable😂
Hey Robert!
Dan, congratulations on your 1,000th youtube video creation 🥳
I have enjoyed many. Over time, my thoughts settle where I would enjoy most to live. Thanks always for the incredible insights you offer. The videos & info on each destination really help to understand what it would be like to visit there. You are living the dream & sharing a wealth of knowledge. Best wishes for 1,000 more ❤️
Wow, thank you!
It always brings joy to hear Dan and his vlog.
Wow. Thank you JP. There is enough chaos in the world these days, so I try to create a place for peace of mind.
Congratulations on your 1000th Video! Please keep up the wonderful work.
Perfect Timing..planning our next trip. You are my modern day travel agent. I’m scouting for a 1/2 year retirement destination. Your list cuts to the chase. Thanks for doing the leg work.
You are welcome. :-)
If your an American, the best and cheapest place to retire is the Philippines, they speak english, have great food, great islands and beaches, the people are so friendly and easy to talk to. All the other places on your list would just be vacation destinations. Over all, if your american, head to the Philippines, no Hassel visa program and no visa runs, great medical services too.
Those all seem like great plus points but I've heard in the Philippines there is more violent crime than other Asian countries?
@@Chris-dw6cu don't think so, go for a visit and see, crime is in every country
We also love the Philippines. In fact, this top 15 list includes 3 places there. But people like choices so I share my top 15 in the world. Thanks for your thoughts. :-)
@@VagabondAwake did you feel safe there? Why are there so many stories about kidnapping and so on? Are travelers and expats ever targeted for this kind of thing or is it related to local politics?
Agreed. I would want to retire where I can communicate to people easily. It would be hard to live by sign language every day.
Living in México City I see that this nice vagabund couple has selected three places in my country to retire that I know and I agree with both; Querétaro, Oaxaca and Puerto Morelos. Very enjoyable video ❤❤
1,000th video...CONGRATS!!! THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION!!!
Thank you too!
I’m surprised that you did not picked Dominican Republic. Due to fact that l have two children, l decided to retire in Las Terrenas or Cabarete in Dominican Republic. Thanks to your video on Lass Terrenas , l visited Dominican Republic and love it.
Hi @QueensNY718, We have youtube playlists for each of our retire cheap in paradise countries. We have been to several places in DR and made videos. Evry country playlist is at this link. You will find that information on your requested country there:
th-cam.com/users/VagabondAwakeplaylists
Thank you , Dan
Hi! So you live In DR? How do you like It? Is It safe? I am looking at Panama at the moment, never considered the DR but now i am curious. Thanks In avance
Watching this video for the second time. 😃
I am going to include our current city ( Quetzaltenango, aka Xela, Guatemala ) in your number 15 spot.
Xela is the second largest city in Guatemala. Some advantages here are perfect cool weather at almost 8000 feet in elevation. Low 70s in the afternoon and 45-50 at night. We also don’t have to deal with throngs of tourists. There are 3 large modern malls and even a huge Walmart.
We expected something similar to Nicaragua, but immediately you see that Guatemala is much more prosperous.
We are spending about $1100-$1200/month without budgeting. We have a 3/1 house, 4 blocks from the main park, with a fantastic view. If someone likes cool temps and Mountain View’s, you should visit Xela.(Shay-La)
Paradise for Pennies. That's catchy 👌
Great video guys, appreciate your work producing this for us........
Thanks for watching!
Great vid guys, thank you! I will be in Danang in a few weeks to see if my wife and I could live there for a while.
Hope you enjoy it!
Another great milestone that shows just how much work you both have put in. Congratulations
Great sale. I still haven't been able to go through all the reports. Definitely worth the full price. Now like a buy one get one for another family or friend that loves to travel. 😊👍🌞💪
Great idea. :-)
Thanks Dan for another great, educational, and inspirational video.
Glad you enjoyed it
Congratulations on your 1000th video Dan!!!! Love your videos!
Thanks so much!!
I've been bing watching your videos. You're living my ideal life! LOL
Thank you! Consider going the next step and getting my free eBook (if you haven't already). vagabondbuddha.com/fire-your-boss-travel-world/
Thanks for watching and commenting!
Dan
Congratulations on your 1000th video, what a milestone!!! You guys are a real inspiration to so many people. My wife and I are planning a scouting trip this June (Mexico/Costa Rica/Panama/Portugal/Spain) to find our retirement home after retiring at 60. We would love to travel to Southeast Asia, but not sure we could live there. The USA is just too expensive especially the healthcare. We're still trying to navigate healthcare abroad (I emailed Alex the healthcare broker in your video) and think we're just going to purchase in-patient coverage and pay out-of-pocket for out-patient care since it's relatively inexpensive in the countries we're looking at. Wishing you both the best.
I've been to 15. Antigua, Guatemala 14. Bangkok, Thailand 13. Boracay, Philippines 12. Puerto Morelos, Mexico 7. Queretaro, Mexico 2. Da Nang, Vietnam. I think I'm going to settle in Da Nang or Vung Tau.
Both great choices.
Why did you decide on da nang or vung tau? Have you been to da lat?
@@Chris-dw6cu no. I hear it is nice. I just don’t think the medical care is all that great. You gotta think about that when you’re old
Great vdo. My wife and I intend to retire in HH Thailand but I watched this to give us some ideas of where else to spend a few months of the year.
Romblon, Tablas, Philippines 🇵🇭 🐊 🦈 🐍 ❤💞💝
I really appreciate that you displayed the names of each destination showing the correct spelling making it much easier to research the area. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks for the update and quick rundown. Maybe add some comments about how the locals feel about long-term visitors, outside of the tourist areas and definitely safety factors.
Thanks for sharing! Just wishing it wasn't so hot and humid so it was great hearing some of the Cool-er places made the list. Aloha from Maui 🤙
Thanks for the ideas.
Lucky man to have her by your side
Thanks Dan, and congratulations on 1000 vids! I spent time in Queretaro and Puerto Morelos in ‘22 based on your recommendations. Loved the towns, people, food, etc., but the sargassum in PM definitely puts a damper on beach life. Question: as someone who is a “mosquito magnet” 😢 would you suggest avoiding any of your listed places? Appreciate all you do for slow travelers.
Something that works for mosquitos is to eat a lot of fresh garlic and reduce sugar consumption. If you do, they won't be attracted to your blood..
Also, citronella essential oil (rubbed gently on the skin during dawn and dusk, when they are most active) keeps them away very effectively..
Hi Dan,
I don't judge anyone else for their opinion or their decisions on this, but normally, I wouldn't buy a membership due to having a fairly low income, but your information and your pitch made sense to me. Most of the time, I avoid sales pitches like the plague, but I appreciate the fact that your information will likely save us hundreds, if not thousands of dollars over the next couple of decades when we take the plunge and begin traveling. Our first stop will be the Visayans, in the Philippines, and for a while, at least will likely serve as our home base to wherever we desire to go next.
Thanks for trying us out. We try to offer something worth more than it costs. So thank you. :-)
Whoa! Great summary of overseas retirement opportunities!
Thank you for the information. Im 49 in the US & retired and have a list of international places already. Your list is very helpful.
Glad it was helpful!
Congrats Dan🎉
Great and valuable info as usual. Congratulations on 1000 videos 🎉🎉🎉 We appreciate what you do!
My wife and I retired to Vienna, Austria and we spend 2000€ per month. We do not live on a tight budget either. We retired well and we can afford to do a lot and take frequent trips. Not sure where you come up with 4K a month for living expenditures.
Hi @LukeGettering, Would you like to be a guest start on one of my videos? Here is an example guest star video: th-cam.com/video/ySM_2jAC4v4/w-d-xo.html
Your interview could be just your voice or we could do a zoom call showing your face. If you would like to be a guest star and share your story please leave a personal message here: vagabondbuddha.com/contact/
Thank you for your comment. The detail of your comment makes this real for people. If you have a business, service, or TH-cam channel, you could share that on the interview. Best, Dan
Great content, thanks. Lucky man, I’d follow her down the beach anytime.❤
You continue to be an absolute professional. Nicely done. Qiang too!
Thank you very much!
Fabulous content. I can really tell you have so much passion for spreading this knowledge!, thank you so much. I'm going to binge your content this weekend from a rainy cold UK and plan my travels!
Currently watching some of your videos now. You are a great inspiration. I am retiring next year and can't wait to travel even though we're moving to Puerto Rico. My wife and I still want to travel the world and follow your recommendations will keep you posted please keep the videos coming
Puerto Rico is lovely. I drove around the island once.
Congratulations for 1000 videos! We love watching them. They are so helpful as we look for places to retire abroad. Thanks so much for your work.
You are welcome Pamela! :-)
Thanks Dan, I can see you put a lot of effort into this video. Another great place to retire is a place I have visited, Port Maria, Jamaica. This is where Ian Fleming and Noel Coward lived. This small town has not been affected by tourism. The views at this spot are breathtaking. This is my paradise! 😊 have a great day!
Sounds great. Never heard anyone mention it? What is the visa situation there?
@@Chris-dw6cu Hi Chris, thanks for your message. If you are in the UK you can go to Jamaica for 30 days without a Visa. Further information is available on the government website concerning the Visa requirements. Thanks Alan
Thanks for sharing Alan. :-)
Man, I need to get out more!
Great video! Always look forward to these annual lists! Have you ever considered going to some European hotspots, like Bulgaria, Georgia, etc. Would love to get your take on these places! Keep up the good work!
Welcome to Australia have followed you from the start and what a fantastic adventure. You have done a great job navigating Triteia solo across the Pacific and takeing us with you. Cant wait to see what happens next. All the best from Les Rigby , Rockhampton Queensland.
I’ll have to swing by Koh Samui sometime to see if it can be my number third 😊
I haven’t been anywhere in Thailand that I haven’t enjoyed yet, so I’m sure that I will absolutely love it. 🙂👍🏻
Always great content and plenty of shots of his model wife! Feed the cat Dan😆
I thought I was hearing cats behind my apartment during this video
Hi Dan and Qiang, been watching your videos for a while and congrats on your 1,000th! All your videos have been visually well crafted and full of worthwhile information. Thanks also for the discount on your membership bc I finally signed up.
Wow! 1000th video that is some going, as its not like they're 5 minute videos. Surprised by Porto, not far from the UK for us. I think that we'd be tempted to do a bit of country hopping in South East Asia rather than the retirement visa for Thailand although it would be my primary choice as the wife is thai. Like you say, the government looking to tax your income might be less than helpful.
For sure. Thanks for watching. :-)
Congratulations on your no 1000 TH-cam video🍾🥂😃 it is great👏🏻
Thank you so much 🤗
Hey Dan, I was hoping to see the Dominican Republic in your top 15 destination. I go every year for the past 10 years. Will be moving to Samaná beach. I will first rent then buy a two bedroom apartment or even villa. I think the money goes a long way in the DR and its still cheap compare to the USA. Also, I find Samaná to be expats/tourist-friendly and very safe. Thanks for sharing.
Google Vagabond awake Dominican Republic. We have videos there.
Even though I'm about 20 years from retirement age, I find myself pondering this question as the cost of living in the US is spiraling out of control. I was surprised that you recommended Koh Samui. We were there in early April and I was completely miserable for most of the visit. The heat is pretty bad, but the humidity is off the charts. And most places are not air conditioned, not even the airport! I also found the sand (at least on the northern part of the island) extremely coarse and unpleasant to walk on. That's why I'm about to check out your cool weather locations video haha.
Thanks for this comprehensive video!
My pleasure!
Amazing! Thank you for sharing!
I’ve lived on this world for 73 years. I’ve traveled more than the average person and have made friends with people in many of the places I visited. There are so many places worth visiting but when it comes to living there that is a whole different thing. It’s also we are all different in our likes, desires, tolerances and so on. So stick to basics. You know yourself best just be realistic and put your absolutes and then at least you can eliminate most of the world. I don’t want to live on a beach for instance but ChangMai was a favorite but not perfect for instance. Good luck in your search!
Great advice
Great job. :)
Interesting list...should include Kota Kinabalu in Borneo Island as number 16 and Ubud is very touristy better to choose Surabaya or Bandung.😊
Have you seen our reports on Borneo?
Well done Dan🎉
Then I guess my point was made 😉
Peace and happiness to you and good luck with your search.
Nailed it!
I just turned 21 and I simply can't wait to explore and live in all these places especially your TOP 5 but before that I need to find a way to earn atleast $3-5k/month online to live mindfree❤️
Love your channel, been a subscriber for a couple years. I plan to visit some of your recommendations Good work!
Great video, Dan !
Great insight! Grateful for your hands-on research! Is there any info on dealing with illnesses and parasites one may contract in tropical and warm climate countries, I seem to often run into gut issues and love tropical countries. Thank you!
@barbarab8182, here is how I stay safe from mosquitos:
vagabondbuddha.com/top-11-tips-to-stop-dengue-and-malaria/
But we haven't seem many here so far.
Thanks for asking,
Dan
Another great vid! Thanks again, Dan!
Heya Dan, it would be cool if you did a vid about places that are cheap that have winter. Personally, I like the seasonal differences ... but I'm not sure where the cheap places are that have the heat of summer but also a cooling fall, snowy winter and a green spring ... and are safe and clean etc ...
Thank you for your feedback. Have you watched our highlands videos?
NICE Dan 👍more great info
Glad you liked it!
Thanks Dan. I always appreciate your videos, but it seems like a list for travellers like yourself. Its not pennies anymore when Thailand starts taxing 30% of your worldwide income or you need to take $200k out of your interest bearing investments to sit in a Malaysian bank to qualify for their visa. Vietnam doesnt even have any long term visa options. I'd love to see a list that actually factors in things like this for people who actually want to stay still somewhere.
Great point. But they change the laws practically every year. That is why I don't thin forever is a real concept anymore. Just is why I just travel lite and enjoy life rather than going in too deep anywhere. Plus, I never get bored.
@@VagabondAwake Yes, it changes frequently. But you say over and over again that you are making videos for people who want to retire cheap. Im just guessing, but i think 99% of retirees want to establish a home base and not be constantly moving, especially as they get older. I think a lot of people are watching these videos and getting a very wrong idea of the actual cost or possibility of retiring in one of these spots.
Thanks Dan. For all you share🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Thanks for listening
Don't forget Hua Hin Thailand!
GREAT: VIEDO DAN AND QIANG ‼️🌴🇮🇩
Queretaro is not a cheap place to live. Maybe in years gone by but now Mexico in general is getting expensive and Queretaro more so
Just subscribed thank you for sharing
I'm from Porto, Portugal, now living in France, Porto it's not a cheap city, you get a room in a house living with others persons for 400€ a month.
The rent price has skyrocket in the last 3 years, and all the rest is also expensive.
Im in the south of France near Saint-Tropez, and I can tell you that life here is now cheaper than in Portugal.
Wow. Great tip. Plus, I loved Saint-Tropez when I was there in 2009.
Cool that you have traveled to so many countries. I have been to 70. I have lived at least a year in 10 countries. When was the last time you lived in Austria? I ask because if your monthly expenses were 4,000€, you were totally ripped off. Strange too because Austrians are very honest and the laws are enforced. We retired to Vienna and our expenses stayed around 2,000€ per month. We tnen relocated in Innsbruck and our expenses are 1800€ per month. We also live in an upscale neighborhood. Same with our residence in Vienna.
Sounds like your "residence" is paid off. What would the rent be?
Our rent is 850€ per month based on a 3 year lease. Since we are residents we have access to health care and the same amenities as the locals. We do pay tax, but not on Social Security. As for rebates, this year we received just shy of 3500 €
English levels in Vietnam are quite low, even in tourist areas. Good luck learning Vietnamese!
We didn't have any trouble at all.
To the folks in the comments, this is just a quick summary of these wonderful places. You’ll obviously need to do a more in-depth research and even visit a place for at least 30-90 days to get a good idea whether a country will work for you.
True. And each of them has a full report at Vagabond Buddha
I’ve been pricing rentals in Ubud on facebook with the thought of spending 6 months. The prices are much higher than anticipated so if I go I’ll get a 1 week AB&B and look in-person.
I can recommend a good homestay to you if you like.
@@Chris-dw6cu Chris, what is a homestay?
@@papadougpapadougsadventures it's the most common accommodation in Bali. Basically a family compound with different buildings, some of which are set aside for guests. Most also serve breakfast and provide drinking water. If you do a search "bali homestay" a bunch will come up
@@papadougpapadougsadventures ...Homestay is a form of hospitality and lodging whereby visitors share a residence with a local of the area to which they are traveling.
@@Globetrotter-jz2uw Thanks for letting me know. I’m a very private person so I’m to sure this would work for me.
IHAVE LIVED INABOUT 12countries and likedanang beach as number 1 too was there dec to april 2020 my an beach yea !!!!
I would love to see that volcano! It's a dream for me.
I really appreciate this report and info. Very well done. Thank you.
Our pleasure!
I’m in Ubud now and I don’t get the attraction. The traffic is terrible with air pollution to match and the prices are the highest I have seen in SE Asia. I LOVE my resort. It is outside of the town, down a little path with rice fields on one side and a ravine/jungle on the other. However, after a 10 minute walk down the path, I am back in the traffic and noise. You might be able to find a cheap Warung 5 miles out of town but who wants to travel that far when the traffic is so bad?
Yeah the town center is absolutely awful. Pennestanan is nice though. That's where I lived. They definitely do their best to squeeze money out of tourists in Bali. Prices are super inflated and they refuse to bargain. For the locals It's a point of pride to cheat foreigners.
You are right if you live the way you describe. We lived on a walking street, no cars. We ate in local restaurants all in walking distance 1-3 blocks from our house. We never got in a car. What you are describing, I agree, is terrible, ... but different than what we did. Watch our video there to see what I mean: th-cam.com/video/5WDpVGjwigg/w-d-xo.html
@@VagabondAwake I am on a walking street too, but who wants to live somewhere that they are confined to a few blocks in order to avoid traffic. Maybe okay for a month but not for the long term.
Pennies?))) 😉 I have been out of the US for 20 years and visited 73 countries. I lived in a few long term. We definitely have different lifestyles. I decided to settle in the Austria. Luck to you.
Austria is $4k month minimum?
Great video, thank you!
Vietnam definitely has the most beautiful women! Bali has been commented recently to not be as welcoming to tourists, is that true? A nice place in Europe is Albania where you get visa for one year at a time. Lunch $3, a 180 degree seaview for $500/month. Not that cheap but you will live like the millionaires in Florida. Visa runs cost some money too with flights.
Congrats on your 1000th video on TH-cam! You guys rock. I wish you would have talked about Indonesia's Visa requirements. Or their health care system. Or locals understanding/speaking English. It's okay though, I have the internet. I can look that stuff up myself.
Thanks for your thoughts!
Amazing thank you both very much. (Liked and subscribed)
Welcome!
Living in the tropics is not for everybody. There is a rainy season and a dry season and it can drive you as crazy as a long gray Winter. In Australia going insane from the rainy season is called "going tropo". There are seasonal risks for all locations. Leave the option open to travel out of the bad weather to enjoy your retirement. Why settle for one beautiful place when you can have a few and let them compete for your business.
Very wise
Thanks Dan, as always it wets the appetite. 😊
Hopefully we will be in the same town and at the same time someday. :-)