Ecuador tops list of the 25 best countries for retirement in 2015 Jan 5 2015 at 11:31 AM The world’s No.1 retirement haven: Ecuador. The world’s No.1 retirement haven: Ecuador! Looking for a safe, affordable place for retirement? With its warm climate, affordable housing and generous benefits, Ecuador was named the best country to retire in by InternationalLiving. The South American nation bordered by Colombia and Peru topped the websites annual global retirement index of 25 best countries, scoring high points for affordable cost-of-living, entertainment and amenities. See Also If I could buy a house anywhere in the world... Metro marvels: The 17 hottest cities to visit in 2015 Ecuador travel guide Next are Panama, Mexico, Malaysia and Costa Rica, rounding out the top five nations in the index that looks at eight criteria to determine the best countries for retirement. The worlds top retirement havens for 2015 may dot the landscape from Asia to Latin America to Europe, but they share certain assets, said Jennifer Stevens, executive editor of internationalliving. Theyre safe, offer good value and are places you can settle with relative ease, she added in the statement announcing the results. Ecuador scored 92.7 out of 100 points, with top marks for climate, cost of renting or buying property and discounts on flights, public transportation and utilities offered by the government for retirees. Although prices have risen slightly in recent years, Ecuadors real estate is the best value youll find anywhere, said Dan Prescher, senior editor at the website. Panama is considered the best destination in Central America and offers a Pensionado visa, which is available to anyone with a lifetime pension of more than $US1000 ($A1236). The visa offers discounts on medical services, entertainment, meals, air fares, as well as electricity and phone bills. For under $US2,000, a couple can live comfortably in a country with a well-earned earned reputation for being expat-friendly, according to the website. Malaysia, the top retirement country in Asia, earned high scores for ease of fitting in, entertainment and amenities, as well as low cost of living. A meal with a bottle of wine can cost as little as $US5 and a visit to the doctor just $US15. In Europe, sixth-place Spain was the top retirement nation thanks to its warm climate and low cost of living compared with other European countries. Spain scored top marks for infrastructure, a health-care system recognised by the World Health Organisation as one of the best in the world, and entertainment. Neighbouring Portugal came in at No. 9, followed by Thailand, which won points for low healthcare costs, culture and affordable housing. Seventh-place Malta and Colombia at No. 8 completed the top 10. The top 25 1. Ecuador 2. Panama 3. Mexico 4. Malaysia 5. Costa Rica 6. Spain 7. Malta 8. Colombia 9. Portugal 10. Thailand 11. Italy 12. Uruguay 13. Belize 14. Nicaragua 15. New Zealand 16. Brazil 17. France 18. Ireland 19. Honduras 20. Chile 21. Dominican Republic 22. Guatemala 23. Philippines 24. Cambodia 25. Vietnam Reuters
Posted on: Tue, 06 Jan 2015 12:43:05 +0000
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