Investing for Survival--The first in finding a new home is to rent

Rent in the World’s Top Retirement Havens

By International Living

Boquete is set in Panama’s lush and green Chiriquí Highlands in the interior of the country.

BOQUETE, Panama
$750 a Month

Set in Panama’s lush and green Chiriquí Highlands in the interior of the country, Boquete is a go-to destination for expats. Local officials estimate that 14% of the town’s population is made up of foreign residents.

They come for the weather—at 4,000 feet, Boquete’s temperatures are mid- to high-70s F year-round. Then there’s the low cost of living. Fresh fruits and vegetables cost a fraction of U.S. prices at the local market, and you can eat out for $10.

One great place to stay and enjoy the town while you scout for a more permanent home is this fully-furnished, two-bedroom/two bathroom apartment. It’s just a mile from town, an easy walk, and taxis and buses are plentiful. There are vaulted ceilings and a large picture window in the dining area. The master bedroom has a walk-in closet and ensuite bathroom with bathtub.

And if you like coffee, you’re in luck. Some say the world’s best is grown here. For details, go here.

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, has been a popular coastal destination for over 50 years.

PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico
$600 a Month

Puerto Vallarta, on Mexico’s Pacific coast, has been a chic international resort for more than 50 years—and it’s attracted expats for almost that long. There’s a lot to like… Cooled by sea breezes, the city sits on Banderas Bay, with the Sierra Madre Mountains at its back. You’ll find top-notch medical care here, and the international airport makes visits back home quick and easy.

There’s also no shortage of things to do. Water sports, cultural festivals, world-class shopping, fine dining, concerts…you’ll find all this and more in Puerto Vallarta.

The city hugs the bay for miles. Its center is colonial—old Mexico—with historic architecture and narrow cobbled streets. Along the seaside malecón, you have park space, restaurants, and more. And just a few blocks from the beach you’ll find a modern, one-bedroom, one-bath apartment in the Altavista area with amazing views of the bay…your home while you explore this grande dame of resorts.

The Malaysian island of Penang offers some real estate bargains.

PENANG, Malaysia
$522 a Month

Its historic center, George Town, was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site back in 2008. But Penang is not living in the past. Gleaming apartment blocks front the sea shore.

Art galleries, music festivals, hip bars, and boutique hotels are abundant. Set in the Tanjung Bungah neighborhood on the north end of the island, an area popular with expats, this three-bedroom/two-bathroom apartment is on the water’s edge, with a view of the Straits of Malacca. You have luxury conveniences like a swimming pool, Jacuzzi, gym, and tennis courts. But you may not have time to enjoy them with all the Penang has to offer.

SARCHI, Costa Rica
$450 a Month

There are two reasons why most expats in Costa Rica choose to live in the Central Valley: weather and location.

The temperature averages in the mid-70s F year-round, no A/C or heating needed. And from towns like Sarchi, where you’ll find this home, it’s an easy, hour-long drive to the country’s capital, San José, and all the amenities you find there, such as cinemas, U.S-style shopping, and modern hospitals. If you’re scouting out the Central Valley as a retirement or vacation destination, Sarchi makes a great base of operations.

This three-bedroom/two-bathroom home is 1,500 square feet and about five minutes from downtown Sarchi, an artisans’ town known for its woodworking. Handmade, tropical hardwood furniture is available at half what similar pieces cost in the U.S. That is, if you could find something of similar quality back home.

Salinas has some exceptional real estate on offer…right next to the beach. © Amy Pinoargate

SALINAS, Ecuador
$650 a Month

Just bring your suitcase. This two-bedroom ocean-view condo makes moving to Ecuador a snap. It’s fully-furnished and equipped with kitchen appliances like a washer/dryer, microwave and a coffee maker, as well as bed linens. And there’s no need to deal with monthly bills as cable TV, Internet, and utilities are all included in the rental fee.

The beaches of Salinas have long been a vacation destination for Ecuadoreans and you can go game fishing, whale watching, water skiing, yachting and surfing. The condo is in a beachfront complex with a large pool, social area, gym, sauna, parking and direct beach access.