Top Countries To Retire To: Which Fits Your Plans? (POLL, PHOTOS)

Florida may be one of the most popular places for retirees to settle, but many Americans are packing their passports and choosing locations in foreign countries. The HuffPost has assembled a list of increasingly popular locales for retirees. Some spots are known for their sun and sand, others for their adventure and mother nature. Where will you call home?

Have suggestions for favorite spots not included here? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

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Vote and Share Choose Your Top 5 I'll stick with the job I've put my house up for sale Now Make Your Own Top 5 And Share with Your Friends RANK: AVERAGE:  OUT OF 10 Greece boasts a real sense of hospitality, and its people are one of the friendliest in the world. Tranquility and beauty envelope the Greek islands. It's worth bearing in mind too that a Mediterranean diet is regarded as one of the world's healthiest!

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Comments

[Paulo1]

I have one friend who has a nice second "family" in Ukraine and another who has opened a business in Thailand.

Those glitzy tourist traps are pretty but if you want to retire on a fixed income and actually have a life you need to look for something cheaper.

Republicans can stay home by the way, most countries can't stand them

[BeFairNow]

It is with no small amount of relief that I've noticed my favourite place in the whole world and one I will definitely retire to isn't on this list. I'm so not telling! Hopefully it will still be as breathtakingly beautiful, quiet, peaceful, unspoilt and unknown to most people by the time I retire.

[praglen]

Why not Thailand? Cheap! A/C s, tudios for $150/month; meals $1-5; retirement visas $70 renewable annually; warm 10, hot 2 months. Land of Smiles: great for older guys(lovely women 20-50) dying to meet Western men. Modern convenienceselectronics, Internet,satellite and cable TV. Even flights are cheap: $600rt to Bangkok. Don't believe me; google and find out.

[lazercat2008]

Any country with universal health care.

[eastjame]

new zealand

[vivacorrado]

Yeah, right. "Old people" need not apply. If over 45, you need to be a wealthy investor. Kiwis are mostly anti-American, and the place is boring unless you are a permanent tourist spending lots of cash, in which case the rest of the world has just as much to offer. Sure, the geography is pretty and the population density is low outside of Auckland, but the same is true of Alaska. The housing situation is poor, and the health care is amateurish and 20 years out of date. I live in NZ, and would encourage anyone reading this huffpo crap to take a look at: http://www.expatexposed.com/

[johnmorgan]

This article is kind of silly because most of us can't afford to live in France or most of these other countries. This article speaks as though money is no issue for us. I do see myself retiring overseas in order to maintain some decent standard of living on only Social Security since American corporations don't want to give retirement pensions anymore to their employees. I imagine I'll go to some third-world country with lower prices than ours.

[eastjame]

these are all countries that are cheap to live in. thats why they are on the list. the exchange rate means if you move to most of these places with some money saved up you'll be rich.

[netzwerg]

Yeah right. Checked the euro exchange rate lately?

1 $ = 0,7€...

[Sezwho]

Anywhere outside america's borders, I'll settle for Montreal

[WisdomFirst]

Due to the continued machination of the GOP to turn the U.S. into a fascist dictatorship (despite that Obama is now President), I do NOT plan to retire in the U.S. My top choices are France (although the racial problems there worry me), New Zealand, Canada, Denmark, and Holland.

[fresita]

Americans are so naive. You can't retire in any of those countries. At best you could live for up to 6 months on a tourist visa but permanently. NO way.

[instagladiator]

Please stay in the US!! You've got "the best of everything".

[johnmorgan]

I can't afford to live in the United States after retirement. Social Security isn't very much, and American corporations don't believe in giving their employees pensions anymore. Of course, the CEOs get large pensions, though.

[Clearing-Brush]

Not traveled much?

[Lao2stroker]

I'm glad at least some READERS (hello journo's) know it is IMPOSSIBLE to "retire' in many western European nations. New Zealand as well. And that goes for most 1st world countries.

Another poster mentions Costa Rica. I totally agree on most points. It is waay too expensive for what you get. It is the exact same cost as the US and most stuff costs more. Unless you are living in a country village.

Look at many Asian nations. I was able to come to Laos (boo, hiss, communists) and not only easily obtain papers, but open a business, for profit. And many others as well...but be warned, some are (gasp) FRENCH.

Good luck and get out while you still can.

www.ride-lara.com

[Qualtrough]

Retirement overseas is a realistic option only for a very, very tiny percentage of Huffpost readers, and the way the US dollar is headed it is becoming less realistic as I write. An article addressing whether or not the majority of Americans will ever be able to retire at all would be much more topical. For those nearing retirement age and able to retire a review of budget trailer parks in AZ, FL, AL might be more useful.

[johnmorgan]

Well, that's just it. Your money will give you an adequate standard of living in a third world country. Not in Europe or New Zealand though. This article's ideas are only possible for the wealthy.

[steel71]

I think most liberals should move to France.

[johnmorgan]

Where are you moving now that Obama is president?

[Clearing-Brush]

Cons should move to Texas and secede.

[fresita]

well yeah, we all want to retire some place like Spain or Portugal but you can't just "do it'. there are a lot of restrictions and it not really feasible in most of these countries. How about a more reality based article.

[dmyron]

I would like to cast my vote for Belize. Wonderful people, English widely spoken,low cost of living.And for the most part, they actually like us(go figure)

[ZenCrusader]

I’ve lived in Costa Rica for five years – job transfer so I work here as well. The cost of living here is similar to USA & Canada. Vehicles are more expensive, gas is more expensive and if you need to purchase imported foods they are more expensive as well.
Fantastic local fruits & vegetables are inexpensive and most locally produced foods – dairy etc. are moderately priced. While you can pay $2,500 a month here for a deluxe condo or house, I rent a house in a rural non-chic area for $600 USD per month. The house is no mansion by USA standards but it’s charming - built of stone and teak and set on a coffee finca in the mountains – it’s beautiful here. Crime is rising here but I’ve never felt less than safe. I love Costa Rica and I would encourage people to check it out – but only if you have patience, have a genuine sense of humanity about you and can handle a gem that is a little rough around the edges.

[TigersEye]

My brother in law lives in Costa Rica half the year and he loves it there.

[Dietcokefreak]

Please take them all, specially the ones living in The Villages -- STD Republican Haven.