Chiang Mai Tops The List In "Six Global Destinations For An Affordable Retirement"

[Baloo22]

http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2012/08/14/six-global-destinations-for-affordable-retirement/

Six Global Destinations for an Affordable Retirement

by Michael Foster

Published August 14, 2012

Bankrate.com

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Six Cheap Places to Retire Abroad

Over the 20th century, many retirees moved from New England, California and the Midwest to the sunny and sparsely populated Sun Belt, where low taxes and warm weather beckoned. Today, many Americans are moving much farther afield to enjoy a new life at a low cost. Thousands are migrating to Asia, South America, Europe and beyond to stretch their retirement dollars. And foreign countries, eager for the boost to their economies, have taken notice.

With so many nations interested in attracting retirees from abroad, Americans are spoiled for choice. Bankrate uncovers six up-and-coming destinations where retirees can easily live on an income of $2,000 a month. In some cases, retirees are already living there for far less. Read on to discover the affordability of housing, food and medical care at these retirement destinations.

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Thanks to its weather and low cost of living, Thailand has been on retirees' radars for years, and Chiang Mai is cheap, even by Thai standards.

"For under $2,000, I live like a king," says Barry, a Canadian who relocated to Chiang Mai in early 2009. Since then, he has rented a 1,200-square-foot condo for a little more than $400 per month. Groceries are no big concern, usually running him about $50 per month. Restaurants cost about twice that at $100 per month -- and he goes out to eat almost every day.

Barry says that Chiang Mai has just about everything he needs. "There are Western-style restaurants, entertainment venues and social events," he says. The city has several modern hospitals. "I had an emergency spinal fusion two years ago at a cost of 280,000 baht (about $9,300 at the time). In Canada, medical coverage is free, but the waiting time is long. Here, the service is almost instantaneous and very professional."

More routine medical issues are so inexpensive, Barry says, that he doesn't need insurance to cover them. "Going to a dentist for a checkup and cleaning is 500 baht," or about $16.

Read more: http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2012/08/14/six-global-destinations-for-affordable-retirement/#ixzz23cNF4BTc

[Baloo22]

The article also has some interesting points for U.S. citizens considering retirement in Guam also. U.S. citizens 65 and over that may need to rely on Medicare can do so on Guam as it is U.S. territory. Also for myself and my fellow retirees from the U.S. Armed Forces, we would have access to base facilities. Although I understand that it will be getting a little more crowded with additional military units transfering in from their current location in Okinawa.

[Semper]

Yes, and when Barry 'falls in love' with a lady and buy her a house and a car and having a few more visits to the hospitals, he might reconsider his relocation.

[hellodolly]

Having lived in the Vancouver area for a while and other parts of British Columbia I can assure you the writer head his head up his dark place. Vancouver is very expensive. Surrey is one of it's suburbs and has the highest rate of auto thefts in the English speaking world. Every time I go back I visit My kids and the ex. there. It is nice place but far from cheap. As for medical medicine is cheaper and you can pretty well see a doctor any time you need to. But if you require surgery you wind up on a list. A friend of mine had to wait over a year for a triple bypass. Yes it was free.

That is not a knock on Vancouver all of Canada has waiting lists for operations and to see specialists.

For me Chiang Mai is great it is relatively safe compared to the other places mentioned and has easy going pace. I like the people and the weather except in the smog smoke season. If I didn't like it here I would just move to another place. But it is hard to find a place that combines attractions, services, health and friendly people at reasonably cheap prices.

It is a great over all package city.

[KeyserSoze01]

The article also has some interesting points for U.S. citizens considering retirement in Guam also. U.S. citizens 65 and over that may need to rely on Medicare can do so on Guam as it is U.S. territory. Also for myself and my fellow retirees from the U.S. Armed Forces, we would have access to base facilities. Although I understand that it will be getting a little more crowded with additional military units transfering in from their current location in Okinawa.

All good points, but I would top myself if I had to spend my golden years on Guam. There is f'all to do there.

[KeyserSoze01]

Having lived in the Vancouver area for a while and other parts of British Columbia I can assure you the writer head his head up his dark place. Vancouver is very expensive. Surrey is one of it's suburbs and has the highest rate of auto thefts in the English speaking world. Every time I go back I visit My kids and the ex. there. It is nice place but far from cheap. As for medical medicine is cheaper and you can pretty well see a doctor any time you need to. But if you require surgery you wind up on a list. A friend of mine had to wait over a year for a triple bypass. Yes it was free.

That is not a knock on Vancouver all of Canada has waiting lists for operations and to see specialists.

For me Chiang Mai is great it is relatively safe compared to the other places mentioned and has easy going pace. I like the people and the weather except in the smog smoke season. If I didn't like it here I would just move to another place. But it is hard to find a place that combines attractions, services, health and friendly people at reasonably cheap prices.

It is a great over all package city.

I used to love Vancouver, before the Chinese invasion from HK. Now, not so much as it is too congested and prices have gone way up. I usually spend a few days there every year when I'm going to / from Whistler.

[elektrified]

Right... "Barry who lives like a King" is eating on US $50.00 per month. Sure! My 3 year old eats more than US $120.00 per month.

[uptheos]

Right... "Barry who lives like a King" is eating on US $50.00 per month. Sure! My 3 year old eats more than US $120.00 per month.

Would you ever trust anything said by FOX?

[elektrified]

Right... "Barry who lives like a King" is eating on US $50.00 per month. Sure! My 3 year old eats more than US $120.00 per month.

Would you ever trust anything said by FOX?

No. Never. Like when they 'confirmed' that Saddam had WMD. Sure he did.

[naboo]

$100 a month to eat in a restaurant almost every day. Lets say 25 days he eats in a restaurant, paying $4 a time - that's 120B a go. Quite possible. Then $50 a month food money at home, that's 3000B. A cereal and milk for breakfast every day will be no more than 1000B, leaving 2000B..... If he's out visiting said 'entertainment' venues until 2am every night, our friend Barry may not wake up until 2pm, so his bowl of cereal will take him through to his evening restaurant meal, so the other 2000B can be spent in classy late night food joints such as Mike's Burgers - I'd say 15-20 trips are possible, 5 on the days he doesn't eat at a restaurant and 10 days when he doesn't get fed late night food by his girlfriends of the night.

Lives like a King, cannot believe you question it.

[hellodolly]

Having lived in the Vancouver area for a while and other parts of British Columbia I can assure you the writer head his head up his dark place. Vancouver is very expensive. Surrey is one of it's suburbs and has the highest rate of auto thefts in the English speaking world. Every time I go back I visit My kids and the ex. there. It is nice place but far from cheap. As for medical medicine is cheaper and you can pretty well see a doctor any time you need to. But if you require surgery you wind up on a list. A friend of mine had to wait over a year for a triple bypass. Yes it was free.

That is not a knock on Vancouver all of Canada has waiting lists for operations and to see specialists.

For me Chiang Mai is great it is relatively safe compared to the other places mentioned and has easy going pace. I like the people and the weather except in the smog smoke season. If I didn't like it here I would just move to another place. But it is hard to find a place that combines attractions, services, health and friendly people at reasonably cheap prices.

It is a great over all package city.

I used to love Vancouver, before the Chinese invasion from HK. Now, not so much as it is too congested and prices have gone way up. I usually spend a few days there every year when I'm going to / from Whistler.

Now that is expensive. If you have the money I think it is a good year round location if you like skiing.

[hellodolly]

Yes, and when Barry 'falls in love' with a lady and buy her a house and a car and having a few more visits to the hospitals, he might reconsider his relocation.

It is possible for a single man to live comfortably on $2,000 Canadian. Barry just dosen't have a clue as to where his money is going. If he drinks a lot of wine he might be able to get by on that little bit of money for food. Considering with the figures he has given us he has $1,500 disposable cash after rent and food.

[bully]

Yes, and when Barry 'falls in love' with a lady and buy her a house and a car and having a few more visits to the hospitals, he might reconsider his relocation.

A few words tells it all , great comment. I stayed away over 20 year from this ,, picture ,, I still feel happy, have good thai friends. No bad feelings. It all depends how stupid you are.

[jez56]

Yes, and when Barry 'falls in love' with a lady and buy her a house and a car and having a few more visits to the hospitals, he might reconsider his relocation.

It is possible for a single man to live comfortably on $2,000 Canadian. Barry just dosen't have a clue as to where his money is going.

Right. Or possibly the journalist screwed up and meant to say that Barry spends $50 a WEEK on groceries and $100 a WEEK eating out. Along with his rent, that would account for about half of that $2,000 a month.

[Genericnic]

The article also has some interesting points for U.S. citizens considering retirement in Guam also. U.S. citizens 65 and over that may need to rely on Medicare can do so on Guam as it is U.S. territory. Also for myself and my fellow retirees from the U.S. Armed Forces, we would have access to base facilities. Although I understand that it will be getting a little more crowded with additional military units transfering in from their current location in Okinawa.

I'd be surprised if the medical facilities on Guam (at least the civilian ones) are as good as those in Chiang Mai. I lived on Saipan for about 2-1/2 years and the facilities there were tolerable but not great.

As for what to do there, I am an avid diver and even I would find it too boring. The dive sites around the island are pretty poor.

For now, it is still CM for me.

David

[heybruce]

"1,200-square-foot condo for a little more than $400 per month."

This is over 100 square meters for about 13000 baht a month. Anyone know where this condo is?

As for his food bill, I can only assume he is a very skinny vegetarian.

[PoodMaiDai]

I always love the, "I live like a king" parts in stories such as that.

[barefoot1988]

no, they can go pattaya. chiang mai is full

[crusader79]

The last thing Chiang Mai needs is Fox viewers.

[xen]

I receive the Kathleen Pedicord newsletter daily and sometimes thrice daily and it had similar figures for Chaing Mai . Usually she is flogging her new development in Panama but occaisionally has useful crap on US taxes ,what the government is doing or is going to do and other investment opinions. That reminds me , i must empty my waste bin.

[Ricardo]

How can we keep Chiang Mai a well-kept-secret, if these sites keep blabbing ?

[jackr]

^^^ Too late, the place is screwed already by whitey.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

How can we keep Chiang Mai a well-kept-secret, if these sites keep blabbing ?

Highlight the negatives, make up some horrific events. Earthquakes, flooding, toxic air, rivers of blood, tuk tuk drivers.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

I always love the, "I live like a king" parts in stories such as that.

Yes, including those who truly believe they live like a king but rent a local style apartment room in Moon Muang Soi 2.

[TommoPhysicist]

"1,200-square-foot condo for a little more than $400 per month."

This is over 100 square meters for about 13000 baht a month. Anyone know where this condo is?

As for his food bill, I can only assume he is a very skinny vegetarian.

You can rent a very nice 4 bedroom house in CM for 13k a month.

[heybruce]

How can we keep Chiang Mai a well-kept-secret, if these sites keep blabbing ?

Highlight the negatives, make up some horrific events. Earthquakes, flooding, toxic air, rivers of blood, tuk tuk drivers.

You forgot military coup, martial law, emergency decree, curfews...

[TommoPhysicist]

How can we keep Chiang Mai a well-kept-secret, if these sites keep blabbing ?

Highlight the negatives, make up some horrific events. Earthquakes, flooding, toxic air, rivers of blood, tuk tuk drivers.

You forgot military coup, martial law, emergency decree, curfews...

Redshirts, muggers, dengue fever ...... Loi Khro closing at midnight ....... Downtown Inn deaths ....

Edited August 16, 2012 by TommoPhysicist

[uptheos]

As for what to do there, I am an avid diver and even I would find it too boring. The dive sites around the island are pretty poor.

For now, it is still CM for me.

Yep, Chiang Mai the diving centre of Thailand.

[uptheos]

How can we keep Chiang Mai a well-kept-secret, if these sites keep blabbing ?

Highlight the negatives, make up some horrific events. Earthquakes, flooding, toxic air, rivers of blood, tuk tuk drivers.

You forgot military coup, martial law, emergency decree, curfews...

Redshirts, muggers, dengue fever ...... Loi Khro closing at midnight ....... Downtown Inn deaths ....

All part of Chiang Mai's rich tapestry.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

How can we keep Chiang Mai a well-kept-secret, if these sites keep blabbing ?

Highlight the negatives, make up some horrific events. Earthquakes, flooding, toxic air, rivers of blood, tuk tuk drivers.

You forgot military coup, martial law, emergency decree, curfews...

Ah yes. I did not mention those because those are actually good things for retirees; the more the locals f_kc up their country, the further the retiree dollar goes. But as many people won't get that, I'd say it's still good to mention them for the scare factor.

Then again, this is Fox News; perhaps totalitarianism scares them less than a government with neo-socialist tendencies with government managed agricultural prices (worked really well in the EUSSR), raising the minimum wage and everything. This (indirectly) drives up the price for maids and hookers, impacting the whole 'living like a king'-thing.

Edited August 16, 2012 by WinnieTheKhwai