Retiring Abroad -- What to Consider When Choosing a Destination

If you are retiring in another country you may be finally pursuing that dream of living in a different place for some quality time after all those years of hard work. Perhaps you have your eyes set on a warmer location or a more affordable place - or you might still be trying to make up your mind about where to go.

But selecting a country to retire might not be the easiest task - unless you have decided on a specific destination you've been dreaming about for years; the decision of where to go will usually involve a great deal of thought and planning. So, what factors should you consider?

Here's a list of some important factors you may want to make sure you take into account when evaluating the destinations on your shortlist:

Culture

Regardless of where you go; adapting to a different environment and people's attitudes is part of the challenge of moving abroad. But you may find more affinity towards certain cultures, which is why it's worth doing some research about the culture, habits and behaviours in your shortlisted locations.

You may want to retire in a place where the language feels friendly or easier for you to pick up. On the other hand, if you are thinking of befriending nationals from your home country, you may want to look up on expats communities in certain countries. Some destinations are growing in popularity amongst expat retirees. It might depend on where you go, but you will most certainly find other expats and international groups.

Cost of living

The cost of living can have a significant impact in your lifestyle, and it can be quite a challenging factor, especially if you go to a place where things are considerably more expensive than what you're used to in your home country.

With some online research you should be able to get an overview of how much things will cost in your location. Looking out for prices of property might be a starting point, but don't forget about the smaller costs such as groceries, transportation costs, and mobile and Internet services.

Healthcare

No matter where you decide to retire - ensuring your health will be covered should be on your priority list. When it comes down to health standards, statutory care and emergency treatment; details vary from country to country, and there are major differences in waiting times, cost, and accessibility for expats. Making sure that the place you move to has quality health care facilities is very important in the retirement stage of your life.

If you decide on taking up a private health policy, consider the benefits of Individual private medical insurance (IPMI) policies - these can often be advantageous to expats in comparison to local policies, as many of the benefits within these policies have been tailored specifically to suit expatriates.

Cigna Global specialises in health insurance policies for expats, providing flexible plans, comprehensive cover for customers in over 200 countries and territories, and multilingual customer services that are available 24/7, 365 days a year. What's more, Cigna Global offers some great benefits for senior customers - if you're 60 or over, you can benefit from new discounted rates, as well as a new 60+ Care benefit, which provides outpatient cover for some pre-existing conditions that are common with age: Arthritis, joint or back pain, Glaucoma, Hypertension, Osteoporosis / Osteopenia and Type 2 Diabetes.

Taxes

For some people, tax repercussions can become their reason for moving abroad, and in some countries taxes represent a major difficulty for affording property - so it's important to understand the implications of tax in the place you're considering as a retirement destination.

Find out about local regulations concerning international taxation, as in some cases there may be ways to minimize international tax burdens.

If you feel overwhelmed in trying to comprehend the repercussions of taxation in the country you want to retire, consider the option of getting help from the tax office, or consulting an advisor. Getting advice from an expert can be expensive, but it can make the understanding much easier, it would keep you in line with the tax authorities and it could even save you money - as it might prevent you from paying more taxes than you need to.

Your own interests

Who's to say everyone should retire in a sunny place? Everyone is different, and your priorities might as well differ from the majorities. When looking at everything that a place has to offer, make sure you compare it against your preferences and the things you enjoy doing.

It's important that you look for a place that allows you to keep doing the things you love. Some locations are ideal for playing golf; some others have stunning beaches, while others might captivate adventurers with their mountains and wildlife - so make sure you choose a place that matches your interests!