Im 71, born in Buenos Aires. Moved to Los Angeles with my family when I was 10 years old and have never returned. Now, Im planning to go back and retire there with our pension. Honestly...cant wait!
Thinking of becoming expat in AR, Buenos Aires feels European and you’ll find languages spoken from all over the world. Big cultural city life with library, museums and civic events it fosters a very young at heart vibe with activism and social life. Good option if you are a nomad. Ferry 2hr trip to UR across river is Lux. There’s much more things to do, places to go and reasons to spend your money in AR
The promenade in Uruguay is called "La Rambla," not Malecon. The Malecon is in Cuba. Uruguay has undergone much change since you were there 12 years ago. The culinary scene is so much better now. Uruguay is boring compared to Buenos Aires, but the quality of life far superior. Punta del Este isn't a ghost town any longer in the winter months, and it's incredibly safe. There's a reason why the South American elite vacation in Punta del Este. The downside to Uruguay is the cost of living, which is about twice as expensive as Buenos Aires. The upside is that things in Uruguay work. My ideal situation would be to spend November to March in Uruguay and the rest of the year up north. Cheers!
Thanks Mike for the Rambla reminder. I loved Punta, and the culinary scene then was not that bad. Just not a lot of restaurants. Nice to know it's improved. Your idea of Nov-March and then north is a good one.
Isn't malecón also just a spanish word for waterfront esplanade? And rambla is spanish for promenade or boulevard which can be waterfront, but doesn't have to be. So you can say La Rambla es un malecón y El Malecón es una rambla. 😊
@@christinea8424 If you visit Uruguay and ask a local where the Malecón is, they're going to look at you and have no idea what you're talking about. Some may say Cuba. 😁
@@christinea8424 You've got it absolutely correct. The word Malecon may have started in Cuba, but it's used in many other countries. Rambla is a promenade street, like the ramblas of Barcelona.
I have been to both Argentina and Uruguay and loved them both. Short visit to Uruguay and longer in Argentina. In Argentina, I stayed in BA, Bariloche and Mendoza. Loved the food and wine in Mendoza. I found Bariloche to be a little expensive as there are a lot of Chilean tourists that drive over for vacations in the summer (January). BA was amazing! The architecture alone could keep me occupied for 90 days!. Thank you for the great tips!
Hi! You’ve had some great adventures too! We appreciate you sharing and we love the architecture of BA as well. It’s very European. Thanks so much for watching.
Argentina has some real potential for growth. Supurb geography and decent demographics. As I keep learning more about different countries and Cities Mendoza has really caught my interest
Stumbled upon your channel and subscribed. I am a permanent resident of Panama. You don't need to be retired for the "pensionado discount." Women who are 55 and men who are 60 qualify for the generous discounts. Panama City is not really a retirement destination in my experience. I live in Boquete and it is only about 30 minutes from good hospitals in David. Other popular retirement destinations are the Coronado area for those who like the beach. The sidewalks are indeed tough for people with mobility issues. The expats are pushing prices up as well. Thanks again!
This is true anywhere expats go. Their mania of paying asking price for everything without considering the local prices. You have to negotiate down prices, instead of comparing it to Arizona, Colorado, etc. prices. They ruin it for everyone who comes after.
@@MarianKnowlton , you can find plenty of houses priced in between. Check out real estate videos posted by Jackie Lange of Panama Relocation Tours on RUclips. Good luck!
Hello this is my first video of your channel. Thank you for the discussion! I have family in Buenos Aires and I was in the country back in October. My cousins live in Matadaros, Liniers and some where sw of San Telmo. I hope to find more of your videos of Buenos Aires. I look to return in May for the month where I will be staying near China town in Belgrano. I am on the discovery of the city, the culture and the people. Please make more videos about your experiences in Buenos Aires. Thank you again!
I am so glad YT recommended your channel to me. I am subscribing. As an expat with 30 years in Central America, I found this video very informative and fun to watch. I am content here in Costa Rica, but I have been curious about Argentina for quite a while now. I agree with your assessment, at least it lines up with other videos I have seen. Looks like fun, and may be great to visit, but since growing up in Chicago, I could never move to a place that gets cold. You are a cute couple, enjoyed your video. Thanks.
I'm an international kinda guy. Been traveling globally most of my adult life in a professional capacity. I was considering Thailand for my retirement. Last visited in late 2023. Had a great month there. Very inexpensive, great health care and every level of lifestyle one could want. But new tax considerations have caused me to reconsider. It's also a looooong way from "home". I've never been to Panama, but your experience has me intrigued. I like that it is so much closer to the US. Planning to visit soon and conduct my own due diligence.
Thailand's tax change on foreign income is just crazy. Thai people are great and Thai Government is not bad at all. It will just end up more wealthy expats not going to Thailand long term. As for the locals with foreign income that they want to catch out, there are so many ways that they can do to remain tax efficient. I simply hope that the Thai Government will come to its senses soon.
I've been to the three places you talked about Buenos Aires has a lot going on , great theater scene and very walkable. Be careful of the many broken sidewalks , lots of protests always,great food of course but it's a long way from Toronto . Jim give your wife a chance to say more, great video though looking forward to good places to see in Panama. Gracia,
I don't think it's that clear how the new Thai tax system will work. How would they control if you get your money out of an ATM? And I doubt pensions will be taxed. Time will tell, I was considering Thailand as well, but I'm still not sure, I speak Spanish so I'm also looking at these other countries.
just a little comment about british hospital..im a member and the doctors are all from uruguay.is a first class hospital with the best doctors in uruguay..
Man what a great, informative video. I'm 67, an American living in ESTONIA (Tallinn). An OK place, but the highest inflation in Europe. Prices are high, about 60% speak english. I just spent seven months in Bulgaria, and prices were much cheaper, but virtually no one speaks English which was a huge problem for me. I have somewhat looked into the exact countries you are talking about but haven't made any decision regarding them. You cleared important concerns for me a lot. Thank you; I will subscribe.
Thanks Grizz. Super small world. Vivi (my wife) is Estonian. Been to Tallinn, and pretty much all of the rest of the country many times. Didn't realize prices have climbed so much there.
Left Argentina when I graduated there for free as a physician Lived in the US for 50 years and now I’m retired I’m a proud American but still miss my native country Argentina is very chaotic but certainly has a charming soul In my opinion is hard for Americans to live there because of the Anglo-Saxon sense of order Young people adapt and enjoy it Great video! Thanx to both of you!
Hola, si buscas en RUclips vas a ver que hay norteamericanos que están viniendo a vivir a Argentina , a ellos les gusta mucho las provincias de Córdoba, Mendoza y Neuquén. En su mayoría son hombres. (Esto empezó a suceder después del mundial de futbol ) también hay personas que traen a grupos de adolescentes de visita a experimentar la vida en la Patagonia por unos días. hay videos en donde los chicos cuentas sus experiencias. saludos !!
Thanks for the information, thinking of moving to Argentina (Buenos Areies) sorry for the spelling; your wife's beautiful and seems very nice. Look forward to your next video,,,😊
Nice video! Buenos Aires is ideal if you want to enjoy a cultural life, like going to the theatre, concerts, lots of books shops, music, gourmet places...plus that is a romantic an boheme city ( we are so proud of our city jaj) wish you the best! Mercedes
I booked my ticket to Buenos Aires in December!! Also gonna take the train to the beach city of mar del plata!! Can’t wait to check out my potential future home, first time traveling outside of USA!!! 🇦🇷🇦🇷🫡
Thank you for this video. I totally agree (French living in Panama). I just discovered your channel, and love the way you interact and deliver balanced analysis, you seems to be a nice couple. I think something is missing though, and it would be nice to complete (or point me to another video): it's about the real estate, renting, buying, reselling, second hand market, and so on ...
Portuguese here but living in Canada for the past 40 years . Husband and I love Canada but hate the cold .After visiting multiple countries and doing our homework decided to by a retirement condo/Airbnb in the North cost of the Domenican Republic/ Puerto Plata.The town is called Cabarete loads of expacts from all over the world spending the winter months there . Affordable and nice weather all year round
Stellar content!!! You both are so warm and engaging and offer such a balanced perspective of these countries so that someone can figure out which is best for their lifestyle and interests. Thanks for this comparison. Continued success!!!!
Argentina is under a new administration and is like in a "work in progress" scenario . We have to wait and see to evaluate what will happen at least 6 months from now. A lot of drastic reforms are taking place that , if are sucessful , will change things for the better
Seems the guess is around 2 years to turn it around. That's roughly what it took Reagan to get out of 20% inflation in the US in the late 70's. Anything less than that would be a miracle of epic proportions. But, it can be done.
@@noelbarrett1395Que hay una gran costa en Argentina, muchas playas unidas a lo largo de Buenos Aires. Está la ciudad de Mar del Plata, Pinamar, Cariló, Monte Hermoso, Necochea. Son todas zonas de playas en Buenos Aires, a una hora o más de la capital.
So interesting... I have watched The Nomadic Capitalist for a few years now and He has mentioned all of the above countries as retirement or destinations for Wealthy individuals seeking better tax situations. When you started describing Uruguay I was very surprised, because I hadn't really thought about how it could have changed so much in recent years.... Great personal story and information!! Thank you so much! ( a new subscriber)
I have lived in Panama 30 years now. Some of what you say is true. I only 72 not my Youngs son is a doctors and my wife is a doctor and we have 8 doctors in the family my wife is panaman. I work each day all over the country I build roads on farm land and some of the islands too. It's is a wonderful live here but as all way it's what you make to be. God bless y'all
Since I am getting ready to leave the US and had my eye on Uruguay as a destination, your video definitely shed light on options I hadn't thought about. Very helpful. Thank you.
Get your eye in the Uruguay's east coast over the Atlantic Ocean for properties. There are retired Americans in Rocha. I hope you can pack your container, move soon, find a nice property and enjoy your retirement! 😊
You guys are great, me and my wife are planning to retire to South America, this information helps a lot, Yes, we started doing our research and we both do speak Spanish fluently, We are thinking about Montevideo Uruguay or Buenos Aires . Sending hugs from Orlando FL.
Love the honesty about expat influence on Panama prices…had a feeling that was/would happen but still looking into moving there. Thanks for the comparisons!!
It tends to happen when you have an influx of people into a town. Take for example Fort Mill in South Carolina. There is a large influx of northerners into this town including me. Prices have gotten as high as in New York now. Locals hate us all transplants.
Great video you guys. You certainly provided the audience with a true perspective of all 3 countries. One thing you forgot to mention is that Panama's currency is the US dollar although they call it Balboa or something which makes it easier for Americans not to have to deal with exchanging money and being ripped off with outdated currency.
Just found your channel recently. Love your videos. Appreciate your insights as I am well traveled over the world over 30yrs, but really enjoy the quality of your videos and aware you're high quality folks as well.
Many of the places I have lived in and traveled to North America , SFrance, Spain, Germany, Austria, Iceland, Panama, Canada, UAE, and several South American countries which included 2 months in the jungles of Peru on banks of Amazon River. 😮
Awesome video! I had been considering a move down to Uruguay, I was loving the Punta del Este area since it reminds me of some of the beach communities along the Central Coast of California. Through some of my investigations, I got the sense of their bureaucracy which your video confirmed. I'll stay put here in Panama & enjoy vacations down there. Love your honest commentary and your fun attitude!
Punta del Este is a great area. Only a couple downsides. Jan & Feb are crazy with the influx of people, driving rents into the stratosphere. Outside of those months rents are pretty decent. But, outside of those months the city/town's population drops by around 90% so lots of shops and restaurants close due to no patrons. Very odd, but again....great town.
@@laptopseniors Thanks for your response & the additional info! I'm not too surprised at many of the shops/restaurants closing down in the non-peak season. About 30 years ago Boca Raton, Florida was the same way. Thanks for all of your valuable info!
@@laptopseniors Thanks for your reply! Apart from your insights on Uruguay, most of the online reports present a certain image. From what I'm hearing from long time residents in Uruguay, the crime is increasing, so some citizens of that country are looking for other options. When I started to look at the prices of real estate (Comparable to better areas of Coronado & Boquete), then factored in how much more expensive durable goods are (cars, appliances, frankly everything) Panama is a much better value.
What you don't say is that you have so many places to live in Argentina that you can't even imagine, retired or not, Mendoza, San Juan, Patagonia, or cities far from the capital Buenos Aires, which also has very quiet places, like the Atlantic Coast, and many more, is to take into account in terms of costs and safety, hugs
Yes. We would love to see them all. Our pleasure! Hi James. Thanks for watching and for your comment. 😊 we are so glad you enjoyed it and appreciate you.
Love your videos! My wife and I currently live in Buenos Aires. At first in Palermo and now in Villa Urquiza which is a more family friendly neighborhood and calmer with not so many expats. But prices have risen here and it’s no longer a bargain..even with our US dollars. So we will be returning to our home base in Chernivtsi , Ukraine in about six months.
About water, that's a pity as among the big groundwater sheets in the word, there is one crossing brazil, paraguay, argentina and north of uruguay so it seems the resource is not really used
I'm not anywhere near retirement, but I really enjoyed your video. My wife and I spend a lot of time in Panama and absolutely love it. Very easy access to the US
Super helpful content. Thanks so much. We're currently living in Quito Ecuador and thinking about a next move in a few years. Your video is helping us sort through the options.
Great video, thank you...we have been in Argentina since the first of November with 2 months in Buenos Aires and 1.5 months in Cordoba and Mendoza, soon to return to the Canadian east coast. The value in Argentina I would agree may be unmatched anywhere with the possible exception of SE Asia. We have felt safe and welcomed the whole time here.What we have found especially in the last few weeks is that the blue dollar rate is no longer keeping pace with inflation yes its still extremely good value especially in comparison to Canada. Also Im not sure its a reflection of the Canadian currencies slight drop in value but our blue dollar exchange rate has decreased by 10%. Thank You for the content.
@noelbarrett1395 no the blue dollar is the unofficial exchange rate which is currently about 30% higher than the official exchange rate which you get by sending funds to yourself via Western Union
We came to Buenos Aires just a couple months before you and decided to stay for a while. But you’re right that the blue dollar rate is not working as much in our favor anymore and inflation is murder. I think we’ve lost about 20% of our purchasing power in the last six months. So we will be leaving by the September for a much cheaper country in eastern Europe.
We are considering Panama or Argentina to spend 3 or 4 months per year after we retire…we cannot leave the States because we have our son here and we don’t want to be too far from him…Panama seems to be a lot like Florida where we live…and also closer for the traveling…however next year we will be checking Argentina on a two week vacation to see what it is like. Thank you so much for all your insights. The best thing to do is to go there and check if the place is what we can handled. I am not particularly very fond of big cities, having worked in New York City back in the nineties. And New York has changed quite a bit. Big cities are too noisy, dirty, and too many problems can arise. I would be happy in a small town of 200,000 people, just enough not to be bored and also small enough to get to know your neighbors. So there are many factors to consider before even thinking about moving to a place. 😊😊😊
Uruguay is a safe and stable country I wouldn’t change it for a personal story about Argentina, definitely a pretty unsafe place. If you are planning to move to the area (Uruguay specially) consider buying instead of renting, sooner or later you’ll get your investment back. Definitely Argentina has more places to visit like Bariloche or Mendoza, (I lived in both countries) but will never change the peace of mind of living in a safe country for a cheaper cost of living. My recommendation is live in Uruguay and visit Argentina whenever you want cause is just 45’ away.
I use a translator on my phone all day long at work. Argentina is my choice for retirement I still have a few years to go. Thank you for all the wonderful information.
Pat, one thing I can tell you the issue I have had with Panama is that even though I speak fluent Spanish, the people I’ve talked with in Boquete, like guides, hotel people even car rentals have all tried to mess me around money wise so I wouldn’t say the people are trustworthy! John Carroll
Please, you need to be smart. That is everywhere. In Fort Mill SC, Just this morning someone was recommending a guy for cleaning an external water heater and that his prices were fair at $250. That was a joke. Someone refuted that and said that York County Gas charges $99 for the same service. I wished I had seen her face. She was ripped off badly. I had a electrician guy (a "neighbor") come give me an estimate for a new wall outlet and a new flood light outside. He was charging me for material as if they were two separate jobs. When I am sure he would have had left over electrical wire from one of the jobs as the minimum you can get from Home Depot is 50ft. He didn't get the job. People try to rip you off everywhere.
@@-.-.-.-.-.. The "Gringo" factor is all in your head. They try to rip off their own countrymen/women. Granted, at a lesser amount but they do rip off their own. You just need to be smart and know your prices. Do your research. And if they rip you off once take it as a learning lesson. Don't forget that saying: "Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me." When I was in Bali in Indonesia, I was ripped off when I bought a souvenir off the street from a kid. I saw the same item at half the price at a store. Next time I am in Bali, I know better.
You're so right. In Argentina as most people are European descendants even having dual citizenship, they wouldnt try to scam u gringo factor style, as they still feel immigrants. They'd just welcome you. Love your honest review. ❤
I think the key is to make them see that you have been living in the place for a long time, just like when you take a taxi, you have to make it clear that you know the way so they don't drive you around everywhere to charge you more, tourists are the most affected.
We are mid-70s American retirees who have lived outside of the US in Europe and the Middle East for over 40 years. We are looking for a Spanish speaking country in which to retire and are currently in Buenos Aires. The cost of living is much higher now than when we were last here in September due to the devaluation of the peso and other governmental changes meant to (eventually) improve the economy. We have also visited Uruguay and found Montevideo to be, well, boring. Buenos Aires is an amazing city, never boring. One topic that was not touched on in yr excellent video is taxes. The difference in the tax policies between Argentina and Panama makes Panama much more attractive. Just thought that this should be mentioned for those people who may be considering living outside the States for the first time and may not be aware of the diverse ways in which worldwide income is treated among different countries.
Ok you two, this was a long one. But, the entire journey was worth the ride! Thank you for keeping it light and for your astute editing skills! You continue to affirm my desire to spend time in Panama in retirement. I continue to enjoy your content. Keep up the great work! Good day.
Watched your video on Milei. Excellent 👍 I was extremely impressed that you knew about Keynesian vs Austrian economics. Went from 4th best economy globally and for 100 years went in one direction.. we see the results after 4 credit defaults and countless IMF bailouts. So the people overwhelmingly decided to try the other ‘direction’. Time will tell and empirical data will show us which provides a fairer system and better QOL.. My hope is they stop printing pesos immediately, create a peg and force through dollarization…..
This was interesting. I have been to all three countries and live in Argentina. I am planning on moving to Uruguay not just to live but to set up a business. But pretty fair coverage of all three countires by all accounts.
A most excellent review of these 3 countries… all of which I have been contemplating moving to. Thank you so much for the detail, and for making the choice easier. Can’t help wondering where you guys live now. (??) I’m 60 and plan on retiring in 2-3 years. My wife is from Peru, so Panama seems to be the “easy” choice… but Argentina has always captured my imagination for some reason. As a big fan of “Somebody Feed Phil” (Netflix), one of my top 5 favorite episodes was when he was in Buenos Aires. I’ll be watching some of your other vids as well. Thanks again for the straight talk and “inside scoop”!
Good luck choosing. In their own way they're all good depending on what you like. A good life awaits in any of them. LOL...we love “Somebody Feed Phil”. We live in multiple places now. Partly for family, partly for age (we're both almost or way over 70), and partly for love of travel and this channel. At some point, maybe soon, we won't be able to travel so much anymore due to health probably. So now...we sort of slow nomad travel in chunks of time between Canada, Florida, Panama and usually 1 other new place for the channel. Like this fall we'll do Mexico City for a month. Next year it'll be back to Buenos Aires...hopefully. Then...???
Thank you very much for this great comparison! For European retirees like myself, the tax-free situation in Uruguay for money from abroad would be most attractive, giving me about 35 % more of my monthly income. Panama would be similar but does not have a suitable tax treaty with Germany. So, Punta del Este will most likely my place to be.
Also in Uruguay, products from Mercosur countries are taxed at a lower rate and thus tend to be more affordable than goods from non-Mercosur countries. People from southern U.S. would find prices higher in Uruguay than prices in the U.S. in 2015-2018. However people from more expensive cities in the U.S., UK, and other more cosmopolitan cities, say Uruguay is less expensive so this really depends on your frame of reference.
I’ve watched y’all several times before when I was booked to fly to Boquete but I’ve had to cancel my Feb flights because of back surgery. And I love y’all’s work, but you didn’t give enough to Argentina!!
In preliminary discussions of becoming expats, I literally just left a conversation with the missus discussing Panama vs Argentina and stumbled across this video. Great insights, addressing a lot of the topics of concern. Much appreciated...thank you!!
I agree with you guys, younger Argentina, Colombia, but older Panama...also, Panama has areas with alot things to do..we just need to look for the place where we can enjoy our lifes..SEMPER FI
There are much more things to do in Buenos Aires than in Panama. If you like sports, theatres, bookshops, museums... Buenos Aires wins hands down, because it has always been the cultural capital of Latin America.
Great video. I have only done Panama (for a short bit) during the end of the Pandemic - with wife and young kids. I have lived in many countries and Panama was by far the easiest as an Expat. I never felt like a foreigner. Very comfortable. No drama. Made great local and expat friends. The only issue was the food. Having spent 1/2 my life in Asia, I need something other than Salt and Pepper as spices. For newbies Panama is #1.
ELLO PAT & vIV!! I was interested in the comments of the three countries. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMMENTING SO WELL A great greeting from the city of Mar del Plata ARG.
I think that being 76 years old , you should be living in Buenos Aires, Argentina because it has the best health care in the world , [ask Snow and Curt]and culture , and a tons of things to do.Living in Panama is like retiring to Florida from NYC, what do you have apart from the beach?
Thanks Daniel. Yes, AR's healthcare is pretty good. Our biggest hurdle for living in BA (love that city) is the distance from Canada where all our families are.
Expats are not ruining things for locals. Expats bring more than the average GDP to spend in the localities you have reviewed. That spending circles through the local economy as a very direct benefit. If luxury housing or restaurant prices increase that may create some grumbling but overall it is nearly pure benefit. Not clear about the issue with Uruguay. You seemed to love it. Expats stay decades or more even though the permanent residency was never delivered. Was it just an annoyance or was residency a necessity for you?
Hi Mark. Thanks for your comment. We do push prices up where expats settle. Uruguay didn’t deliver on commitments when criteria was met. We appreciate you watching. 😊
Where can you find the year round 70s in panama. Great video we just found you folks. We will try all three countries real soon 6 months or so. Your a lucky man. Your wife is cute.
Thanks James. Boquete in Panama is the '70's year round. It sits at a higher elevation than most of Panama so cooler. And the temp stays in roughly a 70-78 range year round. Occasionally a little hotter or colder for a day or two. But basically you can count on mid-70s.
The quality of life, variety in food, artistic and sporting and cultural activity are incomparably better in Buenos Aires than in the other two countries. It is like comparing New York with Toronto.
I think citizenship can be important for long-term stability. Expats are having to move from Portugal now because of recent tax changes. Sounds stressful. I don't want to uproot myself from home and community when I'm older. Glad to find your channel and honest, balanced discussion. I live in the U.S. southeast. We also lack sidewalks.
I have friends who are Business people who go regularly to Arg; they tell me that BA is such an exciting City and great value for money compared to UK prices now . I was told that Tucaman , Cordoba andMar Del plata are also good places to live but have less entertainment than BA . I am looking at initially renting an Apartment, as i would only want to buy a Home if i was awarded permanent Residency Permit in Arg however, i am working and saving hard as i want to have an income of at least £1500 per month so i can have a good quality of life there. Thanks for sharing your experiences with us all here, it really helps to read what others know who have lived there already . Regards…….Abe ( UK )
Great video! Long videos are only bad if they are not interesting- this was very interesting! I have only been to DR and Mexico. I thought the dollar being in Panama was a negative but maybe I need to rethink it. Again thanks.
Just starting this video, but Uraguay we kind of took off the list, thinking it would be a bit boring and much more expensive…. Panama, we only considered Boquete because we love cool weather. We have lived in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and currently in Guatemala. Argentina is high on our list of possible retirement countries….
@@freedomenergy6644 I would not retire in any of those. Nicaragua is too hot. Costa Rica is stupidly expensive. Panama….we would rather be in Guatemala. We still plan on going to a lot of other countries so stay tuned !
You need to update your info.. Its pretty easy to get residency in Uruguay.. You only have to look at utube with all the people from Cuba, Venezuela, Colombia..they tell you HOW TO DO IT..
Hi Santiago. Thank you for watching and sharing your information. It’s true. It was years ago that we tried with Uruguay. We will look into it and see if we can’t update the information if we find it’s different now.
Thanks guys for the video I’m thinking about my retirement and really appreciate your help My wife and I are looking for places to live when we retire We where born in Montevideo and what you said was true,but even with us to get our ID’s it’s a problem to many requirements always,but I hear here in USA that Uruguayan documents are strong for that reason We don’t call the path by the water (Malecón) we call it La Rambla … and yes side walks in Montevideo are so dangerous full of potholes So we are planning to spend our last years there so we really appreciate your sincere opinion about budget for retired people from USA Thanks!
We're Canadians looking at all three places for semi-retirement and a better life. I appreciate the time you took to describe living in all three places. Btw, you're an absolutely gorgeous couple!
In terms of latitude, my map comparisons show that the south coast of Uruguay (Montevideo, Punto del Este, etc.) are about as far South of the equator as the border between South Carolina and North Carolina is North of the equator. Does that seem correct to you Laptop Seniors?
Found your stream by chance. Great stuff, having travelled and worked in my job all over the world, I am definitely looking for a retirement destination . Your stream was very helpful.
Hope you can get back to Panama and give us a tour of the locale/neighborhood you choose to stay. Really interested to go to Buenos Aires now too… always thought it was dangerous. Thank you for candid review - opening the mind to possibilities!
I'm seriously considering retiring to Panama. I appreciate the various videos you produced showing the various areas. Although Argentina and Uruguay are not on my short list, your choice of Panama, and why, helped a lot.
Uruguay es un país donde casi un tercio de su población son jubilados. Lamento que no pudieran obtener sus residencias. Pero si estuvieron 2 años viviendo aquí, que les cambiaba obtenerla o no? Por otro lado, somos un país muy caro, en comparación a otros de la región. Corrección: Cuando dijo malecón, quizás pensó en "la rambla", asi le llamamos a esa costanera frente al mar. Malecón seria el de La Habana
En nuestras mentes, realmente no hizo ninguna diferencia sobre la ciudadanía. Simplemente cumplía con todos los criterios para obtenerlo pero se lo negaron. Eso simplemente no parecía correcto. Si un país no quiere darle la ciudadanía a un jubilado, dígalo directamente como Panamá. Una persona quiere tomar una decisión basándose en hechos o criterios concretos. Para nosotros, el proceso debe ser sencillo para cualquier cosa que ofrezca un país.
@@laptopseniors Por el video entendí que no recibieron la residencia permanente. Si no recibió la residencia permanente, no estoy seguro de por qué tendría la expectativa de obtener la ciudadanía.
@@jacquelinea.7575 it appears like maybe they did get permanent residency but thought citizenship was simply spending the required minimum period and they learned that is in fact not the case, but rather those are the bare minimums and getting a tramité at the electoral court is difficult. if after two years of renting property they actually didnt get residency, they must have been traveling extensively, more than 30 or 40% of their time outside Uruguay.
As a Panamanian, I recommend Boquete, if you like cool weather, and Pedasi if you like the beach life. I would like to visit Uruguay one day. This video helped a lot to have an idea of what to expect. Thanks
What a great informational and summary video !!! And totally confirm all my research hours I have done and you got Panama exactly !!! And have seen and watched what's happening in the Argentina on the world news !!! And hoping and praying for the better and best for them !!! If I do Ex-Pat it will be either Panama or the Philippines !!! As many have and are doing!!! Philippines is currently trying updates and some improvements for their nation and citizens !!! And want the Middle Class to grow more and become bigger !!!
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I'm a Swiss guy happily living in Argentina since 1984, it's heaven on earth here!
Greetings from Mar del Plata 🇦🇷
Is it affordable to live in Mar del Plata
I'm super jealous of you ~!! Hello from Los Angeles ! I'm originally from Tokyo. 👏👏👍👍💜🥁🐉🎤🎶🇦🇷💕💞
l am planning to move to Mar del Plata with wife and 2 kids. Is it safe place to live?
@@rjh2772 I save 500 dollars a month with 2000 dollars income...
@@poseidon.M yes is safe. ill sell you my house for 25k usd . im moving to brazil.
Great comparison on retirement planning in Argentina, Panama, & Uruguay! Really helps in making informed decisions.
Hi. Thanks for watching and and for your kind comment. 😊
Im 71, born in Buenos Aires. Moved to Los Angeles with my family when I was 10 years old and have never returned. Now, Im planning to go back and retire there with our pension. Honestly...cant wait!
Exceptional, Video presentation. From people who have walked the walk. Thank you guys❤
Glad you enjoyed it! 😊
Thinking of becoming expat in AR, Buenos Aires feels European and you’ll find languages spoken from all over the world. Big cultural city life with library, museums and civic events it fosters a very young at heart vibe with activism and social life. Good option if you are a nomad. Ferry 2hr trip to UR across river is Lux. There’s much more things to do, places to go and reasons to spend your money in AR
Thanks for watching and for your comment. 😊 we are so glad you enjoyed it and appreciate you.
The promenade in Uruguay is called "La Rambla," not Malecon. The Malecon is in Cuba. Uruguay has undergone much change since you were there 12 years ago. The culinary scene is so much better now. Uruguay is boring compared to Buenos Aires, but the quality of life far superior. Punta del Este isn't a ghost town any longer in the winter months, and it's incredibly safe. There's a reason why the South American elite vacation in Punta del Este. The downside to Uruguay is the cost of living, which is about twice as expensive as Buenos Aires. The upside is that things in Uruguay work. My ideal situation would be to spend November to March in Uruguay and the rest of the year up north. Cheers!
Thanks Mike for the Rambla reminder. I loved Punta, and the culinary scene then was not that bad. Just not a lot of restaurants. Nice to know it's improved. Your idea of Nov-March and then north is a good one.
Isn't malecón also just a spanish word for waterfront esplanade? And rambla is spanish for promenade or boulevard which can be waterfront, but doesn't have to be. So you can say La Rambla es un malecón y El Malecón es una rambla. 😊
@@christinea8424 If you visit Uruguay and ask a local where the Malecón is, they're going to look at you and have no idea what you're talking about. Some may say Cuba. 😁
or Panama City or Mazatlan or .... @@MikeMikeMiker
@@christinea8424
You've got it absolutely correct. The word Malecon may have started in Cuba, but it's used in many other countries. Rambla is a promenade street, like the ramblas of Barcelona.
I have been to both Argentina and Uruguay and loved them both. Short visit to Uruguay and longer in Argentina. In Argentina, I stayed in BA, Bariloche and Mendoza. Loved the food and wine in Mendoza. I found Bariloche to be a little expensive as there are a lot of Chilean tourists that drive over for vacations in the summer (January). BA was amazing! The architecture alone could keep me occupied for 90 days!. Thank you for the great tips!
Hi! You’ve had some great adventures too! We appreciate you sharing and we love the architecture of BA as well. It’s very European. Thanks so much for watching.
Argentina has some real potential for growth. Supurb geography and decent demographics. As I keep learning more about different countries and Cities Mendoza has really caught my interest
Stumbled upon your channel and subscribed. I am a permanent resident of Panama. You don't need to be retired for the "pensionado discount." Women who are 55 and men who are 60 qualify for the generous discounts. Panama City is not really a retirement destination in my experience. I live in Boquete and it is only about 30 minutes from good hospitals in David. Other popular retirement destinations are the Coronado area for those who like the beach. The sidewalks are indeed tough for people with mobility issues. The expats are pushing prices up as well. Thanks again!
This is true anywhere expats go. Their mania of paying asking price for everything without considering the local prices. You have to negotiate down prices, instead of comparing it to Arizona, Colorado, etc. prices. They ruin it for everyone who comes after.
True...thanks Bill.
In looking at the videos it seems the housing prices go from very low to very high ($600+ and up); not that much in between???
@@MarianKnowlton , you can find plenty of houses priced in between. Check out real estate videos posted by Jackie Lange of Panama Relocation Tours on RUclips. Good luck!
Hi, so you don't need to have the pensionado visa to be able to get the discounts? You can get the discounts as long as you're 55 (women) 60 (men)?
Hello this is my first video of your channel. Thank you for the discussion! I have family in Buenos Aires and I was in the country back in October. My cousins live in Matadaros, Liniers and some where sw of San Telmo. I hope to find more of your videos of Buenos Aires.
I look to return in May for the month where I will be staying near China town in Belgrano. I am on the discovery of the city, the culture and the people.
Please make more videos about your experiences in Buenos Aires. Thank you again!
I am so glad YT recommended your channel to me. I am subscribing. As an expat with 30 years in Central America, I found this video very informative and fun to watch. I am content here in Costa Rica, but I have been curious about Argentina for quite a while now. I agree with your assessment, at least it lines up with other videos I have seen. Looks like fun, and may be great to visit, but since growing up in Chicago, I could never move to a place that gets cold. You are a cute couple, enjoyed your video. Thanks.
Hi John. Thanks for watching and subscribing. 😊 Agreed that Argentina is best for snowbirds. We are curious about Costa Rica! Perhaps we should talk 😂
@@laptopseniors Anytime, I'd like that.
Thank you very much for sharing, I have lived in Montreal for 18 years, but I sincerely wait for my retirement to return to Buenos Aires
Sherbrooke and Rue de la Montagne.....lived there for 3 years. Loved Montreal. Thanks for watching Gabriel.
Live in Sept-îles, snowbirding in Buenos Aires
Thank you for this tremendous video! I’ve been in Panama the past 3 months and love it….
Glad you enjoyed it! And thanks for your comment.
The Malecón is mostly known in Uruguay as La Rambla
This is probably the best video I'll watch all weekend. 👍🏽👍🏽
Hi Terry. Thanks for watching and for your awesome comment. 😊 we are so glad you enjoyed it.
Muy buen video. Saludos cordiales desde Olavarría, Argentina.
I'm an international kinda guy. Been traveling globally most of my adult life in a professional capacity. I was considering Thailand for my retirement. Last visited in late 2023. Had a great month there. Very inexpensive, great health care and every level of lifestyle one could want. But new tax considerations have caused me to reconsider. It's also a looooong way from "home". I've never been to Panama, but your experience has me intrigued. I like that it is so much closer to the US. Planning to visit soon and conduct my own due diligence.
Thailand's tax change on foreign income is just crazy. Thai people are great and Thai Government is not bad at all. It will just end up more wealthy expats not going to Thailand long term. As for the locals with foreign income that they want to catch out, there are so many ways that they can do to remain tax efficient. I simply hope that the Thai Government will come to its senses soon.
Let us know what you think when you see Panama.
Panama is more expensive
I've been to the three places you talked about Buenos Aires has a lot going on , great theater scene and very walkable. Be careful of the many broken sidewalks , lots of protests always,great food of course
but it's a long way from Toronto . Jim give your wife a chance to say more, great video though looking forward to good places to see in Panama. Gracia,
I don't think it's that clear how the new Thai tax system will work. How would they control if you get your money out of an ATM? And I doubt pensions will be taxed. Time will tell, I was considering Thailand as well, but I'm still not sure, I speak Spanish so I'm also looking at these other countries.
just a little comment about british hospital..im a member and the doctors are all from uruguay.is a first class hospital with the best doctors in uruguay..
Thanks for your comment. We appreciate you watching. 😊
Man what a great, informative video. I'm 67, an American living in ESTONIA (Tallinn). An OK place, but the highest inflation in Europe. Prices are high, about 60% speak english. I just spent seven months in Bulgaria, and prices were much cheaper, but virtually no one speaks English which was a huge problem for me. I have somewhat looked into the exact countries you are talking about but haven't made any decision regarding them. You cleared important concerns for me a lot. Thank you; I will subscribe.
Thanks Grizz. Super small world. Vivi (my wife) is Estonian. Been to Tallinn, and pretty much all of the rest of the country many times. Didn't realize prices have climbed so much there.
Hi, what are the biggest downsides of living in Estonia besides being next to Putin and the weather?
You guys are awesome, please keep your videos going, thanks!
Hi. You’re so sweet. Thanks for watching and and for your kind comment. 😊 we are so glad you enjoyed it. ❤
Left Argentina when I graduated there for free as a physician
Lived in the US for 50 years and now I’m retired
I’m a proud American but still miss my native country
Argentina is very chaotic but certainly has a charming soul
In my opinion is hard for Americans to live there because of the Anglo-Saxon sense of order
Young people adapt and enjoy it
Great video!
Thanx to both of you!
Glad it was helpful, Marco! Thanks for your comment. We appreciate you watching. 😊
Hola, si buscas en RUclips vas a ver que hay norteamericanos que están viniendo a vivir a Argentina , a ellos les gusta mucho las provincias de Córdoba, Mendoza y Neuquén. En su mayoría son hombres. (Esto empezó a suceder después del mundial de futbol )
también hay personas que traen a grupos de adolescentes de visita a experimentar la vida en la Patagonia por unos días. hay videos en donde los chicos cuentas sus experiencias. saludos !!
Thanks for the information, thinking of moving to Argentina (Buenos Areies) sorry for the spelling; your wife's beautiful and seems very nice. Look forward to your next video,,,😊
I'm a lucky guy David.
Awe David 😊 thank you 🙏🏻. You’re so kind. V
Nice video! Buenos Aires is ideal if you want to enjoy a cultural life, like going to the theatre, concerts, lots of books shops, music, gourmet places...plus that is a romantic an boheme city ( we are so proud of our city jaj) wish you the best! Mercedes
Totally agree! Thanks for your comment. We appreciate you watching. 😊
@@laptopseniors ❤
I booked my ticket to Buenos Aires in December!! Also gonna take the train to the beach city of mar del plata!! Can’t wait to check out my potential future home, first time traveling outside of USA!!! 🇦🇷🇦🇷🫡
Fantastic! Great time to go there. Thanks for sharing. We appreciate you watching. 😊
Serás muy bienvenido
You are very wellcome! Mar del Plata is not the nicest beach city in my opinión, you should check Villa Gesel or Pinamar
@@estefaniaboujon6830 he is taking the train, your little village doesnt have train tracks.
Thank you so much for your feedback!!
Hi great video ! but remember the Malecon is in Havana. in Montevideo is called La Rambla. Greatings!
Thanks for the info! 😊
Thank you for this video. I totally agree (French living in Panama).
I just discovered your channel, and love the way you interact and deliver balanced analysis, you seems to be a nice couple.
I think something is missing though, and it would be nice to complete (or point me to another video): it's about the real estate, renting, buying, reselling, second hand market, and so on ...
Welcome! Thanks we do our best.
Portuguese here but living in Canada for the past 40 years . Husband and I love Canada but hate the cold .After visiting multiple countries and doing our homework decided to by a retirement condo/Airbnb in the North cost of the Domenican Republic/ Puerto Plata.The town is called Cabarete loads of expacts from all over the world spending the winter months there . Affordable and nice weather all year round
I've been looking at The North Coast for the surfing and proximity to the States. How reliable is Internet and power? Gracias!🎉
Stellar content!!! You both are so warm and engaging and offer such a balanced perspective of these countries so that someone can figure out which is best for their lifestyle and interests. Thanks for this comparison. Continued success!!!!
Thank you so much!! Glad it was helpful, Tina. We appreciate you watching. 😊
Yes!....I must say this couple & the way present the info 'Truly' Awesome,!!!( What a beautiful union😊
Keep up the very good work....❤😊
Argentina is under a new administration and is like in a "work in progress" scenario . We have to wait and see to evaluate what will happen at least 6 months from now. A lot of drastic reforms are taking place that , if are sucessful , will change things for the better
Seems the guess is around 2 years to turn it around. That's roughly what it took Reagan to get out of 20% inflation in the US in the late 70's. Anything less than that would be a miracle of epic proportions. But, it can be done.
Hi. Next six months will be crítical because Milei needs several laws to be approve by Congress to implement his policies.
A bit of a shame... Argentina has a lot of waterfront opportunities outside of Buenos Aires. Great people, safe communities and amazing food.
how so?
@@noelbarrett1395Que hay una gran costa en Argentina, muchas playas unidas a lo largo de Buenos Aires. Está la ciudad de Mar del Plata, Pinamar, Cariló, Monte Hermoso, Necochea. Son todas zonas de playas en Buenos Aires, a una hora o más de la capital.
Yes not much in BA that are desirable. We will check el Tigre next trip.
@@noelbarrett1395Cómo eso qué??? Jajajaja Argentina tiene más de 6000 kms de costa marina!! Qué parte no se entiende? Hay muchas ciudades con mar!!!
@@laptopseniorsigual El Tigre no tiene costa marina, es río
So interesting... I have watched The Nomadic Capitalist for a few years now and He has mentioned all of the above countries as retirement or destinations for Wealthy individuals seeking better tax situations. When you started describing Uruguay I was very surprised, because I hadn't really thought about how it could have changed so much in recent years.... Great personal story and information!! Thank you so much! ( a new subscriber)
I watch Andrew a lot too. His info is really up to date and he doesn't pull punches. Very informative.
Hi Diana. Thanks for watching and for your comment. 😊 we are so glad you enjoyed it. V
I have lived in Panama 30 years now.
Some of what you say is true.
I only 72 not my Youngs son is a doctors and my wife is a doctor and we have 8 doctors in the family my wife is panaman.
I work each day all over the country I build roads on farm land and some of the islands too. It's is a wonderful live here but as all way it's what you make to be.
God bless y'all
8 doctors. Wow! Great work ethic. Thanks for watching.
The Malecon is in Havana (Cuba).... in Montevideo is called "La Rambla"!!!
Yes thanks 😊
And there's a Malecon in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, too.
There’s a Malecón in Puerto Rico. 🇵🇷
The walkway in Montevideo is called La Rambla , not the malecon.
Since I am getting ready to leave the US and had my eye on Uruguay as a destination, your video definitely shed light on options I hadn't thought about. Very helpful. Thank you.
Thanks.
Get your eye in the Uruguay's east coast over the Atlantic Ocean for properties. There are retired Americans in Rocha.
I hope you can pack your container, move soon, find a nice property and enjoy your retirement! 😊
You guys are great, me and my wife are planning to retire to South America, this information helps a lot, Yes, we started doing our research and we both do speak Spanish fluently, We are thinking about Montevideo Uruguay or Buenos Aires . Sending hugs from Orlando FL.
Thinking of Uruguay but this video concerns me about not getting residency easily
Love the honesty about expat influence on Panama prices…had a feeling that was/would happen but still looking into moving there. Thanks for the comparisons!!
It tends to happen when you have an influx of people into a town. Take for example Fort Mill in South Carolina. There is a large influx of northerners into this town including me. Prices have gotten as high as in New York now. Locals hate us all transplants.
Hi Rose. Thanks for watching and for your comment. 😊 we are so glad you enjoyed it.
Learn Spanish, call yourself an immigrant not an expat, and don't make things expensive for locals.
Another hour of pleasurable video. Thanks Pat and Vivi.
Hi. Thank you for watching and for your kind comment. 😊 so glad you enjoyed it. ❤
Great video you guys. You certainly provided the audience with a true perspective of all 3 countries. One thing you forgot to mention is that Panama's currency is the US dollar although they call it Balboa or something which makes it easier for Americans not to have to deal with exchanging money and being ripped off with outdated currency.
True...guess I thought that was a given to know about the US/Balboa, but actually if you're new to this....why would you know? Thanks.
Just found your channel recently. Love your videos. Appreciate your insights as I am well traveled over the world over 30yrs, but really enjoy the quality of your videos and aware you're high quality folks as well.
Many of the places I have lived in and traveled to North America , SFrance, Spain, Germany, Austria, Iceland, Panama, Canada, UAE, and several South American countries which included 2 months in the jungles of Peru on banks of Amazon River. 😮
Welcome aboard! Thanks for watching and for your comment. 😊 we are so glad you enjoyed it and appreciate you.
Awesome video! I had been considering a move down to Uruguay, I was loving the Punta del Este area since it reminds me of some of the beach communities along the Central Coast of California. Through some of my investigations, I got the sense of their bureaucracy which your video confirmed. I'll stay put here in Panama & enjoy vacations down there. Love your honest commentary and your fun attitude!
Punta del Este is a great area. Only a couple downsides. Jan & Feb are crazy with the influx of people, driving rents into the stratosphere. Outside of those months rents are pretty decent. But, outside of those months the city/town's population drops by around 90% so lots of shops and restaurants close due to no patrons. Very odd, but again....great town.
@@laptopseniors Thanks for your response & the additional info! I'm not too surprised at many of the shops/restaurants closing down in the non-peak season. About 30 years ago Boca Raton, Florida was the same way. Thanks for all of your valuable info!
Our pleasure! 😊 we are so glad you enjoyed it and appreciate you. Stay tuned as things are changing in Uruguay now too!
@@laptopseniors Thanks for your reply! Apart from your insights on Uruguay, most of the online reports present a certain image. From what I'm hearing from long time residents in Uruguay, the crime is increasing, so some citizens of that country are looking for other options. When I started to look at the prices of real estate (Comparable to better areas of Coronado & Boquete), then factored in how much more expensive durable goods are (cars, appliances, frankly everything) Panama is a much better value.
Learn Spanish, call yourself an immigrant not an expat, and don't make things expensive for locals.
This was a very cool and informative presentation. Thank you.
What you don't say is that you have so many places to live in Argentina that you can't even imagine, retired or not, Mendoza, San Juan, Patagonia, or cities far from the capital Buenos Aires, which also has very quiet places, like the Atlantic Coast, and many more, is to take into account in terms of costs and safety, hugs
Cordoba también,tiene muchos pueblos seguros, tranquilos y muy lindos.
Yes. We would love to see them all. Our pleasure! Hi James. Thanks for watching and for your comment. 😊 we are so glad you enjoyed it and appreciate you.
Love your videos! My wife and I currently live in Buenos Aires. At first in Palermo and now in Villa Urquiza which is a more family friendly neighborhood and calmer with not so many expats. But prices have risen here and it’s no longer a bargain..even with our US dollars. So we will be returning to our home base in Chernivtsi , Ukraine in about six months.
Our pleasure! Hi Eric. Thanks for watching and for your comment. 😊 we are so glad you enjoyed it and wish you a safe return to Ukraine.
This was great! Once again you’ve done an amazing job putting this together. Thank You!
Hi. Thanks for watching and and for your kind comment. 😊 so glad you enjoyed it. ❤
About water, that's a pity as among the big groundwater sheets in the word, there is one crossing brazil, paraguay, argentina and north of uruguay so it seems the resource is not really used
I'm not anywhere near retirement, but I really enjoyed your video. My wife and I spend a lot of time in Panama and absolutely love it. Very easy access to the US
Our pleasure! Yes quite accessible. Thanks for watching and for your comment. 😊 we appreciate you.
Fantastic video! You're a young 76!
Super helpful content. Thanks so much. We're currently living in Quito Ecuador and thinking about a next move in a few years. Your video is helping us sort through the options.
Buenísimos e informados comentarios sobre Uruguay. Felicitaciones por los videos y la iniciativa. Saludos.
first time viewer. Great informal,unscripted banter really helps convey sense of each country
Thank you. We really appreciate your comments. V. 😁
Really interesting comparison……. Thank you
Great video, thank you...we have been in Argentina since the first of November with 2 months in Buenos Aires and 1.5 months in Cordoba and Mendoza, soon to return to the Canadian east coast. The value in Argentina I would agree may be unmatched anywhere with the possible exception of SE Asia. We have felt safe and welcomed the whole time here.What we have found especially in the last few weeks is that the blue dollar rate is no longer keeping pace with inflation yes its still extremely good value especially in comparison to Canada. Also Im not sure its a reflection of the Canadian currencies slight drop in value but our blue dollar exchange rate has decreased by 10%. Thank You for the content.
Thanks. Great info being there now.
I assume a blue dollar is a Canadian dollar?
@noelbarrett1395 no the blue dollar is the unofficial exchange rate which is currently about 30% higher than the official exchange rate which you get by sending funds to yourself via Western Union
We came to Buenos Aires just a couple months before you and decided to stay for a while. But you’re right that the blue dollar rate is not working as much in our favor anymore and inflation is murder. I think we’ve lost about 20% of our purchasing power in the last six months. So we will be leaving by the September for a much cheaper country in eastern Europe.
We are considering Panama or Argentina to spend 3 or 4 months per year after we retire…we cannot leave the States because we have our son here and we don’t want to be too far from him…Panama seems to be a lot like Florida where we live…and also closer for the traveling…however next year we will be checking Argentina on a two week vacation to see what it is like. Thank you so much for all your insights. The best thing to do is to go there and check if the place is what we can handled. I am not particularly very fond of big cities, having worked in New York City back in the nineties. And New York has changed quite a bit. Big cities are too noisy, dirty, and too many problems can arise. I would be happy in a small town of 200,000 people, just enough not to be bored and also small enough to get to know your neighbors. So there are many factors to consider before even thinking about moving to a place. 😊😊😊
Uruguay is a safe and stable country I wouldn’t change it for a personal story about Argentina, definitely a pretty unsafe place. If you are planning to move to the area (Uruguay specially) consider buying instead of renting, sooner or later you’ll get your investment back. Definitely Argentina has more places to visit like Bariloche or Mendoza, (I lived in both countries) but will never change the peace of mind of living in a safe country for a cheaper cost of living. My recommendation is live in Uruguay and visit Argentina whenever you want cause is just 45’ away.
Uruguay has always been and still is unsafer than Argentina. Just check online the murder rate in each country to find out.
Hi thanks for sharing. Uruguay has always felt safe to us too.
I use a translator on my phone all day long at work. Argentina is my choice for retirement I still have a few years to go. Thank you for all the wonderful information.
Pat, one thing I can tell you the issue I have had with Panama is that even though I speak fluent Spanish, the people I’ve talked with in Boquete, like guides, hotel people even car rentals have all tried to mess me around money wise so I wouldn’t say the people are trustworthy!
John Carroll
Please, you need to be smart. That is everywhere. In Fort Mill SC, Just this morning someone was recommending a guy for cleaning an external water heater and that his prices were fair at $250. That was a joke. Someone refuted that and said that York County Gas charges $99 for the same service. I wished I had seen her face. She was ripped off badly.
I had a electrician guy (a "neighbor") come give me an estimate for a new wall outlet and a new flood light outside. He was charging me for material as if they were two separate jobs. When I am sure he would have had left over electrical wire from one of the jobs as the minimum you can get from Home Depot is 50ft. He didn't get the job. People try to rip you off everywhere.
@@CharlieBrown0507Yes but in Latín América there is the gringo factor to consider. That’s on top of the usual shenanigans you mention.
@@-.-.-.-.-.. The "Gringo" factor is all in your head. They try to rip off their own countrymen/women. Granted, at a lesser amount but they do rip off their own. You just need to be smart and know your prices. Do your research. And if they rip you off once take it as a learning lesson. Don't forget that saying: "Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me."
When I was in Bali in Indonesia, I was ripped off when I bought a souvenir off the street from a kid. I saw the same item at half the price at a store. Next time I am in Bali, I know better.
You're so right. In Argentina as most people are European descendants even having dual citizenship, they wouldnt try to scam u gringo factor style, as they still feel immigrants. They'd just welcome you. Love your honest review. ❤
I think the key is to make them see that you have been living in the place for a long time, just like when you take a taxi, you have to make it clear that you know the way so they don't drive you around everywhere to charge you more, tourists are the most affected.
Glad I found this video, think I will check out Argentina!
We are mid-70s American retirees who have lived outside of the US in Europe and the Middle East for over 40 years. We are looking for a Spanish speaking country in which to retire and are currently in Buenos Aires. The cost of living is much higher now than when we were last here in September due to the devaluation of the peso and other governmental changes meant to (eventually) improve the economy. We have also visited Uruguay and found Montevideo to be, well, boring. Buenos Aires is an amazing city, never boring. One topic that was not touched on in yr excellent video is taxes. The difference in the tax policies between Argentina and Panama makes Panama much more attractive. Just thought that this should be mentioned for those people who may be considering living outside the States for the first time and may not be aware of the diverse ways in which worldwide income is treated among different countries.
Thank you for watching, Susan and leaving a comment with information. 😊
What’s the difference in taxes between the two countries?
Ok you two, this was a long one. But, the entire journey was worth the ride! Thank you for keeping it light and for your astute editing skills! You continue to affirm my desire to spend time in Panama in retirement. I continue to enjoy your content. Keep up the great work! Good day.
Our pleasure! Hi James. Thanks for watching and for your funny comment. 😊 we are so glad you enjoyed it and appreciate you.
Watched your video on Milei. Excellent 👍
I was extremely impressed that you knew about Keynesian vs Austrian economics. Went from 4th best economy globally and for 100 years went in one direction.. we see the results after 4 credit defaults and countless IMF bailouts. So the people overwhelmingly decided to try the other ‘direction’. Time will tell and empirical data will show us which provides a fairer system and better QOL.. My hope is they stop printing pesos immediately, create a peg and force through dollarization…..
Thanks for sharing, Oscar! Pat follows world economics. We appreciate you watching. 😊
Thanks for the vid. Wish you would have gotten into specifics on the cost of living in Argentina.
This was interesting. I have been to all three countries and live in Argentina. I am planning on moving to Uruguay not just to live but to set up a business. But pretty fair coverage of all three countires by all accounts.
Glad it was helpful! Thanks so much for your comment. We appreciate you watching. 😊
A most excellent review of these 3 countries… all of which I have been contemplating moving to. Thank you so much for the detail, and for making the choice easier. Can’t help wondering where you guys live now. (??) I’m 60 and plan on retiring in 2-3 years. My wife is from Peru, so Panama seems to be the “easy” choice… but Argentina has always captured my imagination for some reason. As a big fan of “Somebody Feed Phil” (Netflix), one of my top 5 favorite episodes was when he was in Buenos Aires. I’ll be watching some of your other vids as well. Thanks again for the straight talk and “inside scoop”!
Good luck choosing. In their own way they're all good depending on what you like. A good life awaits in any of them. LOL...we love “Somebody Feed Phil”. We live in multiple places now. Partly for family, partly for age (we're both almost or way over 70), and partly for love of travel and this channel. At some point, maybe soon, we won't be able to travel so much anymore due to health probably. So now...we sort of slow nomad travel in chunks of time between Canada, Florida, Panama and usually 1 other new place for the channel. Like this fall we'll do Mexico City for a month. Next year it'll be back to Buenos Aires...hopefully. Then...???
Thank you very much for this great comparison! For European retirees like myself, the tax-free situation in Uruguay for money from abroad would be most attractive, giving me about
35 % more of my monthly income. Panama would be similar but does not have a suitable tax treaty with Germany. So, Punta del Este will most likely my place to be.
Remember though for Panama. They tax only on money made with Panama. Anything coming from outside Panama would not be taxed. Punta is beautiful.
Also in Uruguay, products from Mercosur countries are taxed at a lower rate and thus tend to be more affordable than goods from non-Mercosur countries. People from southern U.S. would find prices higher in Uruguay than prices in the U.S. in 2015-2018. However people from more expensive cities in the U.S., UK, and other more cosmopolitan cities, say Uruguay is less expensive so this really depends on your frame of reference.
I’ve watched y’all several times before when I was booked to fly to Boquete but I’ve had to cancel my Feb flights because of back surgery. And I love y’all’s work, but you didn’t give enough to Argentina!!
Stay tuned, there’s more to come.
In preliminary discussions of becoming expats, I literally just left a conversation with the missus discussing Panama vs Argentina and stumbled across this video. Great insights, addressing a lot of the topics of concern. Much appreciated...thank you!!
Interesting synchronicity! We appreciate you watching, Viktor. 😊
The malecon in Montevideo is called "Rambla".
Thanks Pabla 😊 That’s the one we always think of. It’s gorgeous! Thank you for watching and leaving a comment with information. 😊
I agree with you guys, younger Argentina, Colombia, but older Panama...also, Panama has areas with alot things to do..we just need to look for the place where we can enjoy our lifes..SEMPER FI
There are much more things to do in Buenos Aires than in Panama. If you like sports, theatres, bookshops, museums... Buenos Aires wins hands down, because it has always been the cultural capital of Latin America.
Yes, amazing city.
Agree, Buenos Aires is a great and beautiful city with so many amenities,
And Tango dancing!!!🌸
@@-.-.-.-.-..desde siempre
Going this summer for the first time. Can't wait to see it.
This was an excellent info brief. Thank you
Great video.
I have only done Panama (for a short bit) during the end of the Pandemic - with wife and young kids. I have lived in many countries and Panama was by far the easiest as an Expat. I never felt like a foreigner. Very comfortable. No drama. Made great local and expat friends. The only issue was the food. Having spent 1/2 my life in Asia, I need something other than Salt and Pepper as spices.
For newbies Panama is #1.
Thanks for sharing. We appreciate you watching. 😊
This was a great video. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it! 😁
ELLO PAT & vIV!! I was interested in the comments of the three countries. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMMENTING SO WELL A great greeting from the city of Mar del Plata ARG.
Thanks Ricardo.
Ricardo, lucky you! Our friends visit Mar del Plata and love it. We really appreciate your comments. V. 😁
Watched every minute, loved it. Many thanks
Awesome, thank you! 😊
I think that being 76 years old , you should be living in Buenos Aires, Argentina because it has the best health care in the world , [ask Snow and Curt]and culture , and a tons of things to do.Living in Panama is like retiring to Florida from NYC, what do you have apart from the beach?
Thanks Daniel. Yes, AR's healthcare is pretty good. Our biggest hurdle for living in BA (love that city) is the distance from Canada where all our families are.
I understand.Sometimes I fly to Buenos Aires, from NYC via Toronto, when Air Canada has a good price.
Nice. This one went viral 😊 do more comparisons :)
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for your comment. We appreciate you watching. 😊
Buenos aires is amazing❤❤❤❤ Love Argentina!
So do we! 😊
Expats are not ruining things for locals. Expats bring more than the average GDP to spend in the localities you have reviewed. That spending circles through the local economy as a very direct benefit. If luxury housing or restaurant prices increase that may create some grumbling but overall it is nearly pure benefit.
Not clear about the issue with Uruguay. You seemed to love it. Expats stay decades or more even though the permanent residency was never delivered. Was it just an annoyance or was residency a necessity for you?
Hi Mark. Thanks for your comment. We do push prices up where expats settle. Uruguay didn’t deliver on commitments when criteria was met. We appreciate you watching. 😊
Good job you two. Thank you.
Where can you find the year round 70s in panama.
Great video we just found you folks. We will try all three countries real soon 6 months or so.
Your a lucky man. Your wife is cute.
Thanks James. Boquete in Panama is the '70's year round. It sits at a higher elevation than most of Panama so cooler. And the temp stays in roughly a 70-78 range year round. Occasionally a little hotter or colder for a day or two. But basically you can count on mid-70s.
The quality of life, variety in food, artistic and sporting and cultural activity are incomparably better in Buenos Aires than in the other two countries. It is like comparing New York with Toronto.
I think citizenship can be important for long-term stability. Expats are having to move from Portugal now because of recent tax changes. Sounds stressful. I don't want to uproot myself from home and community when I'm older. Glad to find your channel and honest, balanced discussion.
I live in the U.S. southeast. We also lack sidewalks.
100% Heidi. Tough part is, it's really hard sometimes to get that passport. So...permanent residence is the next best thing for security.
I have friends who are Business people who go regularly to Arg; they tell me that BA is such an exciting City and great value for money compared to UK prices now .
I was told that Tucaman , Cordoba andMar Del plata are also good places to live but have less entertainment than BA .
I am looking at initially renting an Apartment, as i would only want to buy a Home if i was awarded permanent Residency Permit in Arg however, i am working and saving hard as i want to have an income of at least £1500 per month so i can have a good quality of life there.
Thanks for sharing your experiences with us all here, it really helps to read what others know who have lived there already .
Regards…….Abe ( UK )
Great video! Long videos are only bad if they are not interesting- this was very interesting! I have only been to DR and Mexico. I thought the dollar being in Panama was a negative but maybe I need to rethink it. Again thanks.
Our pleasure! Hi Kevin. Thanks for watching and for your kind comment. 😊 we are so glad you enjoyed it and appreciate you.
I love and appreciate your vlogs..thanks.😊
Just starting this video, but Uraguay we kind of took off the list, thinking it would be a bit boring and much more expensive….
Panama, we only considered Boquete because we love cool weather. We have lived in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and currently in Guatemala.
Argentina is high on our list of possible retirement countries….
Does Boquete have a lot of mosquitos? We want to find a city that's not infested with them and that is walkable--without any water issues.
Don’t know anything about Panama but here in Xela, Guatemala I have not seen a mosquito or a roach. Maybe being at almost 8000 feet is part of that.
Can I ask why you would consider Panama versas Costa Rica or Nicaragua?
@@freedomenergy6644
I would not retire in any of those.
Nicaragua is too hot. Costa Rica is stupidly expensive. Panama….we would rather be in Guatemala.
We still plan on going to a lot of other countries so stay tuned !
Uruguay is very humid and expensive.
You need to update your info..
Its pretty easy to get residency in Uruguay..
You only have to look at utube with all the people from Cuba, Venezuela, Colombia..they tell you HOW TO DO IT..
Hi Santiago. Thank you for watching and sharing your information. It’s true. It was years ago that we tried with Uruguay. We will look into it and see if we can’t update the information if we find it’s different now.
Thanks guys for the video I’m thinking about my retirement and really appreciate your help
My wife and I are looking for places to live when we retire
We where born in Montevideo and what you said was true,but even with us to get our ID’s it’s a problem to many requirements always,but I hear here in USA that Uruguayan documents are strong for that reason
We don’t call the path by the water (Malecón) we call it La Rambla … and yes side walks in Montevideo are so dangerous full of potholes
So we are planning to spend our last years there so we really appreciate your sincere opinion about budget for retired people from USA
Thanks!
Glad it was helpful Leo! Thanks for your comment. We appreciate you watching. 😊 enjoy retirement near la Rambla
We're Canadians looking at all three places for semi-retirement and a better life. I appreciate the time you took to describe living in all three places. Btw, you're an absolutely gorgeous couple!
In terms of latitude, my map comparisons show that the south coast of Uruguay (Montevideo, Punto del Este, etc.) are about as far South of the equator as the border between South Carolina and North Carolina is North of the equator. Does that seem correct to you Laptop Seniors?
Hi Gus. Thank you for watching and leaving a comment. 😊 we think it feels just a little farther from the equator but close.
Found your stream by chance.
Great stuff, having travelled and worked in my job all over the world, I am definitely looking for a retirement destination . Your stream was very helpful.
Hi Thanks for watching and for your comment. 😊 we are so glad you enjoyed it.
Hope you can get back to Panama and give us a tour of the locale/neighborhood you choose to stay. Really interested to go to Buenos Aires now too… always thought it was dangerous. Thank you for candid review - opening the mind to possibilities!
Hi Johnny. Thanks for watching. 😊We have begun videos on the neighborhoods of PC now. More to come.
I'm seriously considering retiring to Panama. I appreciate the various videos you produced showing the various areas.
Although Argentina and Uruguay are not on my short list, your choice of Panama, and why, helped a lot.
Glad to help, Sheryl. Panama has a lot going for it!
Uruguay es un país donde casi un tercio de su población son jubilados. Lamento que no pudieran obtener sus residencias. Pero si estuvieron 2 años viviendo aquí, que les cambiaba obtenerla o no? Por otro lado, somos un país muy caro, en comparación a otros de la región. Corrección: Cuando dijo malecón, quizás pensó en "la rambla", asi le llamamos a esa costanera frente al mar. Malecón seria el de La Habana
En nuestras mentes, realmente no hizo ninguna diferencia sobre la ciudadanía. Simplemente cumplía con todos los criterios para obtenerlo pero se lo negaron. Eso simplemente no parecía correcto. Si un país no quiere darle la ciudadanía a un jubilado, dígalo directamente como Panamá. Una persona quiere tomar una decisión basándose en hechos o criterios concretos. Para nosotros, el proceso debe ser sencillo para cualquier cosa que ofrezca un país.
@@laptopseniors Por el video entendí que no recibieron la residencia permanente. Si no recibió la residencia permanente, no estoy seguro de por qué tendría la expectativa de obtener la ciudadanía.
This is the first time i hear Uruguay denies someone the residency…
@@jacquelinea.7575 it appears like maybe they did get permanent residency but thought citizenship was simply spending the required minimum period and they learned that is in fact not the case, but rather those are the bare minimums and getting a tramité at the electoral court is difficult. if after two years of renting property they actually didnt get residency, they must have been traveling extensively, more than 30 or 40% of their time outside Uruguay.
@@laptopseniors le dan a cualquira la recidencia en uruguay si no te la dieron es porque encontraron algo ...a ver primera pregunta donde naciste ..
As a Panamanian, I recommend Boquete, if you like cool weather, and Pedasi if you like the beach life. I would like to visit Uruguay one day. This video helped a lot to have an idea of what to expect. Thanks
Thank you for your info session.
WOW, you carry your age very well sir!
Lucky genes. Thanks.
What a great informational and summary video !!! And totally confirm all my research hours I have done and you got Panama exactly !!! And have seen and watched what's happening in the Argentina on the world news !!! And hoping and praying for the better and best for them !!! If I do Ex-Pat it will be either Panama or the Philippines !!! As many have and are doing!!! Philippines is currently trying updates and some improvements for their nation and citizens !!! And want the Middle Class to grow more and become bigger !!!
Glad it was helpful James! Thanks for your comment. We appreciate you watching. 😊
Awesome video and beautiful couple. Blessings
That’s very kind Aziz. We appreciate you. ❤