How much are rental costs in Singapore? Singapore has the most expensive rental properties in the Asia-Pacific region. Median monthly rent is approximately S$3,455 (US$2,600) per month. This number rose sharply between 2022 and 2023 thanks to a large influx of new arrivals, as well as a new government measure that makes buying a home a lengthier process.
I am in my early 60s and retired at 53. Lots of people gave me pushback because they had difficulty grasping the concept of not working if you don’t have to. I looked at my life as stages. I earned everything I have now through a lot of hard work, but I owe it to myself to “stop and smell the roses” in my final stage of life. In my case I left the country after I retired and live in Latin America. It allowed me to get away from all the negative things happening in America while appreciating my new environment. I have yet to meet anyone who regrets retirement.
Nice way to retire. For me, I believe retirees who struggle to meet their basic needs are the ones who could not accumulate enough money during their active years to meet their needs. Retirement choices determine a lot of things. My wife and I both spent same number of years in the civil service, she invested through a wealth manager and myself through the 401k. We both still earning after our retirement.
This is true. I'm in my mid 50's now. My wife and I were following this same trajectory. Last two years, I pulled out my money and invested with her wealth manager. Not catching up with her profits over the years, but at least I earn more. I'm making money even before retiring, and my retirement fund has grown way more than it would have with just the 401(k). Haha.
I agree, that's the more reason I prefer my day to day investment decisions being guided by an advisor, seeing that their entire skillset is built around going long and short at the same time both employing risk for its asymmetrical upside and laying off risk as a hedge against the inevitable downward turns, coupled with the exclusive information/analysis they have, it's near impossible to not out-perform, been using my advisor for over 2years+ and I've netted over 2.8million.
I think this is something I should do, but I've been stalling for a long time now. I don't really know which firm to work with; I feel they are all the same but it seems you’ve got it all worked out with the firm you work with so i surely wouldn’t mind a recommendation.
I definitely share your sentiment about these firms. Finding financial advisors like Marisa Breton Dollard who can assist you shape your portfolio would be a very creative option. There will be difficult times ahead, and prudent personal money management will be essential to navigating them.
Off subject, Briggs, one of the things that makes your channel so popular is because you are a genuine person and you are entertaining. No AI EVER. Thanks. Another good presentation. Have a great weekend.
Exactly. Genuine is the perfect word to describe him. Seems like the type of guy you'd love to have as a neighbor or coworker, just seems like a really good dude.
I'm a Portland escapee living in the Philippines for the past 16 years. Aussie friends living here tried Portugal for a few years. They came back to the Philippines where the English capabilities are much higher making life easier.
These reviews do not address crime rates. I recently returned from Jamaica where I spent time with the locals outside the big resorts. There was at least one security guard at the door of every shop I visited. Most housing areas were gated, also with security. Everyone keeps a large dog. When visiting, the guard(s) would call the person you came to visit and check how many guests they expected - in case you have been carjacked and the other people in the care were holding a gun on you. Also, they are big on paving roads in Jamaica...once, and never again. Traffic was high speed and chaotic. All the cars I saw, including police cars, were covered in small dents and scratches. Parking was equally chaotic. Menus in the restaurants for locals (outside the big resorts) had very limited menus. Once you got past the jerk chicken (very good) you had fried chicken (good) and then stewed chicken, stewed oxtail (lots of bones, and the only beef offered), curries goat (lots of bones), turkey necks...no salads or desserts offered. And those meals cost between $20 and $30 dollars. Unless you want to buy a million dollar property in a gated community on the beach (and stay there), this is NOT an attractive place for retirement.
Well pointed out. This video is all over the place, with Panama being number 1 even though other countries on the list are cheaper. The rent costs are way out, especially on Ireland. They left out the Netherlands
If you're white (or just don't visually blend with the population) you're a target in a lot of these countries (kidnapping, robbery, pickpocketing, etc). If you're noticeably wealthier than the area you live in, you're a target for the same crimes (plus things like car theft, burglary). If you're different religiously/philosophically, you're likely to be ostracized or get in trouble (religious laws, women being treated differently, etc) Many other considerations. Point is, language should be one of the least important criteria choosing where to move/retire. That's not to mention overall prevailing crime rate, infrastructure, cuisine, transportation, and many other quality of life considerations.
I lived in Singapore for 3 years. Absolutely loved it there. Yes, they do speak English there, with a mix of "Sing'lish", lah. Basically some Mandarin or Cantonese periodically thrown in with the English. It was also a British colony for a while, which helps contribute to it being an English speaking country. Don't expect to own a car, no matter what part of Singapore you live. Other than housing and owning a car, everything else is surprisingly affordable. The food is amazing, and very inexpensive.
@@maobfh That is true. Though, sometimes when it's raining, it can be tough to get a cab. But yeah, normally getting around without a car is really easy. I loved their subway system.
I do not believe Singapore being an ideal destination for retirees who primarily speak English only and do not have a hefty pension to spend, as they may not enjoy the overpopulated and extremely competitive lifestyle vibes there.
@@samkong2741 Though I didn't have a pension, I wasn't making a whole lot of money, and I really loved my time there. I didn't really experience much in the way of competitive vibes, and those I did feel, I just ignored and didn't play along. It really confused those I worked with when I didn't wear a watch or any kind of gold XD. And all I spoke was English, and I got along perfectly fine.
I can definitely verify the Philippines is a very affordable place to live and retire to. My Filipina wife and I own a small farm here. We grow our food, provide a bit to the market in town, and enjoy a relaxed lifestyle. Our monthly expenses are less than $500/month (USD). We live in a bit more rural area, but have easy access to modern amenities.
Good to know. Which area do you reside? I was recently there for about a month, with an eye on possibly retiring there. Was in Manila, Cebu, Siargao, Boracay, Oslob, and a few other islands. As a retiree, my only concern really was accessibility to Healthcare. It seems like everything you want to see/do is by plane/boat (I went for the beaches). Cebu was great, and I heard Illolo(?) is expanding with expats. So far, not knowing anything else I'd look to Cebu as a base to travel to/from other locales. Any thoughts/advice/recommendations?
@qwazy, I'm in Bonifacio Global City, (bgc) in Manila. love it. Had a routine colonoscopy at st lukes hospital in bgc, excellent hospital. Bgc is safe, no need for taxi, walk every where, malls, restaurants and reasonable price condos on airbnb. Try it for a couple weeks.
@@qwazy01 We live in Bataan. There are two new hospitals there with excellent staff and doctors. Although I am a Desert Storm vet, I prefer to pay a little extra for the private service and concierge attention. The extra $20 a month I budget for is well worth it!
We lived in central Sweden in 2006, and it was amazing. Everyone spoke English (better than we did). The costs were relatively reasonable. The most amazing part, though, were the people. Everyone was so nice, and if we lacked for anything, they were happy to find it for us. There was virtually no crime. Unfortunately, I have heard that things have changed quite a bit in the last decade.
Excellent vid! I have family in Cyprus and am familiar with the island. If there was ever a reason to visit, the food is absolutely amazing. And it's location has it very close to a lot of interesting countries. Hope all are well
One country that surprised me was Thailand. Maybe it's because the US Navy had a strong presence there or because of their education system, but I was very surprised at how many people there speak English. Plus, it is also very inexpensive to live there, if you can stand the tropical heat and humidity.
The number of English speakers has risen in Thailand sharply over the years. Decades past, hardly anyone spoke English. Now, particularly in Bangkok (or popular resorts sites like Phuket), basic to intermediate English is pretty widely spoken. Nonetheless, you really should learn Thai. Otherwise, you miss out on so much of the culture here.
One place you did not mention and I find to be very English-friendly is Malta. Malta belonged to the UK for many years, so almost everyone has a working knowledge of English and it is a fairly inexpensive place to live. It also is one of the easiest countries to get EU citizenship and allows dual citizenship.
Great vid. I've lived in the UAE for over 19 years now, wouldn't change it, never known such a safe place, leave your laptop or phone on your table while you go to the rest room in a coffee shop or bar, come back 5 minutes later and it's still there. Healthcare is brilliant - insurance based. Most important thing is though, the UAE is not just the madness that is Dubai, I live an hour north in the mountains and it's so laid back, quiet and cheap. Pretty much everyone speaks English, and the cost for a single guy for a month all in, including rent, food and beer is..... from $1,500. Ok it gets a bit warm in the summer but you do get used to it. No real tax to speak of other than 5% VAT (sales tax). I love Portugal too though, that would be European home of choice and I'm English!
The UAE looks attractive, and speaking of the hot summers, what do you know about this place called Jebel Jais. It said to be cooler than other regions in the UAE.
@@CodeKali It's in the same Emirate (State) that I live in, I can see it from my Yard and have been up it numerous times, however Jebal Yanus and the rod to Wadi Naqab are much more interesting (they're tracks, not roads, need a 4x4).
I grew up in a military family. This made me develop the ability to make and hold friends fast. Because you could get somewhere and in a couple of years it was onto the next duty station. So I have been to a lot of countries overseas. One of the things that will always make you popular to the locals, is asking questions about their country. Everyone likes to talk about where they live. The other secret is to make conversation and not wait until conversation is made.
As someone who wants to live abroad, i have looked at Ireland. I have to consider whether or not the country is Black-friendly. This is often ignored by videos like this, but they are still educational.
Ireland is very welcoming to people of diverse background. As long as you're not trying to change their culture or religion they will treat you like family.
You're going to want to avoid almost all of Asia. Many countries in South America with healthy numbers of black folks. Western Europe is tricky right now as they're dealing with issues related to forced immigration from the past few years.
Apparently, the Irish are very cool with anybody from anywhere who's not an obnoxious jerk. Most Europeans are pretty cool with black Americans -- it's just that some place struggle with a huge influx of Muslims.
I was in Singapore back in the early nineties while in the Navy. It's a beautiful country and the people were pretty nice. I couldn't take the heat and oppressive humidity tho! 🥵
Couple of ideas for a video, one that talks about how things in different states work such as registration fees ie sales tax on a vehicle vs property tax one. Second a video that talks about the best states and the benefits and what percentage rating are needed that they offer for disabled veterans would be amazing.
Nice video 👍 I was surprised Thailand didn’t make the list. There are a lot of RUclipsrs in Thailand from various English speaking countries. I have watched Paddy Doyle for years. I probably wouldn’t retire there but after watching a lot of Thailand RUclips videos it seems like it would be a cool place to visit and tour for a couple of months without breaking the bank, something you can’t do in Europe or the nicer tropical locales such as Hawaii or nicer Carribbean destinations.
Some surprising places to retire to in this list. As a former member of the USAF, I’ve been to many of these countries mentioned during my career from the late 70’s to the late nineties. They weren’t the safest or accommodating countries to be around! Times change though! My wife and I aren’t looking for somewhere to permanently retire to, but somewhere to to escape the winter months from Alaska. We’ve traveled to places that are on our list in Mexico, South America, Philippines and Europe. Portugal is next up on the list this fall, but, the south coast of Spain is top of our list. Going for 3 months this winter. I’m a world traveler on off road motorcycle, so it’s just a short hop to the best riding just about everywhere in Morocco! Love the country and it’s people!
From the response, U can see that some people may take their racism to those fabulous African countries that U listed. U can see that the vlogger didn't mention any African countries. There's a reason for that! 😉
Not really,Belize has its own currency the Belize dollar that is pegged to the US dollar at 2 BZD to 1 USD. Although USD is accepted everywhere as long as the bills are not damaged in any way. Coins are not accepted
I liked all the info for the countries except Panama. We are here now and only about 15% of folks speak enough english to have a conversation. We are here for a month, and even though I know a little Spanish, communication is no where near what you implied. The other countries seemed spot on with your analysis. Thanks for the content.
I'm definitely sold on Ireland. Coming from Seattle, the transition will be quite smooth. Both places have a wet damp climate and I'm also a huge beer lover😊😊
The downside of retiring to Ireland is that they require non-Irish/EU citizens to have an annual income of 50,000 euros ($55,000ish). The cost of living may not be too high but you still need a decent pension to get a retiree visa.
If you are a decendant of an Irish parent or grandparent it is easier. You could buy a home, work for one of the American based businesses, take a class or two (student visa) no matter the age.
Panama is a wonderful place. Panama City is like being in any big American city. Standard currency is the US dollar. Would strongly recommend learning some Spanish, as a lot of the smaller stores and restaurants don't have English speaking staff all the time.
in 1978 I attended the Jungle Warfare Training Center at Fort Sherman Panama and I still have very fond memories of the people and the food there (not so fond memories of the training, it was rough)
@@karenl.1695 He doesn't seem to have problems at all. I mean he has his meds and that's about it.. he died february this year and he just slept, forgot to wake up.
Stay out of the south side of Belize city at night and crime is not an issue. Crime against tourists is rare. The stories you her about foreigners being victims of crime don’t usually tell you what they were really doing in Belize. I have lived here for over 20 years and never had a problem
It depends on which parts you live in Belize. You may want to avoid Belize City at night like the other guy said. Belmopan is good and safer but it's a lot more boring
You neglected to mention the income requirements for foreigners who want to retire in certain countries. For ex, Malaysia requires expats to prove they have $2,350 from a monthly government pension. Not a lot of money, but the average social security income in the U. S. is less than that so they would not be able to retire there unless they made a large investment in Malaysia.
You should point out that there's no AI voice on the front of all your videos because that's the main reason why I watch your videos compared to others
Love Briggs, always a breath of fresh air 💕 that said? Important to mention crime stats. I think I'd be more inclined to live out my elder years in quiet (relative) safety amid NO ENGLISH than the other option.
Many people go to Portugal as the residency requirements are easier. Once they obtain residency they are now apart of the EU and can live in any of the EU countries.
That's a big concern on the Caribbean islands. Panama has a well established public and private health care system you'll need to buy into because Medicare doesn't cover you outside of the US (if you're planning on retiring there).
The health care of the Philippines is a nightmare. My best friend died there . She was from the Philippines and went back to visit her family. Heathy 40-year-old.Even when she was transferred to the biggest hospital in Manila. I still her 😢💔
This would be my major concern. How do you access medical care in each of these countries and what's the crime rate like? One of these countries might be ideal for retirement but costs can also reflect the lack of services/safety.
@@kathleenlangstaff5039That is one consideration often ignored by expats, they feal kinda healthy so they don't get a normal doctor nor do they get insurance. Then when they have a emergency nobody knows about them or how they will pay the bill.
Singapore and Ireland being on this list just shows you just how expensive the Anglosphere is. Plus most of the cheaper countries, English is not the local language, just widely spoken by locals as second language such as Portugal, Cyprus, Malaysia, Philippines, Panama
I’m glad I did 6 months of backpacking in Australia when I did. 1994 was a good year and I watched the World Cup whilst staying in Newcastle and Brisbane. An honorary Rep. of Ireland supporter and wearing my RI home shirt got bought a few drinks and I did the same, total strangers. So friendly. The GBP was roughly double in Australian dollars and rent per week was $60, cheap I thought. Brisbane was great, had fun there in the couple of backpackers I stayed at. Beer drinking contests against other backpacker teams, football games, pool, etc etc. Memories
You’ve got to be careful about crime and government problems as an expat. As a single female American retiree with health problems, i don’t think i could ho anywhere else. I’ve traveled a lot in small groups, and, apart from health insurance problems, gaining citizenship can be tricky. On a 2015 visit to Ireland, i was told that you’ve got to take classes in the Irish language and develop some proficiency.
Does your cost analysis include immigration costs? How easy is it for a foreigner to stay long term in any of these countries? Having to make routine border\visa runs can get tiring. Thanks!
I'm retiring the end of August... By mid-October I'll be in Cebu City, Philippines for a Six Month Vacation. I have Filipino Relations & Expat friends in the Philippines plus local Filipino friends. If I like it, I doubt I'll come back to the US for more than short visits.
Look at Antiga next time. I have friends from there who are very nice. English is spoken there, and it supplies the exterior shots for "Death in Paradise."
In Aruba, the residents of this Dutch territory speak FOUR languages (Papiemento, Dutch, English, Spanish) because they get lots of tourists from both North and South America. It might not be for everybody, but most people I met down there were amiable.
Philippines is generally more expensive than the prices you provided. A Westerner could survive on $1,000 USD but twice that amount would be necessary for a comfortable life. Hospitals with few exceptions are extremely basic. Not to be negative the fact is Philippines is a lovely wonderful place to live. Filipino people are extremely kind and welcoming.
Go to my sponsor aura.com/briggs to get a 14 day free trial and see if your personal information has been leaked online
which Cyprus ? Greek or Turkish ? I suspect it's the Greek side to the south .
I see NO AI voiceover? I sub , listen and like. Well done my brotha
Are we not men? ;o)
How much are rental costs in Singapore?
Singapore has the most expensive rental properties in the Asia-Pacific region. Median monthly rent is approximately S$3,455 (US$2,600) per month. This number rose sharply between 2022 and 2023 thanks to a large influx of new arrivals, as well as a new government measure that makes buying a home a lengthier process.
I am in my early 60s and retired at 53. Lots of people gave me pushback because they had difficulty grasping the concept of not working if you don’t have to. I looked at my life as stages. I earned everything I have now through a lot of hard work, but I owe it to myself to “stop and smell the roses” in my final stage of life. In my case I left the country after I retired and live in Latin America. It allowed me to get away from all the negative things happening in America while appreciating my new environment. I have yet to meet anyone who regrets retirement.
Nice way to retire. For me, I believe retirees who struggle to meet their basic needs are the ones who could not accumulate enough money during their active years to meet their needs. Retirement choices determine a lot of things. My wife and I both spent same number of years in the civil service, she invested through a wealth manager and myself through the 401k. We both still earning after our retirement.
This is true. I'm in my mid 50's now. My wife and I were following this same trajectory. Last two years, I pulled out my money and invested with her wealth manager. Not catching up with her profits over the years, but at least I earn more. I'm making money even before retiring, and my retirement fund has grown way more than it would have with just the 401(k). Haha.
I agree, that's the more reason I prefer my day to day investment decisions being guided by an advisor, seeing that their entire skillset is built around going long and short at the same time both employing risk for its asymmetrical upside and laying off risk as a hedge against the inevitable downward turns, coupled with the exclusive information/analysis they have, it's near impossible to not out-perform, been using my advisor for over 2years+ and I've netted over 2.8million.
I think this is something I should do, but I've been stalling for a long time now. I don't really know which firm to work with; I feel they are all the same but it seems you’ve got it all worked out with the firm you work with so i surely wouldn’t mind a recommendation.
I definitely share your sentiment about these firms. Finding financial advisors like Marisa Breton Dollard who can assist you shape your portfolio would be a very creative option. There will be difficult times ahead, and prudent personal money management will be essential to navigating them.
Off subject, Briggs, one of the things that makes your channel so popular is because you are a genuine person and you are entertaining. No AI EVER. Thanks. Another good presentation. Have a great weekend.
I appreciate that!
Exactly. Genuine is the perfect word to describe him. Seems like the type of guy you'd love to have as a neighbor or coworker, just seems like a really good dude.
Yes! And I glad that we have a PNW RUclipsr! You should do a meet and greet I live in the area!🙏🏼
Well said and agreed 👍
Nicely done!
I love that you included NO AI VOICE EVER. It does make a huge difference. Enjoy your content so much!
All Retirees must have Healthcare. Could you make a Part 2 for this video explaining the Healthcare systems for these countries.
I'm a Portland escapee living in the Philippines for the past 16 years. Aussie friends living here tried Portugal for a few years. They came back to the Philippines where the English capabilities are much higher making life easier.
These reviews do not address crime rates. I recently returned from Jamaica where I spent time with the locals outside the big resorts. There was at least one security guard at the door of every shop I visited. Most housing areas were gated, also with security. Everyone keeps a large dog. When visiting, the guard(s) would call the person you came to visit and check how many guests they expected - in case you have been carjacked and the other people in the care were holding a gun on you. Also, they are big on paving roads in Jamaica...once, and never again. Traffic was high speed and chaotic. All the cars I saw, including police cars, were covered in small dents and scratches. Parking was equally chaotic. Menus in the restaurants for locals (outside the big resorts) had very limited menus. Once you got past the jerk chicken (very good) you had fried chicken (good) and then stewed chicken, stewed oxtail (lots of bones, and the only beef offered), curries goat (lots of bones), turkey necks...no salads or desserts offered. And those meals cost between $20 and $30 dollars. Unless you want to buy a million dollar property in a gated community on the beach (and stay there), this is NOT an attractive place for retirement.
Well pointed out. This video is all over the place, with Panama being number 1 even though other countries on the list are cheaper. The rent costs are way out, especially on Ireland. They left out the Netherlands
Sounds like the hood in the US tbh
If you're white (or just don't visually blend with the population) you're a target in a lot of these countries (kidnapping, robbery, pickpocketing, etc).
If you're noticeably wealthier than the area you live in, you're a target for the same crimes (plus things like car theft, burglary).
If you're different religiously/philosophically, you're likely to be ostracized or get in trouble (religious laws, women being treated differently, etc)
Many other considerations.
Point is, language should be one of the least important criteria choosing where to move/retire. That's not to mention overall prevailing crime rate, infrastructure, cuisine, transportation, and many other quality of life considerations.
Thank you! That's the kind of real data these videos never mention. 😁😁😁😁😁😁❤️
I lived in Singapore for 3 years. Absolutely loved it there. Yes, they do speak English there, with a mix of "Sing'lish", lah. Basically some Mandarin or Cantonese periodically thrown in with the English. It was also a British colony for a while, which helps contribute to it being an English speaking country. Don't expect to own a car, no matter what part of Singapore you live. Other than housing and owning a car, everything else is surprisingly affordable. The food is amazing, and very inexpensive.
No need for a car, though. They have made owning a car unnecessary. But, if you insist, it’s going to cost you! I don’t see the need, frankly.
@@maobfh That is true. Though, sometimes when it's raining, it can be tough to get a cab. But yeah, normally getting around without a car is really easy. I loved their subway system.
I do not believe Singapore being an ideal destination for retirees who primarily speak English only and do not have a hefty pension to spend, as they may not enjoy the overpopulated and extremely competitive lifestyle vibes there.
@@samkong2741 Though I didn't have a pension, I wasn't making a whole lot of money, and I really loved my time there. I didn't really experience much in the way of competitive vibes, and those I did feel, I just ignored and didn't play along. It really confused those I worked with when I didn't wear a watch or any kind of gold XD. And all I spoke was English, and I got along perfectly fine.
Do not vandalize in Singapore.
I can definitely verify the Philippines is a very affordable place to live and retire to. My Filipina wife and I own a small farm here. We grow our food, provide a bit to the market in town, and enjoy a relaxed lifestyle. Our monthly expenses are less than $500/month (USD). We live in a bit more rural area, but have easy access to modern amenities.
There’s also a Va facility there too
Good to know. Which area do you reside? I was recently there for about a month, with an eye on possibly retiring there. Was in Manila, Cebu, Siargao, Boracay, Oslob, and a few other islands. As a retiree, my only concern really was accessibility to Healthcare. It seems like everything you want to see/do is by plane/boat (I went for the beaches). Cebu was great, and I heard Illolo(?) is expanding with expats. So far, not knowing anything else I'd look to Cebu as a base to travel to/from other locales. Any thoughts/advice/recommendations?
@qwazy, I'm in Bonifacio Global City, (bgc) in Manila. love it. Had a routine colonoscopy at st lukes hospital in bgc, excellent hospital. Bgc is safe, no need for taxi, walk every where, malls, restaurants and reasonable price condos on airbnb. Try it for a couple weeks.
Sounds great!
@@qwazy01 We live in Bataan. There are two new hospitals there with excellent staff and doctors. Although I am a Desert Storm vet, I prefer to pay a little extra for the private service and concierge attention. The extra $20 a month I budget for is well worth it!
Great video Briggs. Don't let the AI voice channels wear you down. RUclips will eventually nerf them.
That's the plan!
Super good info, Briggs! Learned a lot I didn't know before.
Thanks
Thank You very much for highlighting portuguese. It deserves more love. 🇵🇹
Great content as always. Would be good to include info on healthcare quality and crime data for these countries.
Briggs is the best for informational videos such as this one. Accept no AI substitutes.
Thank you so much
We lived in central Sweden in 2006, and it was amazing. Everyone spoke English (better than we did). The costs were relatively reasonable. The most amazing part, though, were the people. Everyone was so nice, and if we lacked for anything, they were happy to find it for us. There was virtually no crime. Unfortunately, I have heard that things have changed quite a bit in the last decade.
"Quite a bit" is a massive understatement.
It's Europe. Not good. About as bad a Canada. Never vote for a candidate whose father's name is Castro.
DEI
Probably sick of us! 😂
Import the third world and become the third world
Malta. I visited several years ago. They also speak English.
But how expensive is Malta? That's the most important question - Cost of Living
I was curious about Malta too.
Excellent vid! I have family in Cyprus and am familiar with the island. If there was ever a reason to visit, the food is absolutely amazing. And it's location has it very close to a lot of interesting countries.
Hope all are well
I'm very curious about Cypress now because it's also relatively inexpensive to fly to too.
*No AI voice ever* -- GREAT selling point for a channel like this with otherwise good content. Thank you!
Great video Jimmy. Thank you.
Very welcome
This whole time my dumbass thought his first name was Briggs 🤦♂
Thank you for your service Mr. Briggs, Sir!
Thank you kindly
This was fun and fascinating and educational.
Thanks Briggs.
Glad you enjoyed it!
One country that surprised me was Thailand. Maybe it's because the US Navy had a strong presence there or because of their education system, but I was very surprised at how many people there speak English. Plus, it is also very inexpensive to live there, if you can stand the tropical heat and humidity.
The number of English speakers has risen in Thailand sharply over the years. Decades past, hardly anyone spoke English. Now, particularly in Bangkok (or popular resorts sites like Phuket), basic to intermediate English is pretty widely spoken. Nonetheless, you really should learn Thai. Otherwise, you miss out on so much of the culture here.
Chiangmai might be more reasonable in terms of humidity.
@@seanmcdirmid Chiang Mai has terrible air quality from late January to early May due to burning fields and forests.
One place you did not mention and I find to be very English-friendly is Malta. Malta belonged to the UK for many years, so almost everyone has a working knowledge of English and it is a fairly inexpensive place to live. It also is one of the easiest countries to get EU citizenship and allows dual citizenship.
Great vid.
I've lived in the UAE for over 19 years now, wouldn't change it, never known such a safe place, leave your laptop or phone on your table while you go to the rest room in a coffee shop or bar, come back 5 minutes later and it's still there. Healthcare is brilliant - insurance based.
Most important thing is though, the UAE is not just the madness that is Dubai, I live an hour north in the mountains and it's so laid back, quiet and cheap. Pretty much everyone speaks English, and the cost for a single guy for a month all in, including rent, food and beer is..... from $1,500.
Ok it gets a bit warm in the summer but you do get used to it. No real tax to speak of other than 5% VAT (sales tax).
I love Portugal too though, that would be European home of choice and I'm English!
The UAE looks attractive, and speaking of the hot summers, what do you know about this place called Jebel Jais. It said to be cooler than other regions in the UAE.
@@CodeKali It's in the same Emirate (State) that I live in, I can see it from my Yard and have been up it numerous times, however Jebal Yanus and the rod to Wadi Naqab are much more interesting (they're tracks, not roads, need a 4x4).
It looks like the place to be if you love 4x4 and off-road motorcycling. Are Jeeps and adventure bikes reasonably priced?
This came at the perfect time, I was looking for a video like this 😮
Sweet. Hopeit helps.
Jamaica is also known for an incredibly high crime rate if you get outside the gates of your resort
I just visited Portugal after taking a transatlantic cruise and loved it! Can't wait to go back.
I grew up in a military family. This made me develop the ability to make and hold friends fast. Because you could get somewhere and in a couple of years it was onto the next duty station. So I have been to a lot of countries overseas. One of the things that will always make you popular to the locals, is asking questions about their country. Everyone likes to talk about where they live. The other secret is to make conversation and not wait until conversation is made.
As someone who wants to live abroad, i have looked at Ireland. I have to consider whether or not the country is Black-friendly. This is often ignored by videos like this, but they are still educational.
Ireland is very welcoming to people of diverse background. As long as you're not trying to change their culture or religion they will treat you like family.
You're going to want to avoid almost all of Asia. Many countries in South America with healthy numbers of black folks. Western Europe is tricky right now as they're dealing with issues related to forced immigration from the past few years.
Apparently, the Irish are very cool with anybody from anywhere who's not an obnoxious jerk.
Most Europeans are pretty cool with black Americans -- it's just that some place struggle with a huge influx of Muslims.
All White western countries are open. Its all the others who are not.
Go to Nigeria, they speak English and are "black friendly"
Super informative and interesting ❤
Thank you again!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I was in Singapore back in the early nineties while in the Navy. It's a beautiful country and the people were pretty nice. I couldn't take the heat and oppressive humidity tho! 🥵
Great channel. Love the Devo album too!
Couple of ideas for a video, one that talks about how things in different states work such as registration fees ie sales tax on a vehicle vs property tax one. Second a video that talks about the best states and the benefits and what percentage rating are needed that they offer for disabled veterans would be amazing.
Nice video 👍 I was surprised Thailand didn’t make the list. There are a lot of RUclipsrs in Thailand from various English speaking countries. I have watched Paddy Doyle for years. I probably wouldn’t retire there but after watching a lot of Thailand RUclips videos it seems like it would be a cool place to visit and tour for a couple of months without breaking the bank, something you can’t do in Europe or the nicer tropical locales such as Hawaii or nicer Carribbean destinations.
Thailand is not really an English-speaking country, although you can get by without speaking Thai you will always be overcharged as a farang.
Amazing video! Thanks.
Glad you liked it!
Some surprising places to retire to in this list. As a former member of the USAF, I’ve been to many of these countries mentioned during my career from the late 70’s to the late nineties. They weren’t the safest or accommodating countries to be around! Times change though! My wife and I aren’t looking for somewhere to permanently retire to, but somewhere to to escape the winter months from Alaska. We’ve traveled to places that are on our list in Mexico, South America, Philippines and Europe. Portugal is next up on the list this fall, but, the south coast of Spain is top of our list. Going for 3 months this winter. I’m a world traveler on off road motorcycle, so it’s just a short hop to the best riding just about everywhere in Morocco! Love the country and it’s people!
I really enjoyed this video and the views were great.
Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania South Africa Mauritius
Wouldn’t want to see ya .
Any Wa .? Ahhh..
@@rzz9594 what?
Pfft, hahaha 😝
From the response, U can see that some people may take their racism to those fabulous African countries that U listed. U can see that the vlogger didn't mention any African countries. There's a reason for that! 😉
@@ayankunleakanbi1650 sadly true
You forgot to mention that Belize uses the USD as their currency.
Not really,Belize has its own currency the Belize dollar that is pegged to the US dollar at 2 BZD to 1 USD. Although USD is accepted everywhere as long as the bills are not damaged in any way. Coins are not accepted
Ireland would be the place for me and my wife. We're northern-tier types who like cold, dark weather.
It's being invaded by unwanted immigrants just like the US. I've heard that it's almost impossible to find housing.
Enjoyed this immensely, thank you
I liked all the info for the countries except Panama. We are here now and only about 15% of folks speak enough english to have a conversation. We are here for a month, and even though I know a little Spanish, communication is no where near what you implied. The other countries seemed spot on with your analysis. Thanks for the content.
I'm definitely sold on Ireland. Coming from Seattle, the transition will be quite smooth. Both places have a wet damp climate and I'm also a huge beer lover😊😊
I wouldn’t mind Ireland myself.
What’s the visa situation like?
I like huge beers too!
Let me know how that goes I might join want to join ya!
@@lonydeering8223 Can you train yourself to drive on the opposite side of the road. That's gonna feel trippy
Nice! I’ve been thinking about Portugal.
You should! Great place to live.
CA climate, cheap without the problems! Sign me up!!
I was thinking of Grenada. It’s in the Caribbean., they speak English, and take the USD at almost every shop.
Great info
As always !👍🏻
But which place is the safest???
I definitely wouldn’t mind living in the Philippines. I know so many people from there and they are some of the nicest people I’ve ever met.
Much cheaper then claimed
I just wanted to let you know that when you mentioned Jamaica, the portion on the video (11:39) is Jamaica, Queens , New York
Correct. I always slip something in to see if someone notices.
What about crime, gangs. drugs and physical safety?
BRIGGS.... people forget that our 45th President is from Jamaica... Queens
@@LeightonDPhoto - That's one thing I like to forget.
@@nyc1164 🤣🤣🤣🤣
The downside of retiring to Ireland is that they require non-Irish/EU citizens to have an annual income of 50,000 euros ($55,000ish). The cost of living may not be too high but you still need a decent pension to get a retiree visa.
If you are a decendant of an Irish parent or grandparent it is easier. You could buy a home, work for one of the American based businesses, take a class or two (student visa) no matter the age.
The cost of living is insane in Ireland compared to the UK
The more important question is: do fine Irish lasses find American accents exotic?
@@leok7193No. But the Irish men find the American ladies superb. 😂
@@ParisianThinkerBecause they are easy to get, Irish girls are more traditional.
Panama is a wonderful place. Panama City is like being in any big American city. Standard currency is the US dollar. Would strongly recommend learning some Spanish, as a lot of the smaller stores and restaurants don't have English speaking staff all the time.
Great stuff. Thanks
in 1978 I attended the Jungle Warfare Training Center at Fort Sherman Panama and I still have very fond memories of the people and the food there (not so fond memories of the training, it was rough)
I did JOTC in 89
Thanks for video. How's health care in these countries and how hard to get visa/passport?
I would be interested in a video just about Panama.
We have been thinking about doing whole videos for a single country at a time.
Please do, also for the caribbean
There are quite a few on RUclips. I plan to move to Panama this summer, so I've watched many of them. 😀
@@WorldAccordingToBriggs yessir!
My grandpa retired in the philippines with a $2,000/month pension.. boy, he live like a king in his retirement years.
Health insurance ?
@@karenl.1695 He doesn't seem to have problems at all. I mean he has his meds and that's about it.. he died february this year and he just slept, forgot to wake up.
I lived in Panama, too. My ex was military. Beautiful country. It's definitely on my retirement list.
Panama is very expensive though. Low crime, tax friendly but expensive
I would be concerned about the high crime rates in Jamaica and Belize.
I do love Belize.
True. If you can't see the beach you've entered enemy territory.
Same
Stay out of the south side of Belize city at night and crime is not an issue. Crime against tourists is rare. The stories you her about foreigners being victims of crime don’t usually tell you what they were really doing in Belize. I have lived here for over 20 years and never had a problem
Is Belize affordable? Healthcare? Communities of expats?
It depends on which parts you live in Belize. You may want to avoid Belize City at night like the other guy said. Belmopan is good and safer but it's a lot more boring
You neglected to mention the income requirements for foreigners who want to retire in certain countries. For ex, Malaysia requires expats to prove they have $2,350 from a monthly government pension. Not a lot of money, but the average social security income in the U. S. is less than that so they would not be able to retire there unless they made a large investment in Malaysia.
Great point
You should point out that there's no AI voice on the front of all your videos because that's the main reason why I watch your videos compared to others
And Singapore and Malaysia were British colonies; that's why English is widely spoken there, British English. Malay is pretty easy to learn though.
I have heard that about Malay.
I should also add that Singapore is more expensive than most of the US.
@@WorldAccordingToBriggs It's like caveman language. No tenses, and it's more or less the same as Indonesian.
@Booz2020 Yeah, anywhere that caters to tourists will have a lot of English speakers. I like Bali, but prefer Java.
Yahoo, been waiting for this!
Thanks Briggs. I always look for ward to one of your videos.
No AI voice! That’s the sound of Aloha, Oregon coming at you!
Pronounced uh-low-uh. I thought it was weird having grown up in Hawaii. Kinda like couch street pronounced cooch too.
@@burmy1552 everyone here pronounces their own place names wrong.
Good evening Briggs! Have a great weekend! 🎚️🇺🇸🪖👮♂️
Very good and theral info, thanks. Cypros could be good place.
Love Briggs, always a breath of fresh air 💕 that said? Important to mention crime stats.
I think I'd be more inclined to live out my elder years in quiet (relative) safety amid NO ENGLISH than the other option.
Hi Briggs! I saw what you said about shorts. I knew they were bad, now that I know how bad I have been avoiding them.
I lived for two years in the Azores, which is owned by the Portuguese and I loved it there.
I had a best friend who was from there and have always dreamed of going!
I love that you need to advertise that your voice isn't ai
Many people go to Portugal as the residency requirements are easier. Once they obtain residency they are now apart of the EU and can live in any of the EU countries.
I wonder which countries have great doctors and medical care? That’s something we need to consider as we age.
No need to wonder. Research.
Thailand
Good point. Hope Briggs does a video on that topic!
Malaysia has superb health care and it is dirt cheap
That's a big concern on the Caribbean islands. Panama has a well established public and private health care system you'll need to buy into because Medicare doesn't cover you outside of the US (if you're planning on retiring there).
What about healthcare? It is my understanding Medicare pays on claims from the US only.
Exactly
Be nice to have a list with healthcare in these type of countries too
Ecuador Andes for cost, climate, and beauty, plus great visa options.
Another great video! Do the monthly costs quoted include health insurance/health care costs? Thanks!
Costa Rica should be in the list 🇨🇷
how did u like it
No, all the dinosaurs escaped from Jurassic Park, so everyone is scared.
For those of us who don't like to rent, a hint at real estate cost would be helpful.
Honestly - no AI voice which is becoming an irritating trend in videos - thanks so much !
Interesting information! Hi Chi Minh City could tempt me, though language might be an issue there. Thank you for the video.
The health care of the Philippines is a nightmare. My best friend died there . She was from the Philippines and went back to visit her family. Heathy 40-year-old.Even when she was transferred to the biggest hospital in Manila. I still her 😢💔
This would be my major concern. How do you access medical care in each of these countries and what's the crime rate like? One of these countries might be ideal for retirement but costs can also reflect the lack of services/safety.
No way, uh uh, not even, would I ever consider Phillipines. I'm so sorry you lost your friend. 😔
@@kathleenlangstaff5039..Singapore - excellent healthcare and minimal crime (VERY stiff penalties).
Panama, Belize, Ireland - multiple issues.
Portugal? Er, no.
Hell no way to Jamaica.....danger danger danger
@@kathleenlangstaff5039That is one consideration often ignored by expats, they feal kinda healthy so they don't get a normal doctor nor do they get insurance. Then when they have a emergency nobody knows about them or how they will pay the bill.
11:40 This is Jamaica Avenue, in Queens, New York
Collesium
Singapore and Ireland being on this list just shows you just how expensive the Anglosphere is. Plus most of the cheaper countries, English is not the local language, just widely spoken by locals as second language such as Portugal, Cyprus, Malaysia, Philippines, Panama
It doesn't make much sense that he included those in the video that way. $1,500rent for a suburban 1 bedroom apt is not "cheap".
YAY !! For Aura !!!
I’m glad I did 6 months of backpacking in Australia when I did. 1994 was a good year and I watched the World Cup whilst staying in Newcastle and Brisbane. An honorary Rep. of Ireland supporter and wearing my RI home shirt got bought a few drinks and I did the same, total strangers. So friendly. The GBP was roughly double in Australian dollars and rent per week was $60, cheap I thought. Brisbane was great, had fun there in the couple of backpackers I stayed at. Beer drinking contests against other backpacker teams, football games, pool, etc etc. Memories
Singapore was a British Colony before WW2, it became indepedent in 1955, that is why they speak English
Wow more people speak English in these countries than California
You’ve got to be careful about crime and government problems as an expat. As a single female American retiree with health problems, i don’t think i could ho anywhere else. I’ve traveled a lot in small groups, and, apart from health insurance problems, gaining citizenship can be tricky. On a 2015 visit to Ireland, i was told that you’ve got to take classes in the Irish language and develop some proficiency.
Would love to know more about the realities of moving
Perfect! Some of these places are on my go to list, others, I've been to.
I like the street view of Jamaica where everyone is in winter coats.
This is 165 St in Jamaica NY dumb-dumb.
Saw “no AI voice ever” and completely related to that sign. Immediately clicked 😂
Your map of Ireland in your video just showed Northern Ireland. 😂
Does your cost analysis include immigration costs? How easy is it for a foreigner to stay long term in any of these countries? Having to make routine border\visa runs can get tiring. Thanks!
It's my understanding that Singapore does not have a retirement visa.
I'm retiring the end of August... By mid-October I'll be in Cebu City, Philippines for a Six Month Vacation. I have Filipino Relations & Expat friends in the Philippines plus local Filipino friends. If I like it, I doubt I'll come back to the US for more than short visits.
Look at Antiga next time. I have friends from there who are very nice. English is spoken there, and it supplies the exterior shots for "Death in Paradise."
I've heard a lot of good things about Belize over the past year, never really gave it any serious thought, but might have to look into it a bit
In Aruba, the residents of this Dutch territory speak FOUR languages (Papiemento, Dutch, English, Spanish) because they get lots of tourists from both North and South America. It might not be for everybody, but most people I met down there were amiable.
Considering Belize, Phillipines, Mauritius
Need to know about medical in all these places!
Philippines is generally more expensive than the prices you provided. A Westerner could survive on $1,000 USD but twice that amount would be necessary for a comfortable life. Hospitals with few exceptions are extremely basic. Not to be negative the fact is Philippines is a lovely wonderful place to live. Filipino people are extremely kind and welcoming.
If you need emergency medical care outside of the major cities, you're in for a rough time.
Haha I was in the Navy. Can attest it's very common for sailors to retire in PI.