This is not our list. It’s from the InterNations Expat Survey as we mentioned in the very beginning of the video: www.internations.org/expat-insider/2022/best-and-worst-places-for-expats-40242
One thing to keep in mind is InterNations isn't focused on retirees. There are a lot more people working overseas for corporations than are retired. InterNations focuses on all expats. So a professional considering an overseas transfer might have very different priorities than a retiree. Like schools, entertainment choices, etc.
Exactly. I have been an expat working overseas since 2007. Have worked in Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, and currently in the UAE. I would not retire in any of them. For retirement, I will be in the Philippines, where I have been maintaining a home since 2011. Although it can be, great for work, is not necessarily the same as great for retirement.
I am from Canada. For me, the biggest factors in my interest in relocating when I will be retiring in a few years is the harsh winters and the high cost of living
The other problem with Canada, particularly Vancouver and Victoria, is the high crime from unaddressed mental disability and drug addiction. Portugal is looking good right now.
I became a US Expat almost nine years ago now. My choice of home was Spain (Malaga, to be exact). Becoming a part of Costa del Sol is something I've never regretted. Culture, food, people, high quality of life. Re English not being popular, that depends on the region. English is widely spoken in Andalucia, especially Costa del Sol. US doesn't come close in ANY way.
@@MrSbpool Last I checked, I wasn't from Mars. Alien is an offensive, impersonal word that I choose not to adopt. It is certainly not the word used here in Spain.
Though I am curious about many foreign countries, I draw the line at authoritarian governments. There must be a democracy index somewhere to indicate how open a given country is. CEO magazine would definitely not care about such things because corporations are generally dictatorships, but I think the average person would.
My understanding is that there are more archaeology sites in Mexico than any other country, something like 30,000. I have visited maybe 20 of them and would like to see many more. There is a lot of culture that gets missed if you only visit resort areas. And if you're going to live there, why shop at Costco and Walmart when you could be supporting a local family who owns a small shop?
Yup, Taiwan for the win. Here for work, just a few more years to get permanent residency. Health care incredibly great and efficient deliver- can make appointment online in English at the hospital I go to (outpatient)- can get same-day or, at worst, within a week for a specialist. Great detailed physicals (all-day ones, check out EVERYTHING) you can do for several hundred dollars. Only downside is scooters (noisy, everywhere, sometimes on sidewalk) and learning Mandarin. In my 3rd year of learning and I am still pretty bad but reading and writing is getting pretty good (a couple thousand Chinese characters at this point as I had studied Japanese for 6 years). At 59, learning a totally new language is that much more difficult. Rent is reasonable but buying a condo/flat is crazy expenisive. But easy to do with 1.5 interest rate...
I'm Canadian 🇨🇦. Quality of life is dropping sharply with the high cost of living, and unrealistic cost of housing. I'll likely never own a house if I stay. Assisted death is also a concern here now, and is becoming offered more and more often. Our Healthcare is awful. Sorry, but I wouldn't recommend coming here. It is beautiful though 👍
There’s actually over 2million expats in Mexico, I just saw it last week in CNN how they are going in waves from Canada and U.S. to live there. Not to mention that Mexico City is attracting many more for remote work. And because it’s a city with a tremendous size it has everything… has incredible night life, is super modern, is also very colonial. High end restaurants and skyscrapers and little food gems only locals know. I can’t wait to go back.
Hi Amelia & JP, I follow you on your videos, you are great and the info you provide is very useful. I am 60 and provably I will live abroad, so I am planning to visit Cotacachi next year and if we like it , live there as retired. Thank you, Lila from Ontario, Canada 😊😊😊😊😊😊
I'm 55 and retired living abroad. I'm currently in Malaysia. I love SE Asia, but the logistics are a problem. I left Thailand after 2 months because the language barrier was annoying. Malaysia is better, but the logistics are still problematic. I was in Mexico earlier this year and culture and logistics are a lot like the U.S. I will give Ecuador a shot, but I think my bliss will be in Mexico.
My girlfriend came from Ecuador. We go to Ecuador yearly. My first time going there was a huge culture shock and the traffic in Quito is something else lol
My son lives in Khaosiung, Taiwan. He has been there for 9 years. It is such a friendly and safe place to visit. We love it there. I agree with the air quality issue but the east coast is wild and beautiful.
I agree. I have visited Cuenca and enjoyed it. Yes to the food; I especially remember a wonderful vegetarian restaurant, where the food was tasty and inexpensive.
Does anyone know how to find a vet in Cuenca to have my dogs nails trimmed as well as his Anal gland cleaned ? Perfect English speaking also about how much is there charge ?
So fascinating to see the USA ranked so poorly on safety when all Americans talk about is how dangerous every other country is. Thanks for sharing this info.
@@chaleej5571 Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis, and Portland all have low-crime areas and high-crime areas. Every city on the planet has a high crime area. The North Side of Chicago on Lake Michigan is gorgeous and safe! Don't hang out with criminals and you should be safe in most areas.
Imagining other countries dangerous when you are American is foolish. Obviously some of the nicer parts of a city or huge swaths of rural America are ok but ok in America is still America. You have to have spidey, street, sense a little too often.
US has a prevalence of guns that many countries don't & it contributes to violence. I'm ashamed of the crime in the US & refusal of government regulation.
Many of these ratings do not reflect the realities. Not sure how and why Canadian healthcare system was rated so high? For example, yes, healthcare in Canada is almost free to Canadians and legal residents, with one notable exception - until one reaches retirement age, he/she needs to pay for the drugs. But, as Canadian living in US I checked recently how long it takes there to get a procedure such as MRI - average wait time in the province of Ontario is 4 months! Just across the border in Buffalo, NY I was able to get an MRI done the next day(!) for a modest fee of $ 450. And this applies to basically all medical procedures outside of GP competency. Appointments to see a specialist take months to setup and you won't be allowed to see a specialist unless your family doctor refers you there. What Canada is now famous for is MAID program - that stands for Medical Assistance in Dying, that is offered to many impaired or disabled people or those suffering from chronic disease, including veterans. Canadian government was arresting people's bank accounts for taking part or financially supporting truckers' Freedom Convoy last year. They were revoking business licences and forcing to cancel their insurance policies of people whose livelihood depended on their business. Justin Trudeau, Canadian PM, got so offended by the legal protests in the capital of Canada - he invoked war measures (emergency) act! Inflation in Canada, especially when it comes to real estate is through the roof. Since we bought our house back in 2001 housing prices went up 5 - 6 times. Young family simply can't afford to buy a home in Toronto area anymore. I'm not sure what expats and why have put Canada so high up in rating. Australia, nicknamed after pandemic Ausjailia, is also a tyrannical state they way they handled pandemic and related dissent, but that's another story...
Have lived in Singapore for 20+ years, so I know a thing or two. Yes, you can get a mortgage as a foreigner, but you'll need to since the cheapest thing you'll be getting into will be US$1 million, plus a hefty downpayment and stamp tax before that mortgage gets written. And you're only good to 65 to hold a mortgage. Education is good, but it's impossible to get foreign kids into the local schools; international schools are about US$35-40,000 a year. Inflation is as bad as the States or Europe, and cars are the most expensive in the world and you'll only own them for 10 years before you need to either turn it in to the government, or buy another license to own it for another 10 years called a Certificate of Entitlement (now going for about US$60,000 just for the license for small cars, this doesn't include the price of the car which has been marked up 100% of the retail price). Don't live here unless you're making loads of dough here, or are super rich.
I visited Singapore and had the same impression. My 75 US a night hotel in Singapore was poor quality, worse than my 25 US a night one in Bangkok. In Singapore it felt like I was constantly spending money without getting much in return.
The reason the US doesn’t have a decent passenger rail service is because big oil squashed the trains in the 50s.They wanted people to use the interstates and basically threw all the money towards that goal and they succeeded. This may sound like a conspiracy theory but it’s true.
I saw that documentary about how the oil, car and tire companies bought all the trolly lines around the country and ripped up the rails. That effectively killed our public transportation future and forced everyone into private cars, which led to massive taxpayer funded infrastructure spending to build massive road systems that are now falling apart due to lack of funding.
@@TimeToTravel-u2x - if we had an attitude of let’s create a train system that allows for the states to all be connected, without interference from oil and rubber companies, it could have been a great thing. Even those small communities may have been included. I don’t know. But even those in smaller communities usually live close enough to bigger cities or towns that could support a train system. I don’t understand your negative attitude about their comment about the documentary.
Spain's electricity prices are off the charts. Food prices have risen a lot. It is VERY expensive to cool your house in the summer and keep warm in the winter.
No Northern European country on the list surprises me. They rank on the very top on every list, financial, happiness, education, safety, stability of government, rich, quality of live, you name it. And as a bonus for me personally, less hot weather, I absolutely hate the heat 😅
@@Murmilone nonsense. Sweden, which has the highest immigration rate in Northern Europe is still significantly safer than he vast majority of countries, including the USA.
@@Murmilone The immigrants from Africa are the ONLY ones that can still have babies. Northern Europe is old, cold and depressing. Immigrants from Africa are all over Latin America and they are not the problem. Immigrants from Africa are not on drugs. MOST of the people dirty and STEALING on Fentanyl are NOT African. Immigrants from Africa are in Spain and Portugal. They are honorable hardworking people with an honour culture unlike Northern Europeans who plundered their countries 🙄
They have a dismal climate and are horrendously expensive compared to the US, Canada, and the rest of Europe (excepting Switzerland, which is also absurdly expensive to live in).
@@vaska1999 Of course, if you're into droughts, heat waves, wildfires, tornadoes and whirlwinds, this isn't your climate. And then we don't even have earthquakes and tsunamis. What a setback. And indeed, good infrastructure, public transport, universal healthcare, a social safety net and the best education in the world does not come cheap. Better stay where you're are then.
These global “safety” indexes are pointless and irrelevant, unless you have no choice on where you live in any given country. There are completely safe and also dangerous places to live in every country.
Perth is most definitely the finest city in Australia. It has weather like the Los Angeles area but no smog, no huge crowds, unpolluted water, and friendly folks! Awesome place to live with top quality health care too!
@@freyagrayden5665 A State of super bogans. Nothing compares to Melbourne. Multicultural and a beautiful city. I live in Thailand. unreal country. should be #1 followed by Vietnam at #2.
Keep in mind that Taiwan and Vietnam don't have retirement visas and Indonesia's requires you to hire a full time Indonesian. Australia and Canada don't really want anyone over 50. Internations is geared towards expats who are working.
Australia also is a nanny state that does not want people who smoke, at about $50 per pack for Marlboros made in Korea (like smoking rope) do not go there even as a tourist if you are a smoker. This is a great big part of why 1% of the Australian population lives in the US.
The thing about USA is so diverse. Not fair, but not all healthcare is the same. I have superb doctors and healthcare in New York but not the same in Georgia. These figures are averages and need to be taken with a grain of salt. For me, being around family is more important than crime statistics or healthcare and I am comfortable financially so, I love New York!
Paying first world prices for health care in exchange for a third world service. One of the most expensive countries in Europe and of course like many others, under WEF control. As a wise man once said "give me back the auld roads" As you were, Peggy
We're going to check out Argentina in a couple of weeks. Their economics are crazy but the exchange rate is so good, it makes expat life pretty cheap. I hear the people are really friendly. The food is to die for and there are just about as many climates as one could ever want. There are bad neighborhoods and pickpockets, but then there are those same things in nearly every country. Hopefully the cost of getting down there will be worth it. Even if we hate it, it will be an adventure.
I’m not sure how the Philippines didn’t make the list unless it’s bc it’s heaven on earth for single men and there aren’t too many expat Couples here. The Philippines is beautiful with amazing beaches and beautiful mountains. Yes Manila is overcrowded so don’t stay there. With 7k islands to choose from there are many good choices. A nice house can be rented from $350 to $600 and healthcare is very good. While you can survive on $1k a month you can live like a King for $2,500 and up. It’s actually difficult to spend $2k a month here.
Southeast Asia region has some recommended countries to live : Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, The Phillipines and Vietnam. In fact, they are in the same umbrella of ASEAN. (Association of Southeast Asian Natons). If you stay in one of those countries, you'll be easily traveling to the other countries above.
As a Canadian I'm wondering why Canada got such a high ranking on health care. It is falling a part - not enough doctors, up to a year to wait for life saving surgery, up to 18 hours in emergency wards. I myself went to Mexico and paid for surgery that I would have had to wait over a year for in Canada.
Only 18 hours? We had a recent news item of someone being kept in an ambulance for 41 hours here in NB. On top of that, there was a man who died in the waiting room after hours of not being seen. Much worse than that, but no worries and Daddy Higgs has a $700M surplus, so that's what really matters.
@@jeffs4483 For Americans without good employer insurance, you are likely correct for most situations Jeff. My brother lived in FL with good coverage and when he needed an MRI they asked him if Wednesday was a good day, he answered most Wednesdays are good, and they said "Oh, you must be Canadian. We mean this Wed." Up here, it would be months to wait, but it would be free. There have just now been some companies that have successfully fought to offer private pay MRI services available outside the system. It still remains true that in our Province it is illegal to pay for blood tests if you want them. We have a trip to the USA planned to get some simple blood tests run that getting here are near impossible. The confusion Canadians have is that because our neighbours have a very expensive and thus inaccessible to many system next to us, we are all told to feel great about ourselves for having our mostly inaccessible but free system because we are told there is no decent, accessible and reasonably priced systems anywhere else. Videos from people like JP show us how untrue that lie is, and how it's a false choice to say that it's A or B, when there's a whole alphabet of systems worldwide, and many of them work way better than either USA or Canada.
Do you know why it takes a year to get surgery? because there is a good chance you will die. Not kidding. Canadas health care system is terrible. As an example I got a cancer malinoma check and removal in 1 day in Ukraine for $40 dollars. I am serious.
Sorry for my bad English (even), sometimes I use Google Translate..., lately waves of retired people of economically active age have been coming to some central neighborhoods of CDMX, most of them come from the USA and Canada, they arrived with the pandemic and many stayed, life here is much cheaper for them and it seems that they adapt easily to the lifestyle and culture, the language is not really a barrier, many people speak it in those colonies, the bad thing is that with them gentrification has arrived and for the locals who live in these areas it is not very pleasant, en fin, it benefits some and others not so much, welcome.
The Canadian rankings are humorous to a Canadian. Great health care, try universal healthcare, as in, universally crappy health care. One of the main reasons for us to look overseas is for better healthcare. It's illegal in our province to pay for blood tests that you want if your doctor says the government doesn't pay for "that test". In our province, nearly 10% of the population are on a waiting list for "family doctor". UNIVERSALLY crap health care, which we actually pay very high taxes to provide (if you can get it), so it isn't even "free", it's just sold to the world that way. End of Rant. Love you two, please keep up the amazing work, hope to meet you some time when we get to travelling. Cheers.
The various rating systems have set weights for the criteria they evaluate that that don't really reflect my priorities. Has anyone developed a tool to allow users to rate their preferences and thus adjust the rankings?
You really need to visit countries to compare. Your ratings (and your compromises) are different from everyone else's. A place has to "feel" right, just like a mate. We like to watch videos like this, but the shots in this video, were only most picturesque places, right?!
My main problem with tiny homes is that they too often are designed with bedrooms in a loft only accessible by a ladder. For older people that just isn’t safe and for everyone not convenient. Who wants to deal with that when you have to get up in the middle of the night?
They could design them with Murphy beds or convertible spaces. I"d be scared to death of falling off the ledge or down those stairs which often look more like ladders than stairs.
My problem with a tiny home is I am not a tiny person, at 6 feet and 155 pounds. I also do not want to have to throw away sentimental items just because I have no place to keep them. But the world keeps adding to an already overpopulated planet and shrinking that slice of pie you thought was yours all your life, only to find it getting smaller by the day. As a disabled vet I know where this is headed, a shipping container shared with roommates!
I've been living in Australia since 2011, the goods: peaceful, quiet, excellent quality+life balance, the inconvenient: very expensive, repeat: very expensive, very far from almost anywhere (from México where I'm from), more goods: healthcare is good, people are friendly in general. At this stage, it's hard to think I'd move anyplace else.
Indonesia its really a shock ..we never think our country on your list...we not as popular as others in the eye of expats. But thank you and made us proud.
Thailand is more than Bangkok, which has become more expensive in recent years (esp accommodation). Chiang Mai is the place to live. Cheaper, healthier, lush countryside, cooler weather, etc.
Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto all made the top ten list amongst most "liveable cities" as researched by the "Economic Intelligence Unit". However; housing is becoming a problem for lower income Canadians. The immigration policy is outpacing the rate at which new housing is being developed. Homelessness is real in Canada and the socialized medicine has long waiting lists for procedures such as hip and knee replacement. Relatively, we are doing better than most but questions are emerging particularly in primary and secondary education.
Expat ranking should include tyrannical government during Covid. Ie., Canada and Australia treated citizens horrible. I'm interested in which of these counties listed are most free from government tyranny.
The very sick are the least free. There is no meaningful individual freedom without individual health. There is no individual health without public health. The radical individualism of the antivaxxers is unique to North America. If that is your empty vision of freedom you should move to Florida or Texas; by that measure they are the freest societies in the world.
Being able to speak the native language is one of the top 3 things (on a list of at least 20 things) I would consider before moving to another country. I can't imagine I would even be getting all of the benefits that a country has to offer without knowing its language.
Totally agree. I’ve lived in 2 countries where English is not widely spoken and it makes life somewhat strange and you never feel you actually belong. . Sure you can try and learn the native tongue but at the age of these two people it can be quite difficult and you’ll probably never be fluent.
learning the language at least the basics is a must in any country. If you expect a 365 day/year holiday better don't move. You will be confronted with bureaucracy, craftsmen, banks ... You pay your lack of language skills.
The adventurous can live anywhere. You can find educated people in every country who speak some English. Those who speak English are often the most interesting because they are worldly. Also, it is ok to have expat friends.
@@formica. I speak English, a tiny amount of Spanish, Italian, very basic Russian, and have spent a lot of time outside the US only returning every 4-5 years for 2 weeks, and have no problem in the 92 countries. I do not go to tourist areas, prefer normal neighborhoods renting apartments or houses, and seldom stay in hotels. One thing is certain, speaking English attracts a lot of people who what to practice since most English speakers in the world have never been to England, the US, Australia or Canada. Far more Chinese speak English than Americans, about 100 million more. I have lived in Russia 22 years without fluency(it gets harder to learn with age and I am 73) and even started and run multiple businesses in Russia, the biggest one with 68 employees was started with less than $100 in start-up costs, and still do not speak much. But it is a much better educated and cultured society so almost everyone has studied other languages. It is the international travel and business language so when an Iranian meets a Chinese traveler they communicate easily with travel English. Everyone in 2nd grade here learns English and later at 10 or so, elective languages are added. Italian and Spanish are popular. I have a better life than is even possible in the US and with a very low cost of living, far more access to culture, free time, socializing, meeting strangers daily, and never conflict. The internet has only increased the use of English worldwide. I know ex-pats here, there are many, but by far most of my interaction is with locals.
I’m moving to the Philippines in 2023. So many positives. English is widely spoken, beautiful women, beautiful islands, great scuba diving, super low cost of living, and just a great central location for travel to other countries.
Mexico!!!!! I moved to Mexico City from the U.S. last year and honestly (for me personally) there is no comparison. I disagree wholeheartedly on the U.S. rankings, but maybe I'm missing something..
There are lots of factors that give you stress in the US and Canada, therefore the quality of life is not that great, laid back countries may be a lot happier, thus improving their quality of life, plus the quality of food is important too!
When I was growing up in England we were saturated with American TV especially cop shows ,, ,I thought that the minute you stepped of the plane the shooting started , I was fascinated and terrified by America both at the same time ..
No canada won't even take high net worth individuals. They only take young brown people from india because they are cheap to pay and ukrainians because freeland has some ukranian blood; evetybody else is not welcome. Lately they are banning all foreigners from buying real estate in the entire country. We call that 'pure xenophobia'. In the Usa it's basically impossible to immigrate unless you marry an american. Good luck !
@@sexygeek8996 exactly, if you have any financial know how and want to run your own business, these countries are not great on taxes, they double dip on everything tax related.
I am surprised no mentions Albania 1 yr free visa for Americans and residency is easy and the cost of living is about the same as manila and the cuisine is Italian and Greek Mediterranean style
Awesome Video! Thank you. I would retire in Thailand because I can speak Thai but I would love to visit Spain and Portugal because of their food and wine Lol 😅. By the way, JP you are have a good sense of humor.
We have friends who lived in Taiwan for 8 years and loved it. We visited with them for 3 weeks and agreed it was a good country to live in. They are back in the USA due to aging parents and to be close to grandkids, but they have kept their Taiwan residency cards.
If I wanted to move to Thailand there are 3 things I would seriously consider in order to live, stay and be self sufficient. FIrst, consider marrying a Thai as any property you buy has to be 51 percent Thai owned unless you buy an apartment or condo. Next, have enough cash to buy an apartment and start a business and a Thai partner would be a great asset in your business as understanding business, the language and what not to do is almost mandatory. Don't leave yourself without an exit plan and that includes assets and money that can't be accessed, taken, seized or used by anyone. Trust is great but that doesn't mean you have to be foolish as people will do the unexpected and often its too late by the time you realize it. Good luck.
Cool channel. I just subscribed. I think i totally agree with your list. I'm from Belgium and lived in Holland for 3 years and 11 years in Spain. I also toured the US and many other countries like Austria ,Morroco and more. I wondered how you guys see our central European countries like France, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Denmark and Scandinavia. To top it off; i think Portugal would be an awesome destination. 😉
I used to enjoy Europe but in recent years avoid it. The over-regulation, taxes, cost of living and declining economies now make it far less desirable than 20 years ago. Now that it can't compete with rising industrial and innovation regions of the world, the next 20 years do not look very promising. This channel is primarily for retirees wanting to increase their security and ease of living escaping from the US so moving to an area that is declining also is not going to appeal to very many Americans.
The Global Peace Index is a measure of 3 items: societal safety, extent of ongoing domestic and international conflict, and degree of militarization. So the US ranking is pulled way down by the size of its military and by the amount of foreign conflicts it is involved in. And so it's not really a great proxy for crime and safety when comparing to other countries.
Hey you two, set me up with an Omaze tiny home in Cuenca and I’ll be there.😆 Thanks for doing this, very interesting. You both are fun to watch. Cheers!
Not surprised to see the United States rank so low, especially in safety/peace. I laugh when I hear about U.S. State Department travel and safety advisories for other countries, or when folks from back home in the States talk about how dangerous other countries are. The U.S. has done a wonderful job at pulling the wool over the eyes of its citizens with regards to where it stands when compared with the rest of the world. After living away from the United States for over a decade now, and having spent a lot of time in Europe, Asia, and South America, I don't even view the United States as a highly developed country any more.
Not just the cold for Canada. The cost of life is really high here. We're leaving Canada in 6 years to spend our retirement in Morocco, where cost of life will be a 4th of what we spend here. Our retirement income will bring us a lot farther there than it would here.
You can also see Komodo Dragons in Bangkok Thailand, they are running all over the place in Lumpini Park right next to the US Embassy. Nice change of pace guys.
Your title includes the words "One is a big NO WAY!" Somehow, I seem to have missed that. Can somebody please tell me which of these options was the "big NO WAY"? Thanks.
From Canada here. Not sure how Canada got such a great score. Health care is a disaster. Sky rocketing housing is a huge problem for new comers and younger people. Inflation is another problem. Canadians pay more price for the same items compared to US. Winter is not the only reason why Canadians look for other destinations.
I think Health Care in Canada got slammed with COVID and backed up important surgeries and other medical treatments and the hospitals are still dealing with COVID outbreaks but overall when you think about Canadian Health Care most procedures are covered and no one is refused. But I agree that Canada needs to put more money in the Health Care system overall especially since many nurses and doctors were drawn to the USA during the pandemic for a nice fat paycheck.
@@k_and_m8745 Those who live in Canada know health care was struggling before COVID. It's not about money, it's about being creative. Lack of leadership leads to ballooning budgets nobody can pay for.
I know many folks in the US who won't even go to the doctor because they can't afford health insurance & are afraid of the medical costs if they seek treatment. Must meet federal poverty guidelines to get free medical care.
@@nflegal49 General practitioners (GP Doctors) don't do much and are billing Govt for every appointment. Specialists have multi year wait time. Some scanning appointments also have 6-12 months of wait time. I guess its hard to judge which one is better. Situation you described or this one. I guess people who can afford insurance can get treatment right away.
@@faisal-ca Need to judge the pros & cons of each system. Not easy. For people who have serious health issues in the US, medical bills are a huge part of their budgets. Medical bills cause 50% of bankruptcies filed in the US. On the other hand, I know many who've had most of their medical bills covered by their health insurance policies. But, health insurance used to be a lot more affordable. Now, it's a huge line item in thier budgets & must be taken into consideration in how they allocate their finances.
There is this thing called: "English proficiency index" in that survey, Portugal is above Germany and Sweden. It means that more than 80% of the Portuguese population speaks English well, so, No, you don't need to speak Portuguese in Portugal. Besides, Portuguese people understand Spanish and quite a lot of Italian.
@@jdsantibanez It's not me, it's that study, you can Google it, honestly, it's hard to believe, Portugal is above countries like Luxembourg and Finland, but in the methodology they say that they are based on the test result in 2 million adults all over the world. 2 millions! I mean that's data.
I am a Portuguese resident originally from the US. I have spent time in Spain as well. Believe me - if you are residing in Portugal you definitely need to learn Portuguese. I have a bank account at the second largest bank in PT and only about 10% of their phone staff speaks English. This despite assurances that English is widely spoken. From my experience the Portuguese are not great at English and certainly not that much better than Spaniards - and I can tell you that while I LOVE Spaniards, their level of English is usually very low if nonexistent.
@@imanoldurham5395 I agree English, even a little, is understood particularly in areas that are well visited by tourists. In terms of Italian, while there is a significant number of Italians that have emigrated to PT-I found almost no one that spoke in Italian when I tried to converse in that language. 😢 Cheers.
You obviously got your information from some right-wing biased source ... I travelled over 6000 km around the country during those "travel restrictions" you refer to.
Interesting that a lot of the video you showed was in the state of Queensland, the capital of which is Brisbane, yet you didn’t mention it in your list of cities.
Two of my friends from US came to Panama 3. Onths ago , and they could not stopped saying how calm and safe they felt. So based on that. I can believe the US Stats
The problem with the Global Peace Index is that it combines internal and external peace/safety. While both are important, I would rather see separate numbers. The US will always be low-ranked because we seriously meddle everywhere.
Heck, I'll bet the internal crime stats are way worse than external. We freaking NEED to be meddling here within our own country! The US is the definitiion of pot calling the kettle black all.day.long.
You have to take this list with a grain of salt. The best place for anybody is probably where you feel most comfortable, considering the cost of living, the culture, healthcare, and safety. Bullet trains, tall buildings, and wide highways may not much matter if you are bored, and don't feel comfortable, especially if the cost of living is high. Local culture and cost of living are important, and also distance to home,
We are waiting on our Portugese visas after almost applying to Ecuador. Crime is so much lower, a big factor for us, while health care seems to be very good in Ecuador healthcare is ranked higher in Portugal and then there is the quality of life.
JP and Amelia, Hello from Arizona. You guys never mention Uruguay in your work/videos. Do you have any opinions on Uruguay? My wife and I are thinking of retiring there?
Or Colombia! I lived in Cuenca for 5 years and I have lived in Manizales for another 5 years. Ecuador cannot hold a candle to Colombia in most ways that count, healthcare, quality of life, cost of living, and on, and on. you guys should come north for a visit and have your minds blown.
It’s on our list to visit and film, but it’s a long way from the US. It’s a 4.5 hour flight from Quito. About 9 hours from Miami so it’s not as popular with our viewers.
This is not our list. It’s from the InterNations Expat Survey as we mentioned in the very beginning of the video: www.internations.org/expat-insider/2022/best-and-worst-places-for-expats-40242
One thing to keep in mind is InterNations isn't focused on retirees. There are a lot more people working overseas for corporations than are retired. InterNations focuses on all expats. So a professional considering an overseas transfer might have very different priorities than a retiree. Like schools, entertainment choices, etc.
Yes and lot of immigration visa requirements that are extremely difficult
@@Carolinapetroska Hi Sophie..., Good points ! ! Interesting... Thank you for sharing your thoughts and comments... "Semper Fi" Mike in Montana :)
Exactly. I have been an expat working overseas since 2007. Have worked in Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, and currently in the UAE. I would not retire in any of them. For retirement, I will be in the Philippines, where I have been maintaining a home since 2011. Although it can be, great for work, is not necessarily the same as great for retirement.
I am from Canada. For me, the biggest factors in my interest in relocating when I will be retiring in a few years is the harsh winters and the high cost of living
Like Vancouver. Peaceful place on North America!
The other problem with Canada, particularly Vancouver and Victoria, is the high crime from unaddressed mental disability and drug addiction. Portugal is looking good right now.
@@markoz673bajen8 Vancouver is very beautiful in the summer. Not so much the rest of the year.
Also very high cost of living.
move to Greece
I became a US Expat almost nine years ago now. My choice of home was Spain (Malaga, to be exact). Becoming a part of Costa del Sol is something I've never regretted. Culture, food, people, high quality of life. Re English not being popular, that depends on the region. English is widely spoken in Andalucia, especially Costa del Sol. US doesn't come close in ANY way.
I hear the pickpockets are doing well in Malaga
@@rh7163 Ooh, pickpockets. Scary stuff. LOL The problem is over-reported.
Using your own vocabulary you are an alien not expat.
@@MrSbpool Last I checked, I wasn't from Mars. Alien is an offensive, impersonal word that I choose not to adopt. It is certainly not the word used here in Spain.
I've been thinking about moving from the US to Spain. Any regrets?
Though I am curious about many foreign countries, I draw the line at authoritarian governments. There must be a democracy index somewhere to indicate how open a given country is. CEO magazine would definitely not care about such things because corporations are generally dictatorships, but I think the average person would.
@@Eddie-ud4bb The devil I know ... No one is breaking into my home and arresting me if I disagree publicly with the president ... yet.
@@Eddie-ud4bb where were you when bush was president? Hell we could go back to 1776 if you really want to get serious. You gotta wake the f up
@@Eddie-ud4bb The US is racing towards being a 3rd world country. People should stop voting on fringe issues and take a look at the bigger picture.
Biden got rid of Schedule F a few weeks after he took office.
I agree, there's a reason why the United States has the highest number of immigrants in the world.
I love that way you two do these videos. Love your humor, too! Please keep these types of videos coming.
My understanding is that there are more archaeology sites in Mexico than any other country, something like 30,000. I have visited maybe 20 of them and would like to see many more. There is a lot of culture that gets missed if you only visit resort areas. And if you're going to live there, why shop at Costco and Walmart when you could be supporting a local family who owns a small shop?
Waiting for Tren Maya to be completed to make a lot more of those sites accessible.
Yup, Taiwan for the win. Here for work, just a few more years to get permanent residency. Health care incredibly great and efficient deliver- can make appointment online in English at the hospital I go to (outpatient)- can get same-day or, at worst, within a week for a specialist. Great detailed physicals (all-day ones, check out EVERYTHING) you can do for several hundred dollars. Only downside is scooters (noisy, everywhere, sometimes on sidewalk) and learning Mandarin. In my 3rd year of learning and I am still pretty bad but reading and writing is getting pretty good (a couple thousand Chinese characters at this point as I had studied Japanese for 6 years). At 59, learning a totally new language is that much more difficult. Rent is reasonable but buying a condo/flat is crazy expenisive. But easy to do with 1.5 interest rate...
I'm Canadian 🇨🇦. Quality of life is dropping sharply with the high cost of living, and unrealistic cost of housing. I'll likely never own a house if I stay. Assisted death is also a concern here now, and is becoming offered more and more often. Our Healthcare is awful. Sorry, but I wouldn't recommend coming here.
It is beautiful though 👍
Nice change of pace video guys. More of these would be appreciated. Great to see world wide rankings, etc.
Gracias!
At 14:50 you had me going for a second. I said to myself wow, how did they pull that off? LOL.
There’s actually over 2million expats in Mexico, I just saw it last week in CNN how they are going in waves from Canada and U.S. to live there. Not to mention that Mexico City is attracting many more for remote work. And because it’s a city with a tremendous size it has everything… has incredible night life, is super modern, is also very colonial. High end restaurants and skyscrapers and little food gems only locals know. I can’t wait to go back.
Probably half or more are illegal aliens 😂😂😂
@@ianstuart5660 just like the US
And Canada, especially after Covid.
Great video! Thanks for including U.S. and Canada for comparison👍👍
The best country is simply the one you're happy in. It's different for everyone. Very few things in life are actually objective.
Bangkok is one of the "safest" big cities I have ever been to/lived in. Safer than large cities in Europe, American and South America.
Agreed. Live here currently. It’s not as affordable as people say though. Some things are, some not so much. To live healthily here, it costs money.
Hi Amelia & JP,
I follow you on your videos, you are great and the info you provide is very useful.
I am 60 and provably I will live abroad, so I am planning to visit Cotacachi next year and if we like it , live there as retired.
Thank you,
Lila from Ontario, Canada
😊😊😊😊😊😊
I'm 55 and retired living abroad. I'm currently in Malaysia. I love SE Asia, but the logistics are a problem. I left Thailand after 2 months because the language barrier was annoying. Malaysia is better, but the logistics are still problematic.
I was in Mexico earlier this year and culture and logistics are a lot like the U.S. I will give Ecuador a shot, but I think my bliss will be in Mexico.
My girlfriend came from Ecuador. We go to Ecuador yearly. My first time going there was a huge culture shock and the traffic in Quito is something else lol
And very corrupt
Cuenca is pretty and less crazy.l
Very informative, it's great you guys do the research. Thank you
Well researched and presented, thank-you:)
My son lives in Khaosiung, Taiwan. He has been there for 9 years. It is such a friendly and safe place to visit. We love it there. I agree with the air quality issue but the east coast is wild and beautiful.
We came to Cuenca Ecuador last sat. It's a Amazing country , the food is to die for. We love Cuenca because of the historic area .
Cuenca is amazing!
I agree. I have visited Cuenca and enjoyed it. Yes to the food; I especially remember a wonderful vegetarian restaurant, where the food was tasty and inexpensive.
Does anyone know how to find a vet in Cuenca to have my dogs nails trimmed as well as his Anal gland cleaned ? Perfect English speaking also about how much is there charge ?
So fascinating to see the USA ranked so poorly on safety when all Americans talk about is how dangerous every other country is. Thanks for sharing this info.
America is big. Stay away from the big cities (like Chicago, St Louis, Portland and Detroit) and the safety and quality of life measures skyrocket.
@@chaleej5571 Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis, and Portland all have low-crime areas and high-crime areas. Every city on the planet has a high crime area. The North Side of Chicago on Lake Michigan is gorgeous and safe! Don't hang out with criminals and you should be safe in most areas.
Theusa is full of random violence. Many other countries have more “deserving” type violence
Imagining other countries dangerous when you are American is foolish. Obviously some of the nicer parts of a city or huge swaths of rural America are ok but ok in America is still America. You have to have spidey, street, sense a little too often.
US has a prevalence of guns that many countries don't & it contributes to violence. I'm ashamed of the crime in the US & refusal of government regulation.
Many of these ratings do not reflect the realities. Not sure how and why Canadian healthcare system was rated so high? For example, yes, healthcare in Canada is almost free to Canadians and legal residents, with one notable exception - until one reaches retirement age, he/she needs to pay for the drugs. But, as Canadian living in US I checked recently how long it takes there to get a procedure such as MRI - average wait time in the province of Ontario is 4 months! Just across the border in Buffalo, NY I was able to get an MRI done the next day(!) for a modest fee of $ 450. And this applies to basically all medical procedures outside of GP competency. Appointments to see a specialist take months to setup and you won't be allowed to see a specialist unless your family doctor refers you there. What Canada is now famous for is MAID program - that stands for Medical Assistance in Dying, that is offered to many impaired or disabled people or those suffering from chronic disease, including veterans. Canadian government was arresting people's bank accounts for taking part or financially supporting truckers' Freedom Convoy last year. They were revoking business licences and forcing to cancel their insurance policies of people whose livelihood depended on their business. Justin Trudeau, Canadian PM, got so offended by the legal protests in the capital of Canada - he invoked war measures (emergency) act! Inflation in Canada, especially when it comes to real estate is through the roof. Since we bought our house back in 2001 housing prices went up 5 - 6 times. Young family simply can't afford to buy a home in Toronto area anymore. I'm not sure what expats and why have put Canada so high up in rating. Australia, nicknamed after pandemic Ausjailia, is also a tyrannical state they way they handled pandemic and related dissent, but that's another story...
Have lived in Singapore for 20+ years, so I know a thing or two. Yes, you can get a mortgage as a foreigner, but you'll need to since the cheapest thing you'll be getting into will be US$1 million, plus a hefty downpayment and stamp tax before that mortgage gets written. And you're only good to 65 to hold a mortgage. Education is good, but it's impossible to get foreign kids into the local schools; international schools are about US$35-40,000 a year. Inflation is as bad as the States or Europe, and cars are the most expensive in the world and you'll only own them for 10 years before you need to either turn it in to the government, or buy another license to own it for another 10 years called a Certificate of Entitlement (now going for about US$60,000 just for the license for small cars, this doesn't include the price of the car which has been marked up 100% of the retail price). Don't live here unless you're making loads of dough here, or are super rich.
I visited Singapore and had the same impression. My 75 US a night hotel in Singapore was poor quality, worse than my 25 US a night one in Bangkok. In Singapore it felt like I was constantly spending money without getting much in return.
The reason the US doesn’t have a decent passenger rail service is because big oil squashed the trains in the 50s.They wanted people to use the interstates and basically threw all the money towards that goal and they succeeded. This may sound like a conspiracy theory but it’s true.
That and a plane flight is faster and cheaper than a train.
Big oil AND the rubber companies (drive more = buy more tires!)
on the other hand, the USA is a vast country and trains are really ideal for high concentration centers and moving freight.
I saw that documentary about how the oil, car and tire companies bought all the trolly lines around the country and ripped up the rails. That effectively killed our public transportation future and forced everyone into private cars, which led to massive taxpayer funded infrastructure spending to build massive road systems that are now falling apart due to lack of funding.
@@TimeToTravel-u2x - if we had an attitude of let’s create a train system that allows for the states to all be connected, without interference from oil and rubber companies, it could have been a great thing. Even those small communities may have been included. I don’t know. But even those in smaller communities usually live close enough to bigger cities or towns that could support a train system. I don’t understand your negative attitude about their comment about the documentary.
Spain's electricity prices are off the charts. Food prices have risen a lot. It is VERY expensive to cool your house in the summer and keep warm in the winter.
No Northern European country on the list surprises me. They rank on the very top on every list, financial, happiness, education, safety, stability of government, rich, quality of live, you name it. And as a bonus for me personally, less hot weather, I absolutely hate the heat 😅
Prices are high and a lot of immigrants from Africa makes these countries lesss safe. Nice views though.
@@Murmilone nonsense. Sweden, which has the highest immigration rate in Northern Europe is still significantly safer than he vast majority of countries, including the USA.
@@Murmilone The immigrants from Africa are the ONLY ones that can still have babies. Northern Europe is old, cold and depressing. Immigrants from Africa are all over Latin America and they are not the problem. Immigrants from Africa are not on drugs. MOST of the people dirty and STEALING on Fentanyl are NOT African. Immigrants from Africa are in Spain and Portugal. They are honorable hardworking people with an honour culture unlike Northern Europeans who plundered their countries 🙄
They have a dismal climate and are horrendously expensive compared to the US, Canada, and the rest of Europe (excepting Switzerland, which is also absurdly expensive to live in).
@@vaska1999 Of course, if you're into droughts, heat waves, wildfires, tornadoes and whirlwinds, this isn't your climate. And then we don't even have earthquakes and tsunamis. What a setback. And indeed, good infrastructure, public transport, universal healthcare, a social safety net and the best education in the world does not come cheap. Better stay where you're are then.
Thanks for the informative video. We have added a lot of these places to our bucket list of countries to visit!
Glad it was helpful!
These global “safety” indexes are pointless and irrelevant, unless you have no choice on where you live in any given country. There are completely safe and also dangerous places to live in every country.
Perth is most definitely the finest city in Australia. It has weather like the Los Angeles area but no smog, no huge crowds, unpolluted water, and friendly folks! Awesome place to live with top quality health care too!
And the most isolated capital city in the world……….. personally I feel like it’s living in a bubble
@@freyagrayden5665 A State of super bogans.
Nothing compares to Melbourne. Multicultural and a beautiful city.
I live in Thailand. unreal country. should be #1 followed by Vietnam at #2.
Do you guys feel Australia has showed poorly during the lockdowns? I heard horrible news from Victoria...
@@azerko yep. Sent many people and their businesses broke.
Australia nowadays is a Nanny State. Government wants control over everything.
One of the most restricted areas on earth in the pandemic. No thanks.
Keep in mind that Taiwan and Vietnam don't have retirement visas and Indonesia's requires you to hire a full time Indonesian. Australia and Canada don't really want anyone over 50.
Internations is geared towards expats who are working.
Australia also is a nanny state that does not want people who smoke, at about $50 per pack for Marlboros made in Korea (like smoking rope) do not go there even as a tourist if you are a smoker. This is a great big part of why 1% of the Australian population lives in the US.
I was not only surprised that Ecuador did not make the list, but I was also surprised that Panama didn't make the list. What's up with that?
Seems like the ranking changes every year.
Heading to Panama in May 💓
Canada is expensive too. I do love its natural beauty, but the winters are too much for me.
The thing about USA is so diverse.
Not fair, but not all healthcare is the same. I have superb doctors and healthcare in New York but not the same in Georgia.
These figures are averages and need to be taken with a grain of salt.
For me, being around family is more important than crime statistics or healthcare and I am comfortable financially so, I love New York!
Moved to Ireland and think it deserves a place on your list. Ranks high in all the rankings you feature.Enlish speaking with a great culture.
This wasn’t our list. Link to the original source is in the description.
Paying first world prices for health care in exchange for a third world service. One of the most expensive countries in Europe and of course like many others, under WEF control. As a wise man once said "give me back the auld roads" As you were, Peggy
and Guinness !!
Weather is not top notch right? 🌬️
Nope..still in the EU, and on the Euro!! 😮😮
Philippines, Cambodia, New Zealand, Chile, Panama, Uruguay, Belize, Hong Kong, I think should have also been added.
@@Anonymint-vj7bt
I already know what that's like. I live in the USA.
We're going to check out Argentina in a couple of weeks. Their economics are crazy but the exchange rate is so good, it makes expat life pretty cheap. I hear the people are really friendly. The food is to die for and there are just about as many climates as one could ever want. There are bad neighborhoods and pickpockets, but then there are those same things in nearly every country. Hopefully the cost of getting down there will be worth it. Even if we hate it, it will be an adventure.
New Zealand too expensive and hard to get a retirement visa. Hong Kong controlled by the tyrannical ccp no thanks.
Hong Kong is Peking south now, and Pooh is channeling Mao. Native English teacher expats have been fleeing.
I have my sights set on Uruguay. Just need to learn more spanish..........
I really can't wait to get to Ecuador 🥰
Me too😊
I’m not sure how the Philippines didn’t make the list unless it’s bc it’s heaven on earth for single men and there aren’t too many expat Couples here. The Philippines is beautiful with amazing beaches and beautiful mountains. Yes Manila is overcrowded so don’t stay there. With 7k islands to choose from there are many good choices. A nice house can be rented from $350 to $600 and healthcare is very good. While you can survive on $1k a month you can live like a King for $2,500 and up. It’s actually difficult to spend $2k a month here.
Where would you suggest Marc for a couple to stay? We like the outdoors, hiking, beaches etc. Not so interested in nightlife.
@@Brimfulofbeauty Dumaguete and a bit north to Valencia but Dumaguete is a very nice place to be.
Southeast Asia region has some recommended countries to live : Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, The Phillipines and Vietnam. In fact, they are in the same umbrella of ASEAN. (Association of Southeast Asian Natons). If you stay in one of those countries, you'll be easily traveling to the other countries above.
Confirmed ✅
Aussie here.
Been to all but The Phillipines. Lived in Indonesia. Can confirm 💯
Don't forget Thailand, a couple can live under $2000/month. Singapore expensive like North Europe.
As a Canadian I'm wondering why Canada got such a high ranking on health care. It is falling a part - not enough doctors, up to a year to wait for life saving surgery, up to 18 hours in emergency wards. I myself went to Mexico and paid for surgery that I would have had to wait over a year for in Canada.
Only 18 hours? We had a recent news item of someone being kept in an ambulance for 41 hours here in NB. On top of that, there was a man who died in the waiting room after hours of not being seen. Much worse than that, but no worries and Daddy Higgs has a $700M surplus, so that's what really matters.
Still way better than the USA.
@@jeffs4483 For Americans without good employer insurance, you are likely correct for most situations Jeff. My brother lived in FL with good coverage and when he needed an MRI they asked him if Wednesday was a good day, he answered most Wednesdays are good, and they said "Oh, you must be Canadian. We mean this Wed." Up here, it would be months to wait, but it would be free. There have just now been some companies that have successfully fought to offer private pay MRI services available outside the system. It still remains true that in our Province it is illegal to pay for blood tests if you want them. We have a trip to the USA planned to get some simple blood tests run that getting here are near impossible.
The confusion Canadians have is that because our neighbours have a very expensive and thus inaccessible to many system next to us, we are all told to feel great about ourselves for having our mostly inaccessible but free system because we are told there is no decent, accessible and reasonably priced systems anywhere else. Videos from people like JP show us how untrue that lie is, and how it's a false choice to say that it's A or B, when there's a whole alphabet of systems worldwide, and many of them work way better than either USA or Canada.
@@anotherabeer4341 I guess you haven't watched many of the videos. The presenters here are Amelia and JP
Do you know why it takes a year to get surgery? because there is a good chance you will die. Not kidding. Canadas health care system is terrible. As an example I got a cancer malinoma check and removal in 1 day in Ukraine for $40 dollars. I am serious.
Well, I’m kind of glad Ecuador isn’t too visible on the radar.
Fantastic job as usual 🎉
Sorry for my bad English (even), sometimes I use Google Translate..., lately waves of retired people of economically active age have been coming to some central neighborhoods of CDMX, most of them come from the USA and Canada, they arrived with the pandemic and many stayed, life here is much cheaper for them and it seems that they adapt easily to the lifestyle and culture, the language is not really a barrier, many people speak it in those colonies, the bad thing is that with them gentrification has arrived and for the locals who live in these areas it is not very pleasant, en fin, it benefits some and others not so much, welcome.
1:40 WTF there's a boat on top of those buildings!!!!!😮😮😮😮😮
We have been researching Panama, and will be spending February exploring the country.
The Canadian rankings are humorous to a Canadian. Great health care, try universal healthcare, as in, universally crappy health care. One of the main reasons for us to look overseas is for better healthcare. It's illegal in our province to pay for blood tests that you want if your doctor says the government doesn't pay for "that test". In our province, nearly 10% of the population are on a waiting list for "family doctor". UNIVERSALLY crap health care, which we actually pay very high taxes to provide (if you can get it), so it isn't even "free", it's just sold to the world that way. End of Rant. Love you two, please keep up the amazing work, hope to meet you some time when we get to travelling. Cheers.
Everything you said is true especially the "free" notion!
Everything you say is true. In fact its worse than this.
Thank you for this list Amelia & JP!!
The various rating systems have set weights for the criteria they evaluate that that don't really reflect my priorities. Has anyone developed a tool to allow users to rate their preferences and thus adjust the rankings?
That’s a great idea!
You really need to visit countries to compare. Your ratings (and your compromises) are different from everyone else's. A place has to "feel" right, just like a mate. We like to watch videos like this, but the shots in this video, were only most picturesque places, right?!
Australia was very authoritarian during COVID. Saw some videos. The police state was frightening!
I was thinking the same thing! They turned on their citizens! It was so upsetting to watch.
I think Australia is a great country, however it's too expensive and authoritarian.
@@jeffs4483 you’ve been there? It was on my bucket list.
Well Australia is now a province of the CCP, isn't it?
It was downright totalitarian! Really crazy! I’ll never visit there!
My main problem with tiny homes is that they too often are designed with bedrooms in a loft only accessible by a ladder. For older people that just isn’t safe and for everyone not convenient. Who wants to deal with that when you have to get up in the middle of the night?
Mine doesn't have a loft.
They could design them with Murphy beds or convertible spaces. I"d be scared to death of falling off the ledge or down those stairs which often look more like ladders than stairs.
@@amywalker7515 I'd also be somewhat scared of hurricanes, etc.
My problem with a tiny home is I am not a tiny person, at 6 feet and 155 pounds. I also do not want to have to throw away sentimental items just because I have no place to keep them. But the world keeps adding to an already overpopulated planet and shrinking that slice of pie you thought was yours all your life, only to find it getting smaller by the day. As a disabled vet I know where this is headed, a shipping container shared with roommates!
@@markwalker3499 it’s crazy how people just keep reproducing like they are abundantly wealthy on a sparsely populated planet. 😢
Great video guys ❤❤
Glad you enjoyed it!
I've been living in Australia since 2011, the goods: peaceful, quiet, excellent quality+life balance, the inconvenient: very expensive, repeat: very expensive,
very far from almost anywhere (from México where I'm from), more goods: healthcare is good, people are friendly in general. At this stage, it's hard to think I'd move anyplace else.
Australia says no to those over 40 unless you have 1/2 M in your pocket.
Indonesia its really a shock ..we never think our country on your list...we not as popular as others in the eye of expats. But thank you and made us proud.
😊👍
If only more Indo islands were like Bali, with Hindu vs Muslim customs.
Australia is crazy expensive
And fascist.
@@bmyra certain big American industries tell Australia to "jump" and they reply "how high?"
Hello Amelia and JP.
Thanks for the video, you 2. First time viewer of your channel. I loved it. Saludos desde Panamá!
Great! Welcome to the channel! 🥳
Hello amalia ..thank you for sharing place .this is amazing very good .thank you for information
I hope stay connected and each watching
Great presentation. Thanks.
Thailand is more than Bangkok, which has become more expensive in recent years (esp accommodation). Chiang Mai is the place to live. Cheaper, healthier, lush countryside, cooler weather, etc.
Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto all made the top ten list amongst most "liveable cities" as researched by the "Economic Intelligence Unit". However; housing is becoming a problem for lower income Canadians. The immigration policy is outpacing the rate at which new housing is being developed. Homelessness is real in Canada and the socialized medicine has long waiting lists for procedures such as hip and knee replacement. Relatively, we are doing better than most but questions are emerging particularly in primary and secondary education.
Expat ranking should include tyrannical government during Covid. Ie., Canada and Australia treated citizens horrible. I'm interested in which of these counties listed are most free from government tyranny.
Same, I always wanted to travel to Australia one day, but no more. I am still appalled what they did there.
Ecuador was stricter than the United States.
Another reason the UAE should be removed from this list....
Fewer of their citizens died too. Protecting people is not government tyranny. I think you'd be happiest in someplace like Alabama or Mississippi.
The very sick are the least free. There is no meaningful individual freedom without individual health. There is no individual health without public health. The radical individualism of the antivaxxers is unique to North America. If that is your empty vision of freedom you should move to Florida or Texas; by that measure they are the freest societies in the world.
Both of you together remind me of the Ecuadorian Queen, starring Amelia as Hepburn and JP as Bogart.
Being able to speak the native language is one of the top 3 things (on a list of at least 20 things) I would consider before moving to another country. I can't imagine I would even be getting all of the benefits that a country has to offer without knowing its language.
You’ll always feel like a fish out of water.
Totally agree. I’ve lived in 2 countries where English is not widely spoken and it makes life somewhat strange and you never feel you actually belong. . Sure you can try and learn the native tongue but at the age of these two people it can be quite difficult and you’ll probably never be fluent.
learning the language at least the basics is a must in any country. If you expect a 365 day/year holiday better don't move. You will be confronted with bureaucracy, craftsmen, banks ... You pay your lack of language skills.
The adventurous can live anywhere. You can find educated people in every country who speak some English. Those who speak English are often the most interesting because they are worldly. Also, it is ok to have expat friends.
@@formica. I speak English, a tiny amount of Spanish, Italian, very basic Russian, and have spent a lot of time outside the US only returning every 4-5 years for 2 weeks, and have no problem in the 92 countries. I do not go to tourist areas, prefer normal neighborhoods renting apartments or houses, and seldom stay in hotels. One thing is certain, speaking English attracts a lot of people who what to practice since most English speakers in the world have never been to England, the US, Australia or Canada. Far more Chinese speak English than Americans, about 100 million more. I have lived in Russia 22 years without fluency(it gets harder to learn with age and I am 73) and even started and run multiple businesses in Russia, the biggest one with 68 employees was started with less than $100 in start-up costs, and still do not speak much. But it is a much better educated and cultured society so almost everyone has studied other languages. It is the international travel and business language so when an Iranian meets a Chinese traveler they communicate easily with travel English. Everyone in 2nd grade here learns English and later at 10 or so, elective languages are added. Italian and Spanish are popular. I have a better life than is even possible in the US and with a very low cost of living, far more access to culture, free time, socializing, meeting strangers daily, and never conflict. The internet has only increased the use of English worldwide. I know ex-pats here, there are many, but by far most of my interaction is with locals.
You're so right about the US feeling undeveloped. After spending time in Europe, it's shocking how technologically behind we are in the US.
That Train Maya they are building in the Yucatán JP that’s gonna be a big big tourist attraction
I’m moving to the Philippines in 2023. So many positives. English is widely spoken, beautiful women, beautiful islands, great scuba diving, super low cost of living, and just a great central location for travel to other countries.
@@mikec5054 Burned?
I suggest you do a video like this but just for retirees
Very informative
Mexico!!!!! I moved to Mexico City from the U.S. last year and honestly (for me personally) there is no comparison. I disagree wholeheartedly on the U.S. rankings, but maybe I'm missing something..
On another programme it stated that Canada Mexico and the United Kingdom were the countries with the most expat Americans.
There are lots of factors that give you stress in the US and Canada, therefore the quality of life is not that great, laid back countries may be a lot happier, thus improving their quality of life, plus the quality of food is important too!
Once again, as I've already explained on your other video, it all depends on your personal circumstances.
Any country that is safe, warm and affordable is good for me
When I was growing up in England we were saturated with American TV especially cop shows ,, ,I thought that the minute you stepped of the plane the shooting started , I was fascinated and terrified by America both at the same time ..
Australia? Singapore? Canada? unless you are a high net worth individual (I say at last > 10 mil) forget it.
If you are high-net-worth then you'll be paying a lot of taxes to live in Australia or Canada. You can get a better deal in many other countries.
No canada won't even take high net worth individuals. They only take young brown people from india because they are cheap to pay and ukrainians because freeland has some ukranian blood; evetybody else is not welcome. Lately they are banning all foreigners from buying real estate in the entire country. We call that 'pure xenophobia'. In the Usa it's basically impossible to immigrate unless you marry an american. Good luck !
@@sexygeek8996 yes and canada sucks basically. There is no quality of life and cold most of the year.
@@sexygeek8996 exactly, if you have any financial know how and want to run your own business, these countries are not great on taxes, they double dip on everything tax related.
Amelia & JP, your good assessment on living in Ecuador is very appreciated.
I am surprised no mentions Albania 1 yr free visa for Americans and residency is easy and the cost of living is about the same as manila and the cuisine is Italian and Greek Mediterranean style
Awesome Video! Thank you. I would retire in Thailand because I can speak Thai but I would love to visit Spain and Portugal because of their food and wine Lol 😅. By the way, JP you are have a good sense of humor.
We have friends who lived in Taiwan for 8 years and loved it. We visited with them for 3 weeks and agreed it was a good country to live in. They are back in the USA due to aging parents and to be close to grandkids, but they have kept their Taiwan residency cards.
I’ve a feeling they’ll never go back to live permanently. You simply don’t fit in with the culture.
@@paullewis2413 Many move to other countries with different cultures, including people who move to the USA and Canada, and stay..
War is coming to Taiwan get out before it happens
You mean Taiwan province or Special Administrative Region.
Taiwan and China are two different countries. Period.
If I wanted to move to Thailand there are 3 things I would seriously consider in order to live, stay and be self sufficient. FIrst, consider marrying a Thai as any property you buy has to be 51 percent Thai owned unless you buy an apartment or condo.
Next, have enough cash to buy an apartment and start a business and a Thai partner would be a great asset in your business as understanding business, the language and what not to do is almost mandatory. Don't leave yourself without an exit plan and that includes assets and money that can't be accessed, taken, seized or used by anyone. Trust is great but that doesn't mean you have to be foolish as people will do the unexpected and often its too late by the time you realize it. Good luck.
You two look great and completely relaxed. My wife and I enjoy watching your videos. Thank you for the great content.
Gracias!
Cool channel. I just subscribed. I think i totally agree with your list. I'm from Belgium and lived in Holland for 3 years and 11 years in Spain. I also toured the US and many other countries like Austria ,Morroco and more. I wondered how you guys see our central European countries like France, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Denmark and Scandinavia. To top it off; i think Portugal would be an awesome destination. 😉
I used to enjoy Europe but in recent years avoid it. The over-regulation, taxes, cost of living and declining economies now make it far less desirable than 20 years ago. Now that it can't compete with rising industrial and innovation regions of the world, the next 20 years do not look very promising. This channel is primarily for retirees wanting to increase their security and ease of living escaping from the US so moving to an area that is declining also is not going to appeal to very many Americans.
The Global Peace Index is a measure of 3 items: societal safety, extent of ongoing domestic and international conflict, and degree of militarization. So the US ranking is pulled way down by the size of its military and by the amount of foreign conflicts it is involved in. And so it's not really a great proxy for crime and safety when comparing to other countries.
Hey you two, set me up with an Omaze tiny home in Cuenca and I’ll be there.😆 Thanks for doing this, very interesting. You both are fun to watch. Cheers!
Not surprised to see the United States rank so low, especially in safety/peace. I laugh when I hear about U.S. State Department travel and safety advisories for other countries, or when folks from back home in the States talk about how dangerous other countries are. The U.S. has done a wonderful job at pulling the wool over the eyes of its citizens with regards to where it stands when compared with the rest of the world. After living away from the United States for over a decade now, and having spent a lot of time in Europe, Asia, and South America, I don't even view the United States as a highly developed country any more.
Not just the cold for Canada. The cost of life is really high here. We're leaving Canada in 6 years to spend our retirement in Morocco, where cost of life will be a 4th of what we spend here. Our retirement income will bring us a lot farther there than it would here.
You can also see Komodo Dragons in Bangkok Thailand, they are running all over the place in Lumpini Park right next to the US Embassy. Nice change of pace guys.
That's not komodo dragon, it's indigenous to komodo island, you're confused with other type of giant lizard
@@aldy_Daily My mistake. Thank you for correcting me.
Your title includes the words "One is a big NO WAY!" Somehow, I seem to have missed that. Can somebody please tell me which of these options was the "big NO WAY"? Thanks.
Taiwan
From Canada here. Not sure how Canada got such a great score. Health care is a disaster. Sky rocketing housing is a huge problem for new comers and younger people. Inflation is another problem. Canadians pay more price for the same items compared to US. Winter is not the only reason why Canadians look for other destinations.
I think Health Care in Canada got slammed with COVID and backed up important surgeries and other medical treatments and the hospitals are still dealing with COVID outbreaks but overall when you think about Canadian Health Care most procedures are covered and no one is refused.
But I agree that Canada needs to put more money in the Health Care system overall especially since many nurses and doctors were drawn to the USA during the pandemic for a nice fat paycheck.
@@k_and_m8745 Those who live in Canada know health care was struggling before COVID. It's not about money, it's about being creative. Lack of leadership leads to ballooning budgets nobody can pay for.
I know many folks in the US who won't even go to the doctor because they can't afford health insurance & are afraid of the medical costs if they seek treatment. Must meet federal poverty guidelines to get free medical care.
@@nflegal49 General practitioners (GP Doctors) don't do much and are billing Govt for every appointment. Specialists have multi year wait time. Some scanning appointments also have 6-12 months of wait time. I guess its hard to judge which one is better. Situation you described or this one. I guess people who can afford insurance can get treatment right away.
@@faisal-ca Need to judge the pros & cons of each system. Not easy. For people who have serious health issues in the US, medical bills are a huge part of their budgets. Medical bills cause 50% of bankruptcies filed in the US. On the other hand, I know many who've had most of their medical bills covered by their health insurance policies. But, health insurance used to be a lot more affordable. Now, it's a huge line item in thier budgets & must be taken into consideration in how they allocate their finances.
You didn't mention you should speak Portuguese in Portugal (it's obvious, but...)
There is this thing called: "English proficiency index" in that survey, Portugal is above Germany and Sweden. It means that more than 80% of the Portuguese population speaks English well, so, No, you don't need to speak Portuguese in Portugal. Besides, Portuguese people understand Spanish and quite a lot of Italian.
@@imanoldurham5395 If you say so.
@@jdsantibanez It's not me, it's that study, you can Google it, honestly, it's hard to believe, Portugal is above countries like Luxembourg and Finland, but in the methodology they say that they are based on the test result in 2 million adults all over the world. 2 millions! I mean that's data.
I am a Portuguese resident originally from the US. I have spent time in Spain as well. Believe me - if you are residing in Portugal you definitely need to learn Portuguese. I have a bank account at the second largest bank in PT and only about 10% of their phone staff speaks English. This despite assurances that English is widely spoken. From my experience the Portuguese are not great at English and certainly not that much better than Spaniards - and I can tell you that while I LOVE Spaniards, their level of English is usually very low if nonexistent.
@@imanoldurham5395 I agree English, even a little, is understood particularly in areas that are well visited by tourists. In terms of Italian, while there is a significant number of Italians that have emigrated to PT-I found almost no one that spoke in Italian when I tried to converse in that language. 😢 Cheers.
Australia is out of the question after the problems the citizens went through during covid
Both Australia and Canada have been disqualified because of their COVID responses (well, USA also).
@@hipsterkennyrogers909 What were their COVID responses?
Yeah! How dare they put all those restrictions on people during covid! And for what? Just to save a couple of million lives?
@@Roguesta54 a lot of travel restrictions
You obviously got your information from some right-wing biased source ... I travelled over 6000 km around the country during those "travel restrictions" you refer to.
Interesting that a lot of the video you showed was in the state of Queensland, the capital of which is Brisbane, yet you didn’t mention it in your list of cities.
I have distant relatives in Ireland, I thought a lot about going there for a short time
@@Eddie-ud4bb only if a parent or grandparent. Tip: don’t comment when you don’t know what you’re talking about.
Two of my friends from US came to Panama 3. Onths ago , and they could not stopped saying how calm and safe they felt. So based on that. I can believe the US Stats
The problem with the Global Peace Index is that it combines internal and external peace/safety. While both are important, I would rather see separate numbers. The US will always be low-ranked because we seriously meddle everywhere.
True, but most of the weight is on personal safety and security. The crime stats show a similar picture.
Heck, I'll bet the internal crime stats are way worse than external. We freaking NEED to be meddling here within our own country! The US is the definitiion of pot calling the kettle black all.day.long.
You have to take this list with a grain of salt. The best place for anybody is probably where you feel most comfortable, considering the cost of living, the culture, healthcare, and safety. Bullet trains, tall buildings, and wide highways may not much matter if you are bored, and don't feel comfortable, especially if the cost of living is high. Local culture and cost of living are important, and also distance to home,
Amelia I love your top! Loving it here in Santa Marianita. Back in the US they close things down. I can’t wait to get back to Ecuador!
We are waiting on our Portugese visas after almost applying to Ecuador. Crime is so much lower, a big factor for us, while health care seems to be very good in Ecuador healthcare is ranked higher in Portugal and then there is the quality of life.
We would love to visit Portugal one day.
Best of luck to you!
JP and Amelia,
Hello from Arizona.
You guys never mention Uruguay in your work/videos.
Do you have any opinions on Uruguay?
My wife and I are thinking of retiring there?
Or Colombia! I lived in Cuenca for 5 years and I have lived in Manizales for another 5 years. Ecuador cannot hold a candle to Colombia in most ways that count, healthcare, quality of life, cost of living, and on, and on. you guys should come north for a visit and have your minds blown.
Uruguay is amazing - it's just far away if you want to travel back and forth to the US.
@@DarcieGlam Thank You Darcie!!
I appreciate your response.
It’s on our list to visit and film, but it’s a long way from the US. It’s a 4.5 hour flight from Quito. About 9 hours from Miami so it’s not as popular with our viewers.
@@AmeliaAndJP This viewer is interested in Uraguay! 🙂