Retirement in Puerto Rico versus Mexico, Costa Rica, etc

[steve2470]

I was talking to my stylist, whose family is from Puerto Rico. She mentioned that living costs are much lower (except in San Juan) than in the USA. I thought about retiring there, just an idle thought for now.

Anyone know anything about retiring there versus Mexico and Costa Rica and other places ? Thank you in advance!

Steve

[mrmpa]

1. You'd still be in the States........

versus a foreign country, with the need for visas, etc.

[KamaAina]

6. And frequent flights back and forth

especially to NYC and Miami.

[mnhtnbb]

2. International Living is a good resource.

You can compare cost of living between various countries outside the US.

https://internationalliving.com/

[Lydia Leftcoast]

3. But they seem to be interested mostly in selling real estate

The only way to know for sure is to go to those places and spend some time.

Right now, Puerto Rico's economy is depressed due to bankster tricks, and lots of people are leaving, so real estate may be cheap.

Bear in mind, though, that like Hawaii, it's an island, so everything has to be shipped or flown in, which could raise costs.

Here's an actual chart. The prices look pretty similar to the mainland U.S., actually.

https://www.expatistan.com/cost-of-living/san-juan-puerto-rico

[Kaleva]

4. As mentioned, it's probably wise to take some trips to the places you are interested in

I dream about doing such a thing myself and from what I've read, Ecuador is a very good place to retire to.

[GOLGO 13]

5. My pop retired to PR.

Country is backsliding into unknown territory. Price of a gallon of milk is almost $7. People with university degrees & poor English are working McJobs. Sales tax is at 11.5% last I heard. People live with bars/hurricane shutters locked over the windows, motion-floodlights shine outside the exterior of the house at night. He's got 4 big trained dogs that wander the property.

Fresh water is a thing over there. Everyone with means, has those huge blue plastic barrels, either on top of the house or close by. Generators & water pressure hoses is a MUST have.

At night drivers in PR do not have to observe stop signs/red lights for fear of car-jackings. Don't believe? Good luck to you then.

I would usually make a comment about "3rd world" Zika-something, something. But I'd get called a racist or something equally stupid. Even though my parents are from the island.

Wherever you decide to go, please go live there for a year before you commit to buying any property. Congratulations on retirement. I have 4 years to go before I begin wasting away in Margaritaville.

[KamaAina]

7. It seems to me that PR should be pushing that.

A nice way to get some money back into their economy, which was tanking even before the above-mentioned bankster tricks because Clinton removed an important tax exemption, cratering its important pharmaceutical sector.