Baltimore, MD (PRWEB) January 13, 2015
Ecuador is the world’s top retirement haven this year according to InternationalLiving.com’s just-released annual Global Retirement Index. The Index ranks and rates 25 countries in eight categories, including retiree benefits, cost of renting and buying property, health care and climate.
The Index is compiled through months of research and with the help of a large team of expats and experts around the world.
“In the opinion of many expats, Ecuador is the world’s #1 retirement destination because it is beautiful, friendly, has a perfect climate, and is inexpensive. These four reasons can go a long way toward making your retirement a pleasure,” says Dan Prescher, senior editor of InternationalLiving.com who has lived in Ecuador for the past five years.
The small South American country of Ecuador offers diversity with its miles of Pacific beaches, vibrant cities and quaint colonial towns. And the cost of living is low—a fraction of what a comparably comfortable lifestyle would cost in the U.S. The country also has year-round good weather, bargain real estate and political stability. All these factors contribute to it earning the highest score in this year’s Index.
“You can get a lot more here for your dollar than you could in the U.S. or Canada,” says InternationalLiving.com’s Ecuador Highlands Correspondent Wendy DeChambeau. “A doctor’s visit will set you back around $10, while a main course in a restaurant can be had for as little as $2.50. The bus trip from Cotacachi, where I live, to Otavalo will cost you 25 cents. For big-ticket items like real estate, you can get a lot more for your dollar here than in the U.S. A couple can live well here on $1,400 a month, including rent.”
The health care in Ecuador is world class, and compared to the U.S., it is remarkably inexpensive.
“As with anywhere else, the farther you get from major cities, the less well funded and staffed facilities become, but finding highly qualified, English-speaking doctors in Ecuador is perfectly possible…and at rates that often seem unbelievably low compared to U.S. out-of-pocket prices,” Prescher reports.
The full report on why Ecuador is the best place in the world to retire in 2015 can be read here: Ecuador: The World's Best Retirement Haven in 2015.
Editor's Note: Members of the media have full permission to reproduce the article linked above once credit is given to InternationalLiving.com. Photos are also available.
Media Contact: For information about InternationalLiving.com content republishing, available source material or to book an interview for radio, TV or print with one of our experts, contact Associate Editor Carol Barron, 772-678-0287 (US), CBarron(at)InternationalLiving(dot)com or visit the Media Center. For automatic updates on the most current stories, follow International Living Media on Twitter.
For more than 30 years, InternationalLiving.com has been the leading authority for anyone looking for global retirement or relocation opportunities. Through its monthly magazine and related e-letters, extensive website, podcasts, online bookstore, and events held around the world, InternationalLiving.com provides information and services to help its readers live better, travel farther, have more fun, save more money, and find better business opportunities when they expand their world beyond their own shores. InternationalLiving.com has more than 200 correspondents traveling the globe, investigating the best opportunities for travel, retirement, real estate, and investment.
###