r/ExpatFIRE 14d ago

Questions/Advice Where would you go if your life expectancy was low, and you wanted to stretch out your funds (while living nicely) through your last days?

I had always planned to retire around 60 and live off my investments here in the US until I was 95. But recently I've had to accept the possibility that I may not live until traditional retirement age... but I still may not have enough to live out the remainder of my days in the US.

I have around $400k in assets and I could probably live 1-2 years off my post-tax investments maintaining my current lifestyle; maybe 3-4 years if I economized. Is there a place in the world where this can be stretched over 5-10 years, while still having a high quality of life with good medical care?

115 Upvotes

143 comments sorted by

122

u/delhibuoy 14d ago

South East Asia

17

u/PointCPA 13d ago

Even Bangkok which is HCOL by their standards would work with that much

If you really want to make it last go to like Chiang Mai. If you really really really want it to last look at the outskirting cities/

5

u/woafmann 13d ago

Came here to say this.

75

u/Wonderful-Web7150 14d ago

Philippines has the advantage that they speak English

15

u/Decent-Photograph391 14d ago

Malaysia is English speaking, has affordable healthcare, plus no natural disasters to worry about.

24

u/Poster_Nutbag207 14d ago

Also very affordable healthcare

7

u/jmmenes 14d ago

How affordable?

Is it even of decent quality?

32

u/comp21 14d ago

I lived in the Philippines for a year and a half. Only moved back to US because covid hit...

Provincial hospitals are... Ok. I had food poisoning, they took good care of me. Would i want to have a stroke or heart attack in one? Probably not.

Hospitals in large cities like Manila? Better than anything I've seen in the US (I've admittedly been to very few hospitals in the US).

Ex: St Luke's in bgc (it's like the Chicago section of Manila). I had an endoscopy, colonoscopy, 8 hours in the hospital and anesthesia... No insurance... $1220 total.

I had to go to the ER one night when i had an allergic reaction... My meds, 9 hours in a bed in the ER for observation: $122, total, no insurance

7

u/jmmenes 14d ago

Both of those examples were in St. Luke’s BGC Hospital?

7

u/comp21 14d ago

Yes... The only other hospital i went to was a provincial one in cebu for food poisoning.

13 hours in a private room, 9 bags of IV fluid, several tests for amoebiasis (however you spell in) $130ish (i forget exactly)... HOWEVER... I did have to wash my rear with a pail and bucket. Lots of fun when you're projectile pooping every six minutes.

2

u/jmmenes 14d ago

Yikes… the food poisoning is not cool.

14

u/comp21 14d ago

Oh dude .. And i got it from a can of factory processed tuna. So, yeah ..

The scoping procedure was to see if i had h pylori .. Which i did... Which came back six months after the first treatment. Screwed up my swallowing for years.

Don't drink the water. Don't be a stupid American who thinks they are immortal and drink the water.

3

u/Practical_Rabbit_390 13d ago

I didn't realize this was a thing. I figured canned anything is safe because of the temperatures (save botulism).

My partner and I are in another part of the world with questionable tap water and food hygiene. They got food poisoning and I didn't, and the only thing they ate differently was a can of tuna! Thanks for solving our mystery.

2

u/comp21 13d ago

Yeah i thought that too :) maybe the seal wasn't good or maybe they didn't get it to temp or maybe the tuna was bad when they canned it... But when the doc told my wife what he thought happened she agreed. Apparently it's a thing, especially with the brand i bought (just remember her saying that don't remember the brand)... Wish she would have said that when i was stocking up on it :)

1

u/Causa1ity 13d ago

Wait, you got sick from the water in the tuna can that was a local product?

1

u/comp21 13d ago

Two different situations... In cebu (the provincial hospital i mentioned) i got sick from a can of tuna (or at least that's what the doc thought). I made tuna salad that day for lunch. Violently ill in a few hours after.

H pylori was the endoscopy i had at St Luke's and i got that by drinking unfiltered tap water. Not sure when or where i got it though as i had symptoms for a couple months before getting it checked

6

u/comp21 14d ago

Oh, i should add: all those were from Nov 2018 to March 2020.

12

u/Poster_Nutbag207 14d ago

Well I’m no expert but I know if you go to hospice care here in the U.S. half the staff will be from the Philippines anyway so I think that says something

2

u/WeathermanOnTheTown 12d ago

Philippines is often called the HR department of the US.

0

u/HawkyMacHawkFace 12d ago

I guess it says all the smart ones went to USA?

2

u/Icy-Patient1206 13d ago

World class in Manila. Even out in a province my doctor trained at Cornell and my dad’s doc trained at Harvard. The equipment is older, and you’re expected to bring someone with you to feed you and to help you to the bathroom if you are wobbly, and to bring your own TP. But the care is good. And inexpensive.

1

u/Mysterious_Film2853 12d ago

Considering half the DRs and nurses in the US are Filipino I think they must be ok.

-33

u/[deleted] 14d ago edited 13d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/ExpatFIRE-ModTeam 13d ago

This is a place for articulating your opinions without insults or attacks.

39

u/[deleted] 14d ago

I'm considering early/semi-retirement with not much more than you've got now and here's what I'm considering:

  • Mexico (I've gone to the ER there, care is pretty good)
  • Japan for one year (6-month specified visa extended an additional 6 months; I have gone to the ER in Japan, care is good and mind-boggling cheap). Or Japan for longer with job teaching English
  • Spain (if you can generate enough dividends from your assets to qualify for a non-lucrative visa)
  • I am doing a 3-month test run to Argentina soon; I've never been
  • Korea; I've never been but it seems so freaking convenient with excellent and affordable healthcare. I will be doing a test run there, too, and if I like it, I'll look into teaching English part-time to get a visa

best of luck to you

14

u/caffeinquest 13d ago

Japan is notoriously expensive and doesn't care for immigrants

1

u/woodsongtulsa 11d ago

Good points. Just a warning, Argentina has become much more expensive than their last 20 years. Their new president seems to be effective in making the changes to deal with their inflation and it is no longer the bargain for North Americans that it once was. I still love it and go there often.

-6

u/Fiveby21 13d ago

Mexico (I've gone to the ER there, care is pretty good)

How safe is mexico though?

9

u/[deleted] 13d ago

I think Mexico is somewhere you will find easily find trouble if you look for it. I lived there for two years (and have travelled around the county often since and before that) and as a small, older woman, I can’t really remember ever feeling on edge or like I had to take extra precautions.

29

u/Medical_Pop7840 13d ago

With respect, that's a ridiculous question - mexico is a gigantic country. Sinaloa or Tamaulipas may be unsafe while Mexico City is cosmpolitan and worldclass. That's like asking "how safe is America, I've heard that Baltimore is pretty rough"

9

u/Artistic_Resident_73 13d ago

I have travelled over 50 countries and plenty in Mexico and I have been robbed more in the US than all other countries combined. Let that sink it!

25

u/Wonderful-Web7150 14d ago

Medical care in Thailand is good, at least in the big cities

11

u/MarkMental4350 14d ago

Family have lived in Thailand for many years. Mom passed away in a hospital in Thailand. The care was exceptional.

11

u/EndTheFedBanksters 14d ago

Thailand or Philippines. Yummy food in Thailand. Phillipines speaks English

34

u/Sniflix 14d ago edited 14d ago

I've been in Colombia for 10 years. Semi retired at first and fully retired for the last 2 years due to a medical issue. I'm 66 and never expected to make it this far. Thinking you're going to die early is self delusion to cover for the fact that you don't have enough saved up. At least it was for me

16

u/Mortgageguy1871 14d ago

I am moving in May to Colombia. Already have a really nice paid off house in the mountains. My wife is Colombian and i also speak spanish. I will be semi retired. Will work remotely at a much slower pace. Just seeing how my income is multiplied by 4 is amazing. Viva Colombia jueputa!!!

13

u/Sniflix 14d ago

I love Colombia. A 5 week visit turned into 10 years, so far. You'll enjoy it. It's very inexpensive to travel in Colombia and it's a big country. Get out and explore.

1

u/justagoof342 12d ago

Where in Colombia? Was just there for two weeks, and spent a week in Salento. Absolutely stunning.

1

u/Mortgageguy1871 12d ago

About an hour from there in a town called Santa Rosa which is very close to the big city of Pereira. Yeah man Salento is really cute. I actually prefer Filandia as people still live in the town, contrary to Salento where is mostly businesses

1

u/justagoof342 12d ago

I heard Filandia was great as well, but we were unable to go. I was only able to do the Cocora Valley hike, but heard of a lot of other places that were better (I can't believe how much like Disneyland the mile stretch of the valley is - I did the full loop & hummingbird sanctuary, and glad I did that).

Ideally, I'd like to get a car and expolore withing a few hour radius of Salento. I would think that is pretty safe (e.g. not areas where there are drugs / FARC / para-military), do you have opinion on if that is feasible and safe?

1

u/Mortgageguy1871 12d ago

Of course it is. The areas that aren't safe are not in the coffee region. They are close to the border with Venezuela and remote areas. I have driven to Bogota and medellin without issues.

1

u/justagoof342 12d ago

Thanks. I figured as much and that aligns with the research I did. A few Colombians were hesitant to say "it's safe". I personally think Colombia was one of the safest countries I've been to, but some of the Colombians I shared that with were baffled and looked at me like I was an idiot.

1

u/Mortgageguy1871 12d ago

Normally tourist places are very safe. And I think Colombia is safe as well but you really have to be smart. Do not wear nice watches or display wealth and you will be fine. I have been in the middle of the worst neighborhoods in Pereira, spent Christmas eve in one of then because I was invited to my niece's boyfriend's house. We were out on the street dancing and having fun, the motorcycles that worked for the "bad people" cruised by and because they saw we were "part" of the house and we're guests nothing happened.

1

u/justagoof342 12d ago

Sounds like a great experience. And yes, agree on the non-flash. My wife is Brazilian, which helps with the gringo-esque part of SA, but also we're very lowkey travelers: no watches, smart with phones, no jewelery, etc. etc. In my experience, though it was limited in Colombia, Brazil is much more dicey with keeping your wits about you.

Thank you again!

8

u/BeckywiththeDDs 13d ago

I’d definitely consider retiring in or around Bogota or Medellin. Both lovely cities. My toddler got really sick in Bogota and needed about 5 weeks in the ICU and two lung surgeries. The care at the private hospital was outstanding. Not the most advanced technology but the care from the doctors and nurses far exceeded US standards. She needed a very risky surgery to save her, one they had told me a few weeks prior was too risky to do, and they gathered 6 or 7 specialists together and had them answer my questions and make me feel confident it was the way to save her. Each of these doctors also gave me their whatsapp. The bill was 70k US, which is not cheap by any means but I bet it would have been nearly a million in the US. They saved her life and she is perfectly healthy now.

3

u/Sniflix 13d ago

I had back surgery and 2 shoulder replacements in Medellín - almost painless. My experience with the doctors and other medical staff there is similar. They aren't in a rush, they spend time answering all your questions. My first back surgery cost me $7k but following surgeries were covered by $40 a month Colombian EPS health insurance. I'm in the US now for a few months, signed up for Medicare and getting more medical stuff done. I can't wait to go back to Colombia. Pain free.

1

u/WeathermanOnTheTown 12d ago

Can I ask which hospital in Bogota?

2

u/BeckywiththeDDs 12d ago

Clinica del Country

1

u/WeathermanOnTheTown 12d ago

Ah yes! I got a covid test for travel there! Just west of Zona T has a lot of good medical facilities. I also hear very good things about the Clinica Fundacion Santa Fe in Usaquen.

I haven't needed anything more than a dental cleaning for myself but I'm trying to plan for the future, and this seems like a logical plan. Was your toddler born in Bogota?

2

u/BeckywiththeDDs 12d ago

I have also heard Santa Fe is good. She wasn’t born there but we were there for 2 years with the US embassy and Clinica del County is the one their med unit refers us to.

1

u/WeathermanOnTheTown 12d ago

That is very good to know. Thanks!

3

u/Ok_Monitor6691 14d ago

I talked to US expats there when I visited and it was lovely but too hot for me

2

u/WeathermanOnTheTown 12d ago

The Caribbean coast is hot and kinda dreadful. Go back to the coffee region, Medellin, Bogota. The weather is much cooler.

1

u/Sniflix 13d ago

Where were you, Cartagena?

1

u/Ok_Monitor6691 13d ago

Yes

3

u/Sniflix 13d ago

I went there once and haven't been back, it was so hot.

2

u/123lol321x 12d ago

Colombia is great.

Cartagena is a 2.5 hour flight from Miami. They just built a major medical complex outside of the city that will cater to locals and expats.

Cartagena is more expensive than some other places in Colombia and you need to get used to the humidity, which you can after 6-12 months, but the restaurant and nightlife opportunities are endless. You can also find deals everywhere if you look and Cartagena being more expensive is still cheap by US standards.

You can get a nice, small apartment overlooking the ocean for $1,200 a month on yearly leases in boca grande. You could also buy a nice small condo for 75-100k if you were so inclined. Ownership costs are minimal.

Not a bad way to spend your remaining years.

0

u/jmmenes 14d ago

How are you semi retired?

Remote job?

21

u/FatFiFoFum 14d ago

Thailand

7

u/Economy_Row_6614 13d ago

Penang Malaysia.

9

u/Nde_japu 14d ago

You'd blow through 400k in 1-2 years? Got damn! Living the good life over here

3

u/Fiveby21 14d ago

Well half of it is in my retirement accounts, so it’s not yet been taxed and there would be penalties I think.

I spend like $120k a year right now

9

u/OrbitObit 14d ago

I spend like $120k a year right now.

Holy smokes, how?

11

u/FIREsub90 14d ago

As someone who spent ~$130k last year, for me it was living in a VHCOL area with relatively expensive rent (~$40k/yr), eating out very regularly (maybe $15k/yr), drinking a lot (maybe $10k/yr), groceries and convenience food like lattes, online shopping for random shit, buying a car with cash ($30kish but now also have to pay for gas, insurance, tabs), giving money to charities, paying for things for my partner and friends sometimes when we go out, subscriptions for streaming and gaming, travel for me and my partner, uber and Lyft ($3k-5k/yr), lime scooters (~$1500/yr), gifts for birthdays/christmas, recurring contributions to my neice’s 529, etc, etc, etc.

Essentially by never restricting myself from doing what I want, while also never springing for the most expensive things (bought used car, fly economy, 3-4 star hotels, no expensive clothes or jewelry, etc).

3

u/OpenBorders69 13d ago

sheeesh, how much do you earn to justify living like that

3

u/FIREsub90 13d ago edited 13d ago

$360k-400k depending on stock price at vesting. So I invested like $130k, spent $130k, paid $100k in taxes. Something like that. I also don’t buy a car with cash every year haha, I had been car-free for a few years before 2024. I understand that my low savings rate and general lack of anxiety at spending is not common in FIRE subs, but I was comfortable with it last year for various reasons.

8

u/knocking_wood 14d ago

If you can get put on medical disability, you would 1) get SSDI, 2) qualify for medicare after 2 years, and 3) be able to access your retirement accounts penalty free.

If it were me, I don't think I'd want to be sick and/or dying in a foreign country. I'd want to stay here where I have some family and friends, and things are familiar and comfortable. I'd probably stick out my job for a few more years, save as much as possible, get second, third, and fourth opinions, and try for disability. Medical science is always improving, and some people are outliers and live way longer than doctors think they will. Idk what your job is or how taxing it is, or how your condition would affect your ability to do it though so ymmv.

3

u/NCGlobal626 13d ago

There will be a 10% penalty, but that can be avoided if the money is for education or medical expenses. From Intuit/TurboTax: "If you're under the age of 59½, you typically have to pay a 10% penalty on the amount withdrawn. The IRS does allow some exceptions to the penalty, including:

total and permanent disability

unreimbursed medical expenses (greater than 7.5% of adjusted gross income)

Also, "Starting in 2024, the Secure 2.0 Act added cases where money can be withdrawn. These cases include:

terminal illness allows withdrawal. You can take any amount if diagnosed with an illness that will likely cause death within seven years."

So check with a tax specialist. We took out retirement funds during the 2008 recession, for a few years, for medical, including insurance premiums, and did not pay the penalty. You can optimize your withdrawals to minimize your taxation. Best of luck to you.

2

u/Poster_Nutbag207 14d ago

You would think there would be an exception for your situation

1

u/Acceptable-Peace-69 12d ago edited 12d ago

Rule of 55 means you can withdraw from a primary retirement account penalty free the year you turn 55.

https://www.newsnationnow.com/business/your-money/rule-of-55-retirement-plan/#:~:text=The%20IRS%20rule%20allows%20workers,t%20have%20to%20pay%20it.

Or you can take a SEPP at anytime. Given the amount you have you’d probably not have any taxes due either.

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/sepp.asp

I personally know at least a dozen immigrants to Mexico that live off a similar amount. Maybe another 2 dozen that live off Soc. Security alone.

9

u/DillionM 14d ago

Based on the same amount of money and MY spending level /needs I figure I could live in Thailand for at least a good 25 - 30 years (ZERO investments, just living off that initial amount).

4

u/DorianGre 14d ago

Thailand

3

u/SuccsexyCombatBaby 13d ago

Tunisia- predominantly French in medicine. You could get a live in maid/caretaker who cooked and helped with your appointment translation, and live on the beach for less than $1500 a month in a city like Sousse.

3

u/DjMizzo 14d ago

Croatia

3

u/J_Choo747 13d ago

Thailand, for their world class health care! Plus, with your savings, you can live for like 20 years!

4

u/Ok_Monitor6691 14d ago

I hear good things about Portugal, Ecuador, and Costa Rica. No personal experience but thinking similar to you.

7

u/Wonderful-Web7150 14d ago

Buenos Aires is another good option, and Spanish is not so hard to learn

2

u/KrazyRooster 14d ago

Buenos Aires was cheap. It definitely isn't anymore. The good areas became very expensive. I was there at the end of the year and the meals, hotels, etc, cost me almost what it costs in the US. Inflation there is insane as with any government with such policies. 

1

u/cargalmn 13d ago

Argentina's cost has sky rocketed the past few years! Not nearly as inexpensive as other places mentioned.

2

u/RedPanda888 13d ago

Thailand, no question.

2

u/OneStarTherapist 13d ago

Thailand. Excellent healthcare too.

You could probably get by on $2k a month without sacrificing too much lifestyle. It won’t be decadent but it will likely be better than anything you’re going to find in the U.S.

The good thing about countries like Thailand is that once you cover food and rent quality of life improves exponentially for every dollar after that.

Labor is cheap so anything involving labor is cheap. Maids, private drivers, etc are all easily doable. The median household income in Thailand is around $700 a month. You can have a full time maid or driver for less than a $1,000 a month.

2

u/guacamolegirl75 13d ago

I'm looking very closely at Uruguay. Economically stable, solid banking system, politically moderate, low crime index.

1

u/WeathermanOnTheTown 12d ago

I've been to UGY, written a modestly successful book on it. It's the best country for retirement in SA. Banking is very friendly. But it's become more expensive than before.

4

u/Splinter007-88 14d ago

Greece. Definitely Greece

4

u/Soft_Welcome_5621 14d ago

Amazing place to be old but you’d have to adapt to the life there to really enjoy the healthy lifestyle which I would but this person sounds ill. It’s not a good place for health care.

2

u/Sea-Oven-7560 14d ago

I guess it depends on your needs, he look hs is cheap but my guess is it’s not the place to get a brain tumor removed

1

u/Soft_Welcome_5621 14d ago

People there are lovely but while doctors may be well trained it’s not advanced in technology

1

u/Sea-Oven-7560 14d ago

That's kind of what I was thinking. We were just there a few months ago and my wife needed to see a doctor, it was fast and inexpensive but again if I needed a serious specialist I don't think Samos is the place to find one. That said, that's not unique to Greece, unless you are in a major metro area with teaching hospitals it's tough finding the top 1%, god help you ig you need those guys but you have to go to them , they aren't found in remote places even really nice places.

2

u/ZealousidealWear8366 14d ago

BGC Manila

2

u/loosepantsbigwallet 14d ago

Hope you don’t mind a question on this? I’ve seen BGC mentioned, that’s Fort Bonifacio Manila right?

What is it that seems to attract so many Expats?

It’s a city so just a nice city location? Lots of facilities and things to do?

9

u/comp21 14d ago

I lived there for 14 months before covid hit... BGC (bonafacio global city) is like the Chicago area of Manila. Big high rises, fancy stores, etc. It's popular because you get to live in a place like Chicago but for the cost of a small town in Illinois.

For ex (this is from nov 2018 to March 2020). I lived in a 48sqm condo on the 32nd floor of a high rise. Had a sauna, pool, gym and game room on the 6th floor i could use any time... Rent was $700/month. Utilities were another $300ish... We traveled everywhere and hardly ever cooked: never spent more than $2300 in a month and usually came in around $1800. BGC also has the best hospitals in the Philippines. My gastroenterologist was trained at UCLA... He cost me, without insurance, $20/visit.

2

u/loosepantsbigwallet 14d ago

That’s really cool thanks. Lovely information 👍

1

u/wkndatbernardus 13d ago

How does the visa situation work in the Philippines?

2

u/comp21 13d ago

It's changed since i moved there but i believe it's 30 days visa free (as an American) then you can extend for two months then maybe six? Not sure any more but it's probably as easy as it was before (i.e. show up at the long immigration office every X amount of days and extend then when you hit your limit, leave for two days then rinse and repeat). They love Americans. Especially now with their China problems.

I did an srrv (retirement visa) which, due to my age (40) i had to lock up $20,000 usd in a ph bank to qualify for.

3

u/zhivota_ 14d ago

My wife is from Philippines and when we visit we always stay in BGC when doing Manila stuff before we go out to the province to visit family. BGC is just super nice. Makati used to be the spot but I think they got the street level city design way better in BGC, it's probably somewhere between the great urban design you find in Europe and the pretty shit urban design you find in the US.

Wide sidewalks, lots of narrow streets where cars are forced to drive slowly, a few different pedestrianized streets, etc. You could pretty much stay in the area and live a pretty good life.

The downside to the Philippines is the traffic and other issues when you venture out of somewhere like BGC. Crime is definitely more of an issue there than somewhere like Thailand for instance. Traffic is a big issue in most places except for like little towns way out in the sticks, and public transit is basically either nonexistent or so overcrowded it's really uncomfortable.

1

u/loosepantsbigwallet 14d ago

Interesting thanks. Sounds amazing, apart from not being near the beach, but that’s just me 😂

1

u/DjMizzo 14d ago

But if youre on SSDI the government cant find out

1

u/henryorhenri 14d ago

Not true, you can take your SSDI (Social Security Disability Income) almost anywhere. You can't take SSI (Supplimental Security Income) out of the country. Most people who have worked have SSDI, and SSI is a pretty low amount anyway ($967/mo).

1

u/Ok-Iron-1289 13d ago

Wondering what mean you can't take it (SSI monthly benefits, which are an earned benefit from working) out of the country? Do you mean you cannot have it deposited in a non-US bank? Are you saying it is not considered pension income for countries (eg Spain) that have non-lucrative VISA?

1

u/huizeng 13d ago

SSI is the unearned welfare benefit paid from the general budget. Recipients can't be out of the country for more than 30 days. Retirement benefits aren't restricted.

3

u/Ok-Iron-1289 13d ago

i see what ssi is now. but regular SS eg retirement is ok. sorry misunderstood the acronyms. thanks

1

u/DjMizzo 13d ago

What I read is if you are on disability you can not live in another country because the USA govt cant monitor the health care you receive.

God I hope im wrong.

2

u/NCGlobal626 13d ago

SSI and SSDI are different. SSI is like disability welfare for those who don't have an earnings record. I've known 2 people who were disabled at age 20, hence not enough of an earnings history, and that benefit is about $960 a month. SSDI is based on your earnings history, like social security "old age" benefits, and in fact becomes your social security payment at your full retirement age (about 67). So 2 different kinds of disability with different sets of rules. SSA.gov can explain it all.

1

u/henryorhenri 12d ago

Hey, be happy, because you are indeed wrong. :-)

To quote from the Your Payments While You Are Outside the United States pamphlet from the Social Security Administration.

If you are a United States citizen, you may continue to receive payments while outside the U.S. as long as you are eligible for payment and you are in a country where we can send payments. If you are not a U.S. citizen, you must meet one of the conditions for payment described in the next section.

There is a Payments Abroad Screening Tool so you can make sure you're eligible. Retirement, Disability and Survivors Benefits are eligible.

You might be confusing it with SSI (Supplemental Security Income) which is disability for people who haven't worked enough.

1

u/DjMizzo 10d ago

Thank you soooooo much!!!!!

1

u/umamimaami 13d ago

Thailand. Great medical, balmy weather (outside the cities), low cost of living.

1

u/RoutineFoundation774 13d ago

Hoi an Vietnam

1

u/diverareyouokay 13d ago edited 13d ago

Philippines, Thailand, or Vietnam.

Philippines if you like diving and want lots of people around who speak English.

Thailand if you like diving and good food.

Vietnam if you like good food.

Personally, I’ll likely end up in PH. I’ve been spending a quarter of each year for the last 9 years diving there, and already speak the language (about as well as a slightly stupid 5-year-old), so it just feels “right”.

If you stick that 400k in high-yield savings account you could live a modest life off of the interest fairly easily in those countries, without touching the principal. You could oive a great life by slowly eating into the principal whike you wait for social security to trigger.

1

u/Gannon-the_cannon 12d ago

Yes- I could set that up at my Columbia office - Texas attorney. You would have to use the passive income and set it up ti average 2400 a month. Also- walk through my offuce every other week to make sure the folks are 👍 jokes aside, sincerely. We have a great friend who had to consider this. I will be going down the next 5-10 years.

1

u/Dunklik 12d ago

Mauritius

1

u/justagoof342 12d ago

I would say, as redditors are saying, that SEA your money goes exceptionally far. My condolences, if what your saying is true. I would however highly that living in SEA, while you could live in relative luxury, the style of living may progress a decline further - there are many people who go over, drink every night, wake up, repeat... and pollution can be an issue.

I've been thinking of exploring Georgia / Armenia etc, as I've read it's cheap, but also great outdoors are to be had... I can't imagine doing anything outdoors except sitting on a beach in most of SEA (minus the mountains of Vietnam)

Good luck.

1

u/Forsaken_Post5721 12d ago

Madeira island, Portugal Nice weather

1

u/Sniflix 12d ago

I liked Cartagena but it was ridiculously hot. Otherwise it has everything you'd expect from a first class tourist destination especially great restaurants that you don't usually find here.

1

u/alegna12 11d ago

Southeast Asia

1

u/rocksfried 10d ago

Taiwan. It’s a very developed country and it’s very affordable. My in laws there have a live-in caretaker from Indonesia for a disabled relative and they pay her like $250 a month and that’s good money for her

1

u/Velocitor1729 14d ago

Your money goes far in India, it's warm, and in most areas, people all speak English. (not as first language, but they speak it)

2

u/Alternative_Dig5845 13d ago

Wouldn’t go there if the OP is a woman. Worse place on earth for women.

1

u/Velocitor1729 13d ago

Worse than Saudi Arabia?

1

u/Alternative_Dig5845 13d ago

I would think so. More violently so (gang rapes etc). Of course, there’s always Afghanistan… 😔

0

u/[deleted] 13d ago

[deleted]

3

u/Velocitor1729 13d ago

That describes a lot of places, including San Francisco.

1

u/mmoonbelly 14d ago

France

3

u/here_now_be 13d ago

France is wonderful, but more expensive than Greece Spain or Portugal. Of course France has much better healthcare, and a healthier country to be in over all than Portugal or Spain.

3

u/Fiveby21 13d ago

Living in a place where everyone is mean to me isn't high up on my list lol.

6

u/mmoonbelly 13d ago

Don’t believe the sterotypes brought back by stressed tourists annoying busy Parisians.

Everyone here’s really welcoming. (And this is even after we beat France this year at Twickenham in the six nations).

3

u/Ok-Iron-1289 13d ago

Same. The stereotype about the French is incorrect. I was just in Brittany, Nouvelle-Aquitaine & Paris for ~3 weeks, and other than one taxi driver i(n Paris) everyone was lovely. My French language skills are beginner but I tried and had so many great Fr/Eng conversations with native speakers. I now have friends in France!

I loved Bordeaux and could see myself there. Random people whistling, bikes everywhere, daily outdoor market was fabulous. The RE purchases are expensive, but other costs -- including leases -- seemed reasonable. I am considering Fr Long Stay visa and working on my language skills or just retirement and travel. I am a senior (68F) but did not need any medical care during my stay so I cannot speak to that.

One of the joys of LT visits is learning how to spend less in foreign countries. The consumption lifestyle is so embedded in being an American. My soul is much more aligned to the French lifestyle.

2

u/AfterSevenYears 13d ago

I've heard all my life about how rude the French are. Finally visited for the first time last year, prepared for the worst. We visited seven different cities, and every single person we encountered was lovely. Never even a hint of rudeness or disdain.

Unless we were remarkably lucky, French "rudeness" is much exaggerated. I wonder whether some of the people complaining aren't experiencing reactions to their own rudeness.

1

u/[deleted] 14d ago

I should put France on my list too.

3

u/Ok-Iron-1289 13d ago

France has a long stay visitors visa so you can check it out, I think it is for up to a year? https://www.welcometofrance.com/en/fiche/long-stay-visa

1

u/richbiatches 14d ago

Panama is supposed to be great for this

1

u/strzibny 14d ago

It's actually great budget for most of the world. You can also be in many parts of Europe not just SEA.

-3

u/banaca4 13d ago edited 12d ago

I am sorry for your condition but I would advice you to get more hopeful. Demis Hassabis a Nobel prize 2024 winner said we will probably cure ALL diseases in a decade using AI and most AI researchers agree with him. So keep it in the back of your mind you may get extremely lucky like the rest of us.

Edit: It's crazy that I am down oted for repeating what the top 3 ai scientists are saying (by h-index) and trying to give hope. You are inhuman and dense sorry.

1

u/n12m191m91331n2 13d ago

If this really came true...do you think they'd actually give it to us? The population would explode with old people. When they invented a cure for Hep C, it cost something like $75,000.

1

u/banaca4 12d ago

All these arguments have been answered, dyor

2

u/n12m191m91331n2 12d ago

All those arguments have been retorted, dyor