8 Great Places to Retire Around the Globe

TO COME UP WITH OUR LIST, WE CONSIDERED CLIMATE, COST OF LIVING AND ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE.

COSTA RICA Health care is excellent and so inexpensive that some retirees pay out of pocket for medical services. A couple can live comfortably on $2,500 a month; some retirees live well on much less than that. Active retirees will enjoy Costa Rica's beaches and lush valleys. The average temperature is 72 degrees, athough coastal areas are much warmer. SAN RAMON, in the Central Valley region, is only 45 minutes from the international airport outside San Jose. The country's modern telecommunications system makes it easy to stay in touch with friends and family back home. Costa Rica is also one of the most politically stable countries in Latin America (it hasn't had an army since 1949), which is one reason it's so popular with retirees. Costa Rica is home to more than 20,000 U.S. expats.

ECUADOR Inter-national Living ranked Ecuador number one in its 2013 Retirement Index. The weather is mild: Temperatures range from spring-like in the Central Valley to tropical in the rainforest areas. The cost of living is very low: A retired couple could live well on $1,500 a month. Dinner out costs as little as $2.50; a beer can be had for 85 cents. Expats can import their household items duty-free. There are up-to-date hospitals and English-speaking doctors in Ecuador's three major cities, Quito, Cuenca and Guayaquil. Private insurance plans are available for about $70 a month. Smaller communities, such as COTACACHI, provide a laid-back lifestyle for retirees seeking respite from city life. Retirees who want a beach lifestyle may prefer SALINAS, Ecuador's largest coastal resort town.

FRANCE You shouldn't retire here in search of a low cost of living. That said, once you get away from the major cities, France is more affordable. In the Provence and Languedoc regions, you can expect about 300 days of sunshine each year; winters are mild, but summers can be very hot. AIX-EN-PROVENCE offers low-cost cultural activities for seniors; it's also a walk-able city, with mansions in the old city dating from the 16th century. The Anglo-American Group of Provence, made up of about 400 families, hosts regular conversation groups and other activities to help expats adapt to life in France. The French    health care system provides outstanding care at a fraction of the cost of health care in the US. Public hospitals are well equipped and up-to-date on the latest medical techniques.

Lavender fields, Provence, France

IRELAND The housing crisis in Ireland has made real estate affordable for retirees looking to get in touch with their Irish roots. GAL-WAY, on Ireland's western coast, is safe and walkable. Although Ireland is more expensive than popular retirement destinations in Latin America and Asia, a U.S. couple can still live comfortably on $2,500 a month. Ireland has one of the best health care systems in the world. Retirees who qualify for residency can purchase private insurance for about 555 Euros (or about $721) a    year, according to International Living. Other pluses: beautiful beaches, a verdant countryside and festivals celebrating everything from oysters to horse racing. Just remember to bring your wellies, because it rains pretty much year-round. Temperatures range from the mid 40s to high 60s.

Baltinglass Abbey, County Wicklow, Ireland

MALAYSIA For the truly adventurous who don't mind living on the other side of the world, Malaysia is a bargain destination. It came in third, behind the Philippines and Thailand, for the lowest cost of living in International Living's 2013 Retirement Index. In GEORGE TOWN, a retired U.S. couple can live well on as little as $1,500 a month. The city is known for its rich history, architecture and food. Retirees seeking the company of other expats can find plenty of them in Kuala Lumpur and Penang. The climate in Malaysia is humid, and the average temperature in George Town is 80 degrees year-round. Health care costs are low enough that many retirees can afford to pay out-of-pocket. Premiums for national health insurance plans range from $400 to $1,000 a year, International Living reports.

MEXICO For a city with old-world charm that is far from the drug violence that has plagued other parts of Mexico, consider TLAXCALA. Because of its high elevation, the climate is always mild. Tlaxcala is popular with tourists but hasn't been overrun by expats. Retirees seeking a larger expat community within driving distance of the U.S. border may prefer Baja's Rosarito Beach area, which is just 30 minutes south of San Diego. A retired U.S. couple can live modestly in Mexico on $1,500 a month and quite comfortably on $2,500. Because of its proximity to the U.S., some retirees drive across the border for health care. For those who don't want to travel that far, many Mexican hospitals are modern, well equipped and considerably less expensive than hospitals in the U.S.

The color of Mexico

PANAMA Panama is one of the most expat-friendly countries in the world. Residency is easy to get, English is widely spoken, and many establishments accept U.S. dollars. CORON ADO, located on the Pacific coast, is a sophisticated city that was once a playground for wealthy Panamanians. Now it's home to many Americans who take advantage of retiree discounts on every-thing from movies to medications. The climate is hot and dry, with an average temperature of 86 degrees. A retired couple can live comfortably for $1,200 to $1,300 a month. Panama City's major hospitals are affiliated with U.S. hospitals. A visit to a doctor costs about $17.50-or $45 if you want a house call, according to Inter-national Living. Private health insurance is considerably less expensive than it is in the U.S.

SPAIN As with Ireland, the economic downturn has made real estate in this country more affordable, although Spain has a higher cost of living than most Latin American and Asian retirement destinations. Expect to spend about $3,500 a month to live there comfortably. BILBAO, located in the Basque region of northern Spain, features world-class museums. It has a moderate climate year-round—with temperatures ranging from the mid 50s to high 70s—and is surrounded by forests and mountains. Foodies flock to restaurants that serve everything, from traditional Basque dishes to molecular gastronomy. Public transportation is efficient and cheap. Comprehensive private health insurance for retirees over age 60 ranges from $1,560 to about $3,000 a year.

The requirement isn't limited to foreign bank and brokerage accounts, says Christine Ballard, a certified public accountant in the international tax division of Moss Adams LLP. It also extends to some retirement-savings accounts, foreign life insurance with a cash surrender value, foreign annuities, and foreign mutual funds that are held directly (rather than through a brokerage account).

Other factors to consider:

Barriers to ownership. Mexico’s low costs and proximity to the US make it a popular destination for retirees. However, the Mexican constitutions bars foreigners from directly owning property within 62 miles of any border and within 31 miles of any coastline. If you want to buy property in these areas, you must do it through a trust that gives a bank title to the property.

Crime. Dedicated expats say reports of crime outside the U.S. are often exaggerated. For example, International Living's Prescher, who previously lived in Merida, the largest city in the Yucatan peninsula, says drug violence in Mexico is limited to isolated border areas. Still, American retirees may be targets for crime, particularly in countries with a high poverty rate. For an unvarnished view of the risks, check out the State Department's Retirement Abroad advisory at http://travel.state.gov/pdf/RetiringAbroadNovember 2010.pdf. The page also provides information about road conditions, natural disasters and civil unrest.

Conveniences. Many retirees who move abroad embrace the slower pace in their adopted country. In exchange for a more laid-back lifestyle, though, you will probably have to give up some amenities that U.S. residents take for granted. Internet is available in most places, but it may be slower than it is in the U.S. Getting a phone installed could take months.