Retire Cheaper exists to answer one question well: where can an ordinary retirement income buy a genuinely good life? For many people, a Social Security check that barely covers rent at home can pay for a comfortable apartment, meals out and good care in the right place abroad, or in a smarter US town. We show what that life costs, city by city, with the visa rules, healthcare and taxes that come with it.
Who we write for
Our readers are retirees and near-retirees on Social Security plus modest savings, and younger planners who want to retire early or simply live large for less. We write in plain language, use real numbers with dates, and say plainly when a place is a poor fit.
Who writes our guides
Angel Lynn Salver, Founder and Writer. Angel Lynn Salver is an international traveler, writer, retired business owner, and advocate for making a fulfilling retirement accessible to people of ordinary means. She has traveled through more than 40 countries and lived in eight.
Read Angel’s full profile and guides →
Where our numbers come from
Visa rules, income minimums and fees come from embassies, consulates and immigration ministries wherever we can reach them. Social Security, Medicare and tax statements come from SSA.gov, Medicare.gov and IRS.gov. City costs come from named data sources and dated listings. When an official page can't be reached, we say which published source we relied on. Details are on our How we research page.
Nothing here is personal financial, tax, legal, immigration or medical advice. Rules and prices change, so confirm current details with the official source or a licensed professional before you sign, pay or move.
Independence
No country, developer, insurer or relocation service pays to be featured, and we don't accept payment for placement.
Keeping guides current
Each guide shows the date it was last updated. We re-check visa rules, costs and sources on a regular schedule and update the page rather than leave old information in place. If you spot an error, tell us and we'll fix it.