Retiring abroad, the real numbers
Each guide answers one question Americans ask before retiring abroad, with every figure sourced and dated. Each one also has a video on our YouTube channel. For the core numbers by country, see all countries compared.
Can You Collect Social Security If You Move Abroad?
Yes, US citizens can collect Social Security abroad almost anywhere. Where payments stop, the form that suspends them, and how US and local tax apply.
7 Countries Americans Regret Retiring To, and the Rule That Changed in Each
Portugal, Costa Rica, Thailand, Mexico, Ecuador, the Philippines and Spain: the rule that changed after Americans retired there, the current number and the fix.
Can You Retire in Mexico on Social Security Alone?
A line-by-line 2026 Mexico retirement budget against the $2,071 average Social Security check: rent, food, healthcare, and the line most budgets miss.
Portugal D7 Visa Requirements in 2026
The 2026 D7 income thresholds, the 12-month savings requirement, the full document checklist, and the filing timeline, with every number sourced.
Countries With No Income Requirement for Americans
Five countries let Americans arrive with no income check: Belize, Cambodia, the Philippines, Albania, and Georgia. Here is what changes once you want to stay.
Philippines vs Vietnam Retirement: Which One Actually Wins?
We ran $1,800 a month through 2026 prices in the Philippines and Vietnam for a year. Vietnam wins on cost; the Philippines wins on visas and healthcare.
Retire in Uruguay: The Real Cost, Residency, and Healthcare Numbers
A Montevideo budget for two, the 2026 Social Security check next to it, the real residency income rule, and the mutualista age cap nobody mentions.
Panama Pensionado Visa Cost: The Real Fees and What Lawyers Charge
Panama's retiree visa has roughly $720 to $800 in fixed costs plus an $800 refundable deposit. Six firms publish $1,865 to $4,300. Here is what sits between.