10 Best Retirement Beach Towns Around the World

Though it might be hard to believe, you could actually retire in a beach town and still have access to great health care and a low cost of living. How? By retiring in a town around the world known for its stunning beaches. Our travel expert picks some of the best beaches to retire around the world for you to explore.

Beaches: Choose high-rise living in order to walk out your door onto white-sand beaches.
Visa/residency requirements: The pensionado visa for retirees asks for about $700 monthly income, making it one of the cheapest options on this list. The visa process also requires less hoop jumping compared to other countries.
Retirement taxes: US citizens are still expected to file US tax returns.
Cost of living: Although Colombia doesn’t require proof of a high monthly income, rough estimates still suggest budgeting around $2,000 a month. Numbeo finds the overall cost of living in Cartagena is about 70% less than New York.
Health care: The World Health Organization has given Colombia’s health system a high ranking for its top hospitals and affordable care. Anyone with a resident card can access the public system, while private policies provide supplemental coverage, from house calls to private hospital rooms.
Quality of life: About a million people live in Cartagena, a vibrant city with outdoor markets, salsa clubs, museums, shopping, golf and a historic section that’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Affordable buses and taxis make it easy to get around.
Climate: The temperature usually hovers in the upper 80s with dry and rainy seasons, but residents don’t have to worry about hurricanes.

Beaches: How does 32 square miles of white-sand beaches sound?
Visa/residency requirements: To gain Honduras residency, retirees need to have at least $1,500 a month coming in, but that covers the applicant and a dependent. Health certificates and background checks are also required.
Retirement taxes: As another incentive, foreign income isn’t taxed.
Cost of living: Island life will run couples between $2,000 to $2,500 a month, and it’s possible to buy a two-bedroom condo for less than $200,000. Consider this one of the cheapest options if you want to live near the beach in the Caribbean.
Health care: A brand-new hospital opened on Roatan in 2016, and the country offers both public and private insurance. Overall health care is good and the cost low.
Quality of life: A scuba-diving paradise, Roatan offers bustling beach communities on the western end and a more rural lifestyle on the eastern side. In the former, you’ll find all your necessities covered, from supermarkets and cafes to yoga and golf. Note that a car is needed to get around. But you’ll get to experience island life that’s only a two-hour flight from the US.
Climate: Due to its location, Roatan isn’t as impacted by hurricanes as the rest of the Caribbean. Temperatures remain around 75 degrees in winter, though soar into the 90s come summer.

Beaches: Penang’s renowned beaches are about a half-hour drive from the capital of George Town, and it’s easy to find one that suits your tastes.
Visa/residency requirements: Malaysia has one of the best visa options for retirees 50 and older. The MM2H visa is good for 10 years and automatically renews. It requires proof a monthly income of about $2,350 or depositing a lump sum of about $35,000 into a local bank account.
Retirement taxes: As another perk, retirees are exempt from paying income tax, foreign or otherwise.
Cost of living: Budget between $1,500-$2,500 a month. One couple reports that it’s possible to rent a three-bedroom in a beach community with water views and full amenities for about $400 a month. That is not a typo.
Health care: Malaysia is another country where the health care quality is high and costs are low. So low, in fact, that retirees' private hospital costs are so affordable that few people buy private health insurance. Plus, English-speaking doctors are prevalent here.
Quality of life: English is commonly spoken throughout Malaysia, making the transition less stressful. Newcomers will find a large foreign community and familiar comforts like malls and gyms, along with great street food, a cafe culture, free shuttle buses around George Town and an extensive bus system and taxis for longer distances. You’ll want the latter to take advantage of the great outdoors, from jungles to World Heritage-designated national parks.
Climate: In exchange for all of the benefits, the tradeoff is the weather: The two seasons are either hot and humid or monsoon-prone.