During the past 15 years, International Living Magazine has calculated its Annual Global Retirement Index; a resource intended to assist retirees and future retirees in evaluating and comparing the world's most popular retirement destinations. It is based on a number of criteria, giving various weights to each, depending on its importance to retirees. Listed below are those criteria considered with their individual weighting:
| - Cost o f Living - Health Care - Special Benefits - Real Estate - Entertainment, Recreation, and Culture - Climate - Safety and Stability - Infrastructure |
20% 20% 20% 15% 10% 5% 5% 5% |
Believe it or not, until this year, Panama had topped the list for the past six years. It still has plenty to offer retirees, however this year, with 30 countries being analyzed and ranked, it fell to fourth position. Ahead of Panama in third position, was Italy with its beautiful cities, its fine weather, and of course, its historic sites. In second position was, of all countries, Ecuador, which moved all the way up from the tenth position last year. Ecuador offers an extremely low cost of living, great weather, beautiful land, a growing economy tied to the US dollar, and a stable political environment. It might be a well-kept secret, but Ecuador is becoming a land of opportunity and retirees are taking advantage of it.
Now, for the number one ranked country in the world for retirement: MEXICO! Aside from the fact that Mexico is extremely convenient to the US and Canada, that Mexico's Senior Citizens´ Benefits Program offers up to 50% discounts on many services to retirees over the age of 60, that the Mexican government has enacted many new laws encouraging foreign investment, México has become an incredible place to enjoy retirement, offering the quality of life that North Americans are accustomed to with numerous extra benefits.
(As a side note, a few years ago when the Canadian dollar was at its weakest, Canada ranked in the top ten. However as the loonie has strengthened, Canada has slipped well out of the top ten this year. For reference sake only, the US ranked 19th this year.
The major Mexican inland retirement communities are located in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, and the Lake Chapala area. For the most part, these inland retirement communities are located in beautiful colonial cities with moderate temperatures year round. Most of the modern amenities and activities are available to retirees in these retirement cities with a very attractive cost of living. Being located inland, these retirees can purchase and own real estate with title as they would in the US or Canada.
For those desiring magnificent ocean views, the Pacific coastline offers many advantages over the Gulf of Mexico coastline; the major one being protection from storms. The entire Yucatan Peninsula area, including the Cancun and Cozumel areas are great for vacations; but due to its exposure to hurricanes, it is not considered by many to be ideal for retirement. On the other hand, the Pacific Ocean coastline seldom sees troublesome storms and offers more than a thousand miles of incredible Pebble Beach-like views with a climate similar to that of Hawaii.
Located at the same latitude as Hawaii, Puerto Vallarta has a perfect climate with an average daily temperature of 73°F from November through May with virtually no chance of rain. With a population of approximately 350,000 inhabitants, Vallarta now has a new and growing infrastructure including roads, water treatment plants and distribution systems, power plants and distribution grid, airport, maritime terminal, hospitals, university, etc.
High speed internet, satellite TV, VOIP telecommunications, and US newspapers and magazines are all available most places in Mexico. Most of the mega-stores found in the US
and Canada have opened branches in population centers across the country including Sam's Club, Wal-Mart, Costco, Home Depot, Office Depot, Staples, and of course, every fast food chain restaurant imaginable.
Because real estate sales in Mexico are generally done on a cash basis, this economy has not been affected by the mortgage-related problems seen in the US. Real estate values have tripled since 2000 and continue to appreciate daily. Owning property here has surely been an investment of a lifetime.
Of the nearly 50,000 North Americans in Vallarta, we estimate that 30-40% of them are Canadians. This percentage will surely increase as the Canadian dollar strengthens and the US real estate prices and the US dollar weaken. Just imagine, summers in Canada and winters in Vallarta; retirement just doesn't get much better than that! The head of the Puerto Vallarta Chamber of Commerce has recently estimated that the greater Vallarta population will reach 600,000 residents by 2015, and therefore, if it were located in Canada, would rank among the top ten largest Canadian cities! By 2015, there will probably be about 100,000 North Americans in Vallarta, half being Canadians. Just imagine, more Canadians living in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico than in Brandon, Manitoba or Prince Albert, Saskatchewan!
If you're a baby boomer, either recently retired or about to retire, you owe it to yourself; make Mexico your next vacation destination and consider all the qualities it has to offer. 
