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>>> 20 Places Where $150K Is Enough To Retire


https://moneywise.com/a/ch-b/the-top-countries-retire-on-150000_oct/p-15?t=20+Places+Where+%24150K+Is+Enough+To+Retire



12. France

PAU, FRANCE

Pau is a smaller French city that's surprisingly affordable.
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France isn’t the first destination you’d think of for a cheap retirement — but several of its smaller towns are known for their affordable housing.

The city of Pau, which sits near the Spanish border, has mild winters and summers, and a one-bedroom apartment in the center of town goes for around $500 a month. A nice dinner for two costs about $46, reports living-costs website Numbeo.

The lovely Mediterranean university town of Montpellier also is very reasonably priced. Renting a one-bedroom flat will cost between $500 and $750. Both Pau and Montpellier have great health care and hospitals.

France doesn’t have a special visa for retirees, so you’d have to apply for a long-term visa at a French consulate in the U.S., reports International Living magazine.

The consulate will want to see that you can finance your trip and that you have health insurance that works in France. Social Security statements, bank account information and investments all can help demonstrate your financial situation.

The long-term visa can be renewed yearly, and you’d have to submit current financial information at renewal.


10. Italy

Matera, in the Basillicata region, looks like a movie set.

If you’re among the many people who have fallen in love with Italy’s regional cultures, mouthwatering cuisines and fantastic climate, then you’ll be happy to hear that retiring here is cheaper than you think!

In the southern region of Basilicata, you could buy a home in one of the smaller villages for just $32,000. In the charming historical town of Matera, you can rent a one-bedroom apartment for less than $600 a month.

In the eastern Puglia region, renowned for its sunny beaches and fresh seafood, the cost of living is even lower.

Italy doesn’t have a retirement visa program, so your best bet is to apply for an elective residency visa.

You'd need to provide proof of your yearly income from a pension, 401(k) or other liquid assets. The minimum is currently about $35,000 for one person and between $40,000 and $70,000 for two people.

Plus, you'd need to show proof of a rental agreement and medical insurance. Once you’re a resident of Italy, you qualify for the national health care system, which is ranked second in the world by the World Health Organization and costs about $400 a year per person.


7. Spain

View on Peniscola from the top of Pope Luna's Castle , Valencia, Spain

Valencia is spectacularly affordable.

Europeans have long seen Spain as a warm and sunny retirement haven, and it remains one of the most popular cities on the continent for expats.

With low food costs, natural beauty and practically no winter to speak of, Spain makes a great base for retirees hungry to travel around Europe.

Be aware that housing costs vary hugely across Spain. In major tourist centers like Barcelona, rents are comparable to those in the U.S.. In smaller towns like Valencia, a one-bedroom apartment goes for about $630 a month.

To apply for a "retirement visa" in Spain, it's important to nail down proof that you have an income of at least $2,500 per month, or $30,000 per year.

You'd also need to show that you have health insurance that works in Spain.

It might take a few appointments to obtain your foreign visitor number (the NIE, necessary for everything from opening a bank account to installing internet in your home), but after that bureaucratic nonsense, the rest is gravy.


6. Portugal


Aerial view of the national pantheon in Lisbon, Portugal

Portugal promises sun, sea and history.

Portugal has been winning travelers' hearts, and more people are deciding to move there every year.

The nation offers a lower cost of living than next-door Spain, sun for more than 300 days a year, and all the historical castles and fresh seafood you could want. Plus, it’s fairly stable, politically.

Renting an apartment in a smaller town is your best bet for an affordable retirement. Portuguese public health care has gotten a bit under the weather recently, so private health care is strongly preferred by international residents.

To apply for a residence permit as a retiree, first you’d need to go to a Portuguese consulate in the U.S. and bring a valid passport, proof of income and health insurance, and show you've undergone a criminal background check.

All of this would allow you to apply for permanent residency after you arrive in Portugal.

Income requirements are not specified for either temporary or permanent resident applicants, but you must have sufficient income to sustain you for the length of time you intend to stay in your chosen region in Portugal.


4. Malta


Qawra, Malta

You can rent an apartment in Qawra, Malta, for $450 a month.

Malta is a temperate and cultured country with a lower cost of living than other Mediterranean locales in the EU. The island is rich in history and natural beauty.

Making things easier for North American retirees, English is one of Malta’s official languages. The nation’s health care system is in the top five globally, according to the WHO.

In the northern coastal villages of St. Paul’s Bay, Qawra and Mellieha, rent can cost just $450 per month, and there’s plenty of beach to keep you occupied. And since this is an island, you can drive to a bigger town quite easily.

Malta's residency permit programs live up to the country's reputation for being open and peaceful.

The country offers several visa options for non-EU residents, including infinitely renewable one-year visas for pensioners and self-employed people who wish to live and work in Malta.

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