Remember!
Don't simply retire from something; have something to retire to.Harry Emerson Fosdick
Your whole life you went to work, returned home, took care of responsibilities, and fulfilled several duties. You probably relocated a number of times, running after a better position or a better paycheck. Now, you can finally retire from all that running and for a change do what you want, even if it means changing your state/country of residence. And if you have always wanted to retire outside your home country, here are 10 options for the year 2013. The following ranking has been compiled by the author after taking into account how all these cities performed on parameters such as the quality of life they have to offer, the taxes, infrastructure, public transport, public safety, general health care, temperature, crime statistics, etc.
Top 10 Best Places to Retire in 2013
In this list, you will find that statistics are not mentioned for all places, the rationale being the specification of only significant information. European cities dominate this list due to their overall safety. The Indian city of Panjim makes a surprise entry in what may be a first. All this and a lot more in the paragraphs that follow.
1 Vienna, Austria
Listed first by Mercer statistics for Quality of Life in 2012.Vienna happens to be a favorite among retirees. It is not only the winner in this list, but in most lists that judge general quality of life. It happens to be the fifth safest city globally, according to last year's Mercer statistics and we know safety plays one of the most important roles in relocating for retirement. Serious crime is really low in Vienna and this can be credited to good political stability. The city's growth shows good figures and foreign residents feel at home with the existing cultural diversity. Public health service is one of the best in Europe. There are parks and gardens everywhere, in the inner parts of the city and around the outskirts as well. Public transport is good, with the city playing host to the world's third largest train network. If you are looking for a quiet neighborhood, the district of Hietzing might be ideal for you. Sport is an important part of the city's recreation with many soccer/football teams having games all year round. Vienna is also home to approximately 100 art museums. Living here is considered affordable. In fact, it has gone ahead of Copenhagen in this list only due to its absence from the 'Most Expensive Cities' lists last year.
2 Copenhagen, Denmark
The official municipal policy of Copenhagen states that by 2015, all citizens must be able to reach a beach or a park in 15 minutes or less.I'm sure you aren't surprised to find this European city being second in this list of best places to retire. In recent years, Copenhagen has got a lot of positive rankings to its credit. A few among these are:
- Safest Cities to Live in 2012, TripAdvisor
- Mercer Quality of Living Survey, 2012 - 9th rank
- Best City Infrastructure according to Mercer - 4th rank
- Mercer Personal Safety Ranking - 11th rank
- No.3 Most Livable City in the World, Monocle, 2012 (was 1st in 2008)
- Cleanest city in Europe in 2009, TripAdvisor
3 Zurich, Switzerland
According to a press release in 2012, 31% of the population here does not hold Swiss citizenship.They say that if you aren't safe in Zurich, you probably aren't safe anywhere else in the world. The city has an annual homicide rate of 1.2 per 100,000 people. Therefore, it is no surprise that it is considered the safest place on the earth. It is also said to be one of the cleanest places in the world. As of late 90s, out of the complete municipal area (without the lake), 26.5% was forest, 11% was agriculture and 1.2% was water. Mercer has ranked Zurich 2nd in its Quality of Life Index, 2012; it gained high points in housing and leisure. The coldest temperatures are recorded in January (- 0.5 C mean), and the warmest in July (17.6 C mean). More than 50% of journeys in this city are done using public transportation. It is said that tax burden in this city is essentially low and it also has the lowest value added tax (VAT) in Europe. Recreation in this city is fantastic. Last year, in its Quality of Life Survey, Monocle globally ranked Zurich first on a list of Top 25 Cities to Make a Base Within. Theater plays, parades, operas, concerts and other festivals will keep you entertained almost the year round. We've given it 3rd place in this list only due to the expense a retired person might have to bear to stay here. In 2012, CNN Travel ranked Zurich the 2nd most expensive city globally. In the same year, it was also declared one of the most expensive cities by Swiss Bank UBS and ECA International.
4 Cuenca, Ecuador
International Living declared it the best place to retire in 2012.Cuenca is famous among expatriates for its low cost of living, and this certainly doesn't change for the retirees. Located in the highlands of Ecuador, the city is often referred to as 'Paradise on Earth'. People who have relocated to Cuenca from the US claim that the cost of living is almost half of that in their home country. A culturally rich city, most of the shows, plays, orchestras and dramas here can be watched for free. Public transportation is safe and affordable. Cost of real estate is also low, and you'll find a considerable North American population living here on long-term visas. And so, if you're wondering where to retire outside the US, this does really seem one of the best options you've got. Healthcare is also booming and the city is fast gaining recognition as a medical tourism hotspot. A downside is the constant robbery complaints from tourists all over the world when they visit Cuenca. This is the reason why despite being an ideal location, Cuenca comes down to number 4 on this list.
5 Stockholm, Sweden
It was awarded the 2010 European Green Capital Award by the European Commission.Venice of the north, as it is sometimes called, Stockholm is a global city (declared by GaWC) listed 5th in this list for its political stability, cultural recreation and essentially, its clean atmosphere. Winters are sometimes snowy here. It also happens to be a fishing paradise, and guess what, you don't even need a fishing license. Habo, a small municipality, is the 'best neighborhood to live', according to Swedish magazine Fokus. In the same magazine, Stockholm also scored high on the 'best to be old' category. Avoid certain suburban districts such as Tensta and Rinkeby, as they're known for high crime rates and violence. Sport is an active aspect of the Stockholm culture, with football and hockey being the most popular sports. The city also has around 100 museums. The only reason it lost to Cuenca in this list, is the high cost of living. In 2012, CNN Travel ranked it 8th in the most expensive cities in the world list. It got a similar ranking, in a similar list by Swiss Bank UBS in the same year.
6 Munich, Germany
In 2010, Monocle ranked Munich 1st in its Most Livable Cities Index.With a motto that says "Mnchen mag dich" (Munich likes you), the city does give a positive vibe even before you actually visit it. A safe, clean, cosmopolitan city, Munich was ranked 7th in the 'Most Livable City in the World' list, 2010 by Mercer. Recession has seen real estate rates dropping, so this might be a good time to relocate. However, it is always a good idea to first take up a home on rent, and then think of a more long-term option. Munich has a large non-German population. Public-transportation is clean, safe, and very reliable. For several years, the cafs and restaurants in this city have abided by a complete smoking ban and this continues till date. According to the World Meteorological Organisation, the highest average maximum temperature in 2011 was 36.1 C and the lowest average minimum temperature was -5 C. The city hosts a lot of green spaces, adding to the quality of recreation it has to offer. It has a total of 60 stages that satisfy the culturally and artistically inclined. For its vibrant lifestyle, infrastructure and welcoming attitude, Munich gets the 6th spot on this list of best places to retire.
7 Belfast, Northern Ireland
In Ireland, the homicide count is said to be one of the lowest in the world, making it a safe haven for seniors.The first thing you must know is that the homicide count in Ireland is amazingly low. According to Mercer statistics, yearly, there are 0.32 murders per 100,000 people. Belfast, capital of Northern Ireland, is making its presence felt on global lists of late. It has a temperate climate with rainfall all year round. Often, you might even experience windy conditions. People travel mostly by cars and hardly use public transportation. The natural beauty of the place makes you fall in love with it instantly. The presence of nature and man-made parks is in abundance. Public health is a greatly developed sector, with world-renowned hospitals and centers having their base here. The cancer centre in the Belfast City Hospital rivals the best globally and in general, public health services are said to be effective. Also, watching and playing sports is an important part of Belfast culture. You might wonder why Belfast ranks so low on this list of top places to retire, isn't it? Well, the answer is very surprising. A lot of people who have been to Belfast and lived there for sometime, say that certain areas, even today, are extremely unintegrated ethnically, politically and religiously.
8 Auckland, New Zealand
According to an article in The New Zealand Herald in 2010, approximately one in every three Auckland households, owns a boat.Known as the City of Sails, Auckland happens to be the most populous and most cosmopolitan city in New Zealand. There are a lot of parks in and around the area, and ferries allow people to visit parks on other islands such as Devonport, Waiheke Island, etc. The sports scene here is really great with many sports not only followed, but even played. These include Rugby Union, Rugby League, soccer, netball, cricket, etc. The culture here has a European influence. However, most traditions and customs have Maori and Polynesian roots. If you have a good financial plan in place, living here suddenly becomes easy. An interesting fact about this place is that 70% of the land here is rural. And due to this, we see that 90% of the population lives in urban areas. Due to this population density and lack of good public transport, we come across major traffic problems. This point has pushed Auckland lower in the list. Housing costs in proper urban areas are also on a rise.
9 Panjim, Goa
The National Commission ranked the city first for the best quality of life in India.Panjim is the capital of the Indian state of Goa, which happens to be the country's richest state. The city has a lot of Portuguese influence and this is evident from the architecture, customs, and festivals. With a population of just about 60,000, living here is a relaxed and leisurely experience. Accommodation is very cheap. It has a tropical monsoon climate with heavy rainfall and gusty winds from June to September. The beaches in and around the city offer a great atmosphere. Taxes are affordable for people who are moving in from countries that have a greater currency value. However, public transportation is a problem in this city and having your own vehicle is considered favorable. Also, during peak tourist seasons, you might have to get used to too many people, as the population almost doubles during the months of November and December. The main reason for Panjim to rank so low is the lack of variety in recreational activities, but it still makes it to the list for the low living costs.
10 Portland, USA
In 2012, the city was listed among the '10 Best Places to Retire' in the U.S. by CBS MoneyWatch.Known as one of the most 'green' cities in the world, Portland is a great option if you want to retire somewhere in the US. There exists a great variety in the gardens here and this makes for a different, picturesque locale that is usually missing in most American cities. Located in the state of Oregon, you must already know that the sports scene here is great. It is home to two major leagues (Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer and the Portland Trail Blazers) and several minor ones. It has a few award-winning hospitals which are known for top-notch health services. The maximum rate of taxation here is 9.9% and there is no sales tax applicable. Recreational activities include watching local games, visiting theaters that continuously showcase performing arts, and trekking, if you feel up to it. Winters are mild, but very wet, while summers are warm and there is enough sun.
Having looked at these best places to retire in 2013, you must have come across some surprising facts. Relocating to any city, and specially to a new country, must be done after a lot of thought. Consult as many people as you can from these places, as only they can give you hands-on experience of 'actually' living in that place. Wish you a happy journey ahead!
Disclaimer: This Buzzle article is for informative purposes only and the reader must use any information presented here at his/her own discretion.
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