I can speak from experience as I’ve lived in South America for almost the past decade. I also own property in several countries in South America so I can speak intelligently and from experience.
There are positives and negatives to consider. Definitely I think before anyone pulls the trigger, they need to take SEVERAL trips and spend considerable amounts of time in the area they are planning to relocate to.
Also, something that I think is VERY important to factor in is many times Americans say things like, “the average salary in X country is only $X dollars”. But the thing is…most Americans get accustomed to living a certain quality of life and they certainly will NOT live like the typical local. So it’s a bit of a moot point.
I read some talk above about Brazil but FORGET it. It’s NOT an affordable place to live. With the horrible exchange rate between the dollar it’s very expensive. I go to Sao Paulo on business and was just there not long ago looking at real estate.
In nice areas like Jardim….apartments are VERY expensive. I’m talking like $275,000 to $300,000+ for a nice apartment in a nice building. Just 1 bedroom. And the expenses are VERY expensive because all buildings have a security guard and doormen 24/7. Taxis are very expensive, crime is a factor and cost of living is expensive.
I’ve been to Rio de Janeiro over 25 times over the years and really enjoy visiting but I’d never live there. Great beaches but even nice areas are next to slums. Also very expensive including dining out.
Other countries like Argentina you are dealing with rampant 20% to 30% a year inflation (forget the bogus government #’s of 9% or 10% a year as they are a lie). It used to be a bargain after the crash in 2002 but with the inflation it’s not so cheap anymore. Beautiful country however with GREAT medical care if you buy private insurance.
However there is lots of red tape and the banking system is HORRIBLE there.
Countries like Uruguay are also really wonderful as they are safe, banks are stable here. Health care is excellent. People are friendly but I find it boring. I own property in Uruguay and enjoy visiting but I find it dull to live year-round.
The main factors to consider when considering a move overseas are basically:
– Health care system and cost of good quality health care (forget about local free healthcare as in many countries it’s horrible and you must buy private insurance so factor in the cost of that).
– Banking system? How does it work? Is it dependable? Is it easy to get funds in the country without paying an arm and a leg.
– Legal system: What’s it like and is it dependable?
– Ease of getting residency in the country? You have to really consider this as some countries are very easy by making investments in the country… while others like Brazil are more difficult and even limit you to the # of days you can stay in the country each year.
– Safety and crime: You have to factor in how safe the city is you will live.
– Ease of assimilating into the society and culture: Some countries it’s much easier and foreigners don’t stand out as much as there is lots of tourism and ex-pats. (Think Buenos Aires).
– Cost of living: You have to factor in everything based on your quality of life. For example, you can live cheaply and affordably in many of these countries but you can also spend more than you do in the USA. Case in point, I spent more in South America where I’ve lived than the USA as I had full time maids, full time chef, staff, etc. Adding in all of those expenses can add up. So be honest with yourself and base your cost of living on what you will actually live like there.
There are tons of other factors but these are things based on the top of my head. I really enjoyed living abroad and my heart will always be in South America. I go back and forth quite a bit as I own properties there and have businesses there.
But people planning a permanent move really need to think things through.
