Yet another publication heralding a Panama retirement as a top choice for baby boomers.  Panama joins 9 other countries on the Forbes hit-list: Austria, Thailand, Italy, Ireland, Australia, France, Malaysia, Spain and Canada.

Forbes pulled together the list of top 10 retirement havens using a range of criteria from “safety to retiree-friendly visa requirements to decent medical care.”  Quality of life, cost of living and climate for retirees were also factored in.

Sam Taliaferro picked this up over at his Panama Investor Blog where he listed some of the positives for Panama:

“Positives: Panama has almost everything: year-round sun, low taxes, massive discounts for seniors, first-world amenities, quality private hospitals, bird-filled rainforests, a dollar economy and easy flights from the U.S. Panama City is considered safest of all Central American cities, with worldly buzz because of the canal, and a World Heritage Site.”

Panama is emerging strongly from the recent economic crisis, faster than some of its regional neighbors.  Major infrastructure projects are underway or recently completed, including the Cinta Costera in Panama City, the upgrading of the airport at David to accept international flights, and of course the expansion of the Panama Canal.

Panama offers retirees a benefit laded retirement program packed with tax exemptions, incentives and discounts and day to day living costs are cheaper than in the US.  Another positive is a dollar based economy, a factor that reduces currency risks, especially for North Americans.

Of course each country has “assets and liabilities” and much depends on what kind of lifestyle you are looking for.  So the key to a successful retirement as an ex-pat?   Know yourself and do your homework.

Related posts:

1. When overseas retirement looms, retreat to Central America
2. Panama real estate: secure, exotic and diverse
3. Is now a good time to buy Panama Apartments?

Tags: Panama, Panama retirement