Costa Rica leads as retirement destination

Costa Rica, described as an attractive, safe place with a stable economy, is the best country in the world for expats to retire, according to International Living.

Costa Rica, in first place for the first time, last year finished fourth.

Panama, where expats can live comfortably for as little as $1.500 a month, placed third, down one position from last year.

Nicaragua is in 8th place among 24 countries.

El Salvador and Guatemala are not ranked.

The cost of housing, discounts and other benefits for retirees, visas and residence permits, entertaiment and amenities, and healthcare, are criteria included in the study (numbers in brackets indicate the global position of each country).

1            Costa Rica (1)

2            Panama (3)

3            Nicaragua (8)

4            Honduras / Roatan (12)

5            Belize (17)