panama sunset — Bocas Del Toro, Panama. Image: vilainecrevette/Istock.com via AFP Relaxnews

Its proximity to the United States, the use of American currency, large English-speaking population and tropical climate make Panama the world’s best place to retire.

It’s the 10th time the country in Central America has topped International Living’s annual Global Retirement Index, which aims to help retirees settle down in destinations where their dollar stretches further and which offer the best quality of life.

For the first time, Thailand also cracked the top 10 list while Sri Lanka made its first-ever debut.

To compile the list of top retirement destinations, editors consider 13 criteria: buying and investing, renting, benefits and seniors discounts, visas and residence, cost of living, fitting in, entertainment and amenities, healthcare, healthy lifestyle, development, climate, opportunity and governance.

Destinations that made the list denote places where a retired couple can live comfortably for $1,800 (almost P95,000) or less a month, all in.

International Living’s executive editor Jennifer Stevens points out that retirees should consider their priorities when shopping for a new home.

“Ask yourself, ‘What’s most important to me in a haven overseas?’ Maybe it’s good weather year-round. Maybe it’s proximity to the U.S. Maybe it’s a low cost of living. Maybe it’s the ease with which you can fit in. Maybe it’s access to top-notch healthcare at a low price. Those are among the many qualities we consider when we produce our annual Index,” she stated.

When it comes to the overall winner, Panama is described as a “Central American gem” that packs a lot into a small area: fast-paced eclectic capital city, beaches and forested valleys. The country also offers a special retirement visa for those with a lifetime monthly pension of at least $1,000 (over P52,000) and grants special discounts to seniors on everything from medical consultations to movie tickets. The climate is also warm and tropical but lies outside the hurricane belt.

Here are the top 10 places to retire, according to International Living:

1. Panama
2. Costa Rica
3. Mexico
4. Ecuador
5. Malaysia
6. Colombia
7. Portugal
8. Peru
9. Thailand
10. Spain
JB