Top 20 Places to Retire if You Hate the Cold

When you reach retirement age, there’s no reason why you should spend your freedom from the rat race in the freezing cold. You can be a snowbird and seek warmer climes every winter or you can retire to one of these places. We’ve picked places suitable to different preferences and tried to stay away from the common spots jammed with ex-pats. Better start topping up that RRSP!

Thinkstock

1 / 20

1. Durban, South Africa

South Africa is the cheapest country to live or retire in, according to Time. In Durban, a one-bedroom apartment will set you back on average about $280 per month. This port city has average summer temperatures in the mid-20s, average winter temperatures of around 17C and is known for its hot, hot curries. So you really don't have to retire with millions to live happily here.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: I took 52 flights last year and here’s what I learned

Thinkstock

2 / 20

2. Kolkata, India

India is second on Time’s list of the cheapest places to live. Kolkata has a hot and humid climate with summer averages of around 29C and winter averages of about 20C.

If you're hoping to retire soon, make sure you don't spot any of these warning signs you're going to retire broke.

Thinkstock

3 / 20

3. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Time says that the local purchasing power in Saudi Arabia makes it the fourth cheapest country to live in, even though groceries and consumer goods are expensive.

If you like the heat, and want to be able to retire at 50, Riyadh is just the place for you, with average summer temperatures in the low 40s.

Thinkstock

4 / 20

4. Asuncion, Paraguay

According to Time, the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Asuncion is $250 per month and other monthly expenses for one person come to about $360. In summer, average temperatures here reach into the high 20s while winter temperatures hover around the high teens on average.

And if you can't wait to get there, opt for one of these Canadian jobs that let you retire early.

Thinkstock

5 / 20

5. Medellin, Colombia

Time says that a one-bedroom apartment in Medellin will set you back only about $130 a month. Once a hotbed of drug-related violence, this Colombian city now has a genteel image. The average annual temperature here is 22C with very little seasonal variation. It also tops our list of the 10 best places for Canadians to retire.

Thinkstock

6 / 20

6. Lahore, Pakistan

According to Time, Pakistan and especially Lahore is affordable and you’ll need about $530 a month to cover all your costs. That should be no issue, since we've showed you how to save $1000 a month easily. Summers here are hot, with temperatures usually rising into the 40s, while winters see average temperatures in the low to mid teens. You may have to learn to love cricket, though.

Thinkstock

7 / 20

7. Atacama Desert, Chile

Time lists Chile as the 16th cheapest country to live in. If you like it hot, head to the Atacama Desert, where daytime temperatures often soar into the 40s. At night it gets a little chilly but at least you’ll never have to worry about rain in the world’s driest place.

See more of the warmest cheapest places to retire in the world.

Thinkstock

8 / 20

8. Langkawi, Malaysia

Malaysia makes it to number 17 on Time’s list of cheapest places to live and Langkawi Island is extra attractive since it’s completely duty free. Temperatures here remain in the upper 20s throughout the year so you can enjoy the gorgeous beaches all the time.

Want more? Check out 20 cheap and stylish global retirement spots for Canadians.

Thinkstock

9 / 20

9. Patras, Greece

So you don't have one of 20 jobs in Canada that pay over $200K. No problem! Time says that a one-bedroom apartment in Patras, Greece’s third largest city, costs around $230 a month, even though food and consumer goods can be comparatively expensive. The climate makes up for it, though, with average summer temperatures in the mid 20s and winter averages in the lower teens.

Thinkstock

10 / 20

10. Merida, Mexico

Mexico is a regular on lists of the best countries to retire to and according to Time, monthly expenses in Merida are a little more than $400. The capital of the Yucatan has a hot, tropical climate where average temperatures remain in the mid to upper 20s, even in winter.

For more retirement tips, don't miss the 12 costly mistakes that can ruin retirement.

Thinkstock

11 / 20

11. Algiers, Algeria

Time says that monthly expenses for a single person in Algiers are less than $400, although this doesn’t cover rent. The Algerian capital has a pleasant Mediterranean climate with average temperatures in the mid-20s in summer and in the lower teens in winter.

See how this compares to the top 20 cheapest cities to live in Canada.

Thinkstock

12 / 20

12. Podgorica, Montenegro

According to Time, Montenegro is cheap especially in terms of groceries. Podgorica, the capital, lies near the Adriatic Sea and has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and cool winters. Should you want to check if your thermal underwear still fits, the city is also close to Montenegro’s ski resorts.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: why women need to save more than men for retirement.

Thinkstock

13 / 20

13. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Time says that in Rio, a one-bedroom apartment will cost you about $540. The city is one of the hottest in Brazil, with average summer temperatures in the upper 20s and winter averages in the lower 20s. The city is sultry in many other ways too, including its nightlife and its beautiful people.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: The 10 worst travellers you’ll meet.

Thinkstock

14 / 20

14. Panama City, Panama

According to International Living’s Global Retirement Index, Panama is the best country to retire in 2019. Panama City offers everything from good healthcare and modern conveniences to great beaches and average temperatures that remain in the mid-20s throughout the year.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: the 20 best places to visit in February around the world.

Thinkstock

15 / 20

15. Guayaquil, Ecuador

Ecuador makes it into second place on International Living’s list of best places to retire. The port city of Guayaquil is the largest in the country and is a haven for the arts. Average temperatures here remain in the upper 20s throughout the year.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: 15 dirty things you should avoid touching at all costs while travelling.

Thinkstock

16 / 20

16. Nicoya, Costa Rica

Costa Rica is another good destination for retirees according to International Living; and Nicoya, the main tourist centre on the Nicoya Peninsula, sees average temperatures in the upper 20s throughout the year.

The Nicoya Peninsula is also a so-called Blue Zone, where people commonly live to the age of 100 years or more.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: cheapest places to travel to from Canada in 2020.

Thinkstock

17 / 20

17. Granada, Nicaragua

According to International Living, you can retire on $1,200 a month, including rent, in Nicaragua. As a tourist centre, the colonial city of Granada tends to be a little more expensive, but average temperatures here remain in the mid to upper 20s throughout the year.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: the 20 most beautiful islands in the world in 2020.

Thinkstock

18 / 20

18. The Algarve, Portugal

Portugal also makes it onto International Living’s list of best places to retire and according to Forbes, you can live in the Algarve on $1,500 a month. Average temperatures here are in the low to mid 20s in summer and in the low teens in winter.

See 10 more great places where you can retire for under $2000 a month.

Thinkstock

19 / 20

19. Dallol, Ethiopia

If you like heat and privacy, this is the place for you.

To get to Dallol, you need to take a Jeep or maybe a camel. This remote little settlement is a ghost town today, according to Mother Nature Network, but holds the record for being the hottest inhabited place in the world, with even average winter temperatures in the 30s.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: the 10 Canadian cities with the worst winters.

Tormod Sandtorv/Wikimedia Commons

20 / 20

20. Door to Hell, Turkmenistan

If you like it really, really hot, you may want to build yourself a little house near the Door to Hell in Turkmenistan.

According to a report in The Guardian, a Canadian explorer who descended into the crater, which has been burning for four decades, found bacteria happily living inside. Who knows, they might welcome a retiree neighbour.

For more, don't miss the top 20 cheapest destinations for Canadians this winter.