Thread: Also considering retiring somewhere in Central America on my S.S.

Hello everyone


Yes, one more <smile>, also looking for paradise to retire but in my case it is a necessity!... because I will live mainly on my SS (1350/Mth) Yes I know <smile> that is why I have to make this move. My main advantage is that I am latin by birth (another country close by, my third choice) and I speak Spanish, but have lived in the U.S since 68, I was 20 at the time, and I am a US citizen. I am also single so no wife, no kids, no pets. Obviously, the move for me will not be as harsh as for many of you, pure "gringos" <smiling>, but still, I will have many adjustments to make as well. But there is no question it will be easier for me adjust, culturally at least, although I have not been there since 68.

But, as everybody advises, I have already read a lot about, mainly CR and now Panama, watched many videos in YouTube, and attended several forums such as this one, where I believe you get the closer picture to reality than other sources; and yes I will eventually make the mandatory trip and actually visit all the places of interest, but by then, I hope to know a lot more about all those places, thanks to your kind help.

No, I am no looking to replicate my US life style there... on the contrary, I am actually ready, I think, to go back to my roots, sort of... I know the food will not be a problem, I love rice and potatoes for starters so... US has changed in my opinion and I find I don't like too many things anymore (movies, music, even sports etc), maybe because I am getting old? <smile>. The point is I want a SIMPLE life, I guess that is the best way to put it.

To start off, what about "LAS TABLAS"... I read somewhere that it was "nice" and "inexpensive"... boy, I would love to hear form someone who has lived there to give me the real scoop <smile>


TIA

TheSearcher

Happy New year

Welcome to Panama Forum. Enjoy your stay here...

There are several threads on this topic, including:

http://www.panamaforum.com/living-pa...es-panama.html (Living expenses in Panama)

Overall, you're cutting it very close, but my take from the multitude of opinons is that you should be able to make it so long as you are in good health, don't eat out a lot, don't own a car, don't travel a lot, and don't have a girlfriend.

Originally Posted by BalaBeacher

There are several threads on this topic, including:

http://www.panamaforum.com/living-pa...es-panama.html (Living expenses in Panama)

Overall, you're cutting it very close, but my take from the multitude of opinons is that you should be able to make it so long as you are in good health, don't eat out a lot, don't own a car, don't travel a lot, and don't have a girlfriend.

No GIRLFRIEND?.... But.... but....but.... how.... ugh...... LOL

OF COURSE you are kidding, correcto?

Thanks for the link

The Searcher

i live in the interior , you can live ok on 1350 a month , own a car , eat out 4 times a week , and as long as your lady loves you and not just thinks that you are a walking ATM , you can afford her also , and as you said las tables would be a good place for you to think about , getting to be more gringos there everytime i am in town . if you can get intouch with pollerkeeper there is a house across the street from his for rent that looks fair from the outside , i have never seen inside , he would have more details

Originally Posted by nakedguydb

i live in the interior , you can live ok on 1350 a month , own a car , eat out 4 times a week , and as long as your lady loves you and not just thinks that you are a walking ATM , you can afford her also , and as you said las tables would be a good place for you to think about , getting to be more gringos there everytime i am in town . if you can get intouch with pollerkeeper there is a house across the street from his for rent that looks fair from the outside , i have never seen inside , he would have more details

Hey thank you NakedGuyDB for your help, I've seen you in other posts and you seem like the kind of person who want to help out people like me.

Your answer is so important to me and to others I'm sure, like you have no idea. It is one thing to have one or three people tell you that you can indeed, survive, on $1300 /month, but it is much better when 10 - 15 people, tell you the same thing, do you know what I mean? <smile>. I am sure I am not different from the other boomers who are contemplating such a big change, and more or less on the same amount of money... that's why we are so desperate to NAIL DOWN the expenses thing.

The EXPENSES THING:
$300.... Will get you a roof over your head (what exactly?... is still a mystery to me)
$300.... ($10/day) will provide basic food for a month.
$170.... The rest (Electricity, water, gas, MEDICAL insurance (not sure about this one!), Cable tv, Internet, Cell phone, and other minor expenses)
--------
$770.... Should cover your immediate, most basic, survival type, expenses

Now, since my income will be $1318.00 / month, that would leave me $548 for general expenses.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now, what do think of the basic formula?...

Of course, in such a small amout ($1318), even a reduction in food from $10 to $8/day (half of your meals at home)... would lower the total food to $240 (60 dollar savings a month). But this is my "idea," product of my imagination... what I would really like to see is the actual expenses, day-to-day, for a month, or at least for a week, so we can really get an idea the cost of living of your location.

Example: you get up, breakfast at your local eatery ($2.00)... lunch ($4.00)... a couple of beers at your local water hole plus tips ($7.50???)... a movie? ($4.00?)

See my point, that would really be of some help for many of us... and it would be fun comparing cost of living in your location vs. your lifestyle etc. I have not been able to find this level of detail yet, except in one website for CR, but the data was 3 years old... so...

So what do you think?... Would you like to give it a try NakedGuyDB?... we can do it together, a perhaps get others to do the same thing... I'm telling you that would be a SERVICE to many of us, wondering all this small details.

Now, if this is too public we can do it by private emails, but you being a nudist, nothing should be too public for you, right? <smile>.

But thanks for your comments and I will search for PollerKeeper... Thanks again,


TheSearcher

Originally Posted by TheSearcher

Hey thank you NakedGuyDB for your help, I've seen you in other posts and you seem like the kind of person who want to help out people like me.

Your answer is so important to me and to others I'm sure, like you have no idea. It is one thing to have one or three people tell you that you can indeed, survive, on $1300 /month, but it is much better when 10 - 15 people, tell you the same thing, do you know what I mean? <smile>. I am sure I am not different from the other boomers who are contemplating such a big change, and more or less on the same amount of money... that's why we are so desperate to NAIL DOWN the expenses thing.

The EXPENSES THING:
$300.... Will get you a roof over your head (what exactly?... is still a mystery to me)
$300.... ($10/day) will provide basic food for a month.
$170.... The rest (Electricity, water, gas, MEDICAL insurance (not sure about this one!), Cable tv, Internet, Cell phone, and other minor expenses)
--------
$770.... Should cover your immediate, most basic, survival type, expenses

Now, since my income will be $1318.00 / month, that would leave me $548 for general expenses.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now, what do think of the basic formula?...

Of course, in such a small amout ($1318), even a reduction in food from $10 to $8/day (half of your meals at home)... would lower the total food to $240 (60 dollar savings a month). But this is my "idea," product of my imagination... what I would really like to see is the actual expenses, day-to-day, for a month, or at least for a week, so we can really get an idea the cost of living of your location.

Example: you get up, breakfast at your local eatery ($2.00)... lunch ($4.00)... a couple of beers at your local water hole plus tips ($7.50???)... a movie? ($4.00?)

See my point, that would really be of some help for many of us... and it would be fun comparing cost of living in your location vs. your lifestyle etc. I have not been able to find this level of detail yet, except in one website for CR, but the data was 3 years old... so...

So what do you think?... Would you like to give it a try NakedGuyDB?... we can do it together, a perhaps get others to do the same thing... I'm telling you that would be a SERVICE to many of us, wondering all this small details.

Now, if this is too public we can do it by private emails, but you being a nudist, nothing should be too public for you, right? <smile>.

But thanks for your comments and I will search for PollerKeeper... Thanks again,


TheSearcher

dont get crazy , i dont like helping people as much as i like making them spin LOL . ask many , they will tell you . i dont rent but from what i am told 300 will get you a house around las tables ,i am not sure what i spend on food every month , 170 is tons for power , internet , water , it will not be that much , i dont do the insurance thing so i am not sure , do know the day i laid my motorcycle down and had 11 spots of road rash i spent 3/4 with 2 nurses and 1/2 hour with a doctor and i had to pay the whole $10 myself LOL then return everyday for a month getting them cleaned etc at a cost of $1 - $2 aday . and if you ever pay $7.50 for a couple of beer i am going to fart in your general direction , beer here at a local bar is never over a buck , some gringo places it is . so you need to come visit , find the area that might work for you , rent before you ever think of buying , but you need some loot in the bank to get off to a reasonable start , in my mind 10g would give you a cushion , , you might want to buy a car or as lots in las tables a scooter for getting around , poller has a great bike that was 900 and i have met other gringos running around on them . so a little in the bank and a visit . and stop this me being a nice guy , i work hard to twist people and dont want to lose that . and as far as me being a nudist , i thought you had never been here , i thought i saw a gringo peaking thru the bushes at my place , you sick , sick puppy LOL

You'll find this encouraging:

Would You Rent This House In Panama For $100/Month? « Retire Worldwide

This one, not so much:

For rent in Panama / Pedasí | House for rent

Originally Posted by BalaBeacher

This one, not so much:

For rent in Panama / Pedasí | House for rent

i have been watching as they try to fix these 2 little dumps up . they are not worth $50 a month and unless so dumb gringo rents them they will never get there 500 a month , but hey it does not hurt to ask , lots of stupid people fall off the cabage truck everyday in panama ,

Health insurance is about $50 a month. Doctor's visit is $15. Dental cleaning also $15. Cable with Internet is about $80 (lotsa channels) with cable Oanda. Electricity wont be more than $50 if you don't use A/C, if you do maybe $100 on a small house. Water is negligible, propane is cheap (subsidized). A scooter is great if you don't mind getting wet as it rains every day in the rainy season and a lot and often. Gas is around $3.60/Gallon for 91 octane and $3.78 for 95 (scarce) now, Diesel $3.64.

Originally Posted by nakedguydb

i have been watching as they try to fix these 2 little dumps up . they are not worth $50 a month and unless so dumb gringo rents them they will never get there 500 a month , but hey it does not hurt to ask , lots of stupid people fall off the cabage truck everyday in panama ,

It would show better with doors! Then, work on leveling the floor a tad.

Originally Posted by nakedguydb

get there 500 a month , but hey it does not hurt to ask , lots of stupid people fall off the cabage truck everyday in panama ,

Yeah... we need TONS of pictures!... nothing tells the story like pictures.

Yeah I know what you mean... but you would think, people would ASK questions... you can tell (from some of the pictures) certain houses, just don't seem worth what they ask... it's the "gringo pricing" thing, I guess... I dont know

TELL ME ONE THING... I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW THIS.... WHAT DO PEOPLE DO once they settle there?.... What does the community have to offer? Any PICs or VIDEOS of Las Tablas? anyone?

Obviously the Ocean would be my main attraction... some boating like kayaking or knowing some one with sail boat... that would be cool. Hiking... walking...camping... something to keep your mind creative and fresh... "salsa dancing" with the local "seNoritas!"

TIA

TS

Originally Posted by Sir Stressalot

Health insurance is about $50 a month. propane is cheap (subsidized). A scooter is great if you don't mind getting wet as it rains every day in the rainy season and a lot and often. Gas is around $3.60/Gallon for 91 octane and $3.78 for 95 (scarce) now, Diesel $3.64.

Thank you so much Sir Stressalot!... That is the kind of information I want!... Thank you.

TheSearcher

Originally Posted by BalaBeacher

You'll find this encouraging:

Would You Rent This House In Panama For $100/Month? « Retire Worldwide

Thank you BalaBeacher, sounds encouraging... but the question is, is it true?... hype or just bait <smile>... Only you guys can actually give us the true tale.

Originally Posted by TheSearcher

Any PICs or VIDEOS of Las Tablas? anyone?

Let me google that for you

Originally Posted by nakedguydb

dont get crazy , i dont like helping people as much as i like making them spin LOL . ask many , they will tell you . i dont rent but from what i am told 300 will get you a house around las tables ,i am not sure what i spend on food every month , 170 is tons for power , internet , water , it will not be that much , i dont do the insurance thing so i am not sure , do know the day i laid my motorcycle down and had 11 spots of road rash i spent 3/4 with 2 nurses and 1/2 hour with a doctor and i had to pay the whole $10 myself LOL then return everyday for a month getting them cleaned etc at a cost of $1 - $2 aday . and if you ever pay $7.50 for a couple of beer i am going to fart in your general direction , beer here at a local bar is never over a buck , some gringo places it is . so you need to come visit , find the area that might work for you , rent before you ever think of buying , but you need some loot in the bank to get off to a reasonable start , in my mind 10g would give you a cushion , , you might want to buy a car or as lots in las tables a scooter for getting around , poller has a great bike that was 900 and i have met other gringos running around on them . so a little in the bank and a visit . and stop this me being a nice guy , i work hard to twist people and dont want to lose that . and as far as me being a nudist , i thought you had never been here , i thought i saw a gringo peaking thru the bushes at my place , you sick , sick puppy LOL

Well, let see... how much do I know abut you. You like motorcycles, had an accident, luckily it wasn't too expensive, actually CHEAP! and you came out ok (good for you man!)

Beer... over a buck! (This is GOOD news

Thanks for the rest of the information... About the 10g, that might be possible when I sell my Nissan Frontier Truck (worth about $15k now).

Car? not sure... but a scooter or an off-road bike, YES. And as I understand it they are LESS expensive than in the US?... is that true?

Yes, absolutely, visiting there is a must, but I don't know if I will be able to do it before I retire when I am 66 (Aug 2013), time goes so fast...

Later man

TS

Originally Posted by BalaBeacher

Let me google that for you

LOL!... just like that huh?... I've done so much googling that I thought I had aready done it for Las Tablas.... ok, let me enjoy them... thanks

But how did you do that little "animation"? Where you kindly show me how type in the search box and then click on the bottom? LOL.... how do you do that?

later

TS

Expect things that are imported to be a little more expensive. In a few cases there might be a savings because the product doesn't meet the same standards.

Any tips on where to buy a motorcycle? I hope to get one in the next few weeks.

Here is a new subdivision (I have no part in it). Looks like the basic farmland in the country neighborhood model, which I think is interesting for low cost living but with some ex-pat neighbors.

Roca Milagro

Generic questions are:

1) will you get bored
2) what is the price premium over raw farm land
3) how safe are you from increases in "fees" for roads, shared space, etc.

Regarding #3, I would insist that my fees can never exceed base + some increase rate (5%/year maybe). Every developer would love to have the current owners pay for improvements to increase the value of his other lots. Or just pocket the money and don't do the maintenance.

Originally Posted by jonr

Here is a new subdivision (I have no part in it). Looks like the basic farmland in the country neighborhood model, which I think is interesting for low cost living but with some ex-pat neighbors.

Roca Milagro

Generic questions are:

1) will you get bored
2) what is the price premium over raw farm land
3) how safe are you from increases in "fees" for roads, shared space, etc.

Regarding #3, I would insist that my fees can never exceed base + some increase rate (5%/year maybe). Every developer would love to have the current owners pay for improvements to increase the value of his other lots. Or just pocket the money and don't do the maintenance.

i just love those rock fences that are up there everywhere , the 20 ft of rain a year is too much though

I agree that this is an interesting looking project, and I hope they do well. I really wish that these developers would put up 10 or so homes and finish infrastructure issues before they go ahead and build the token "main entrance arch." It's totally backwards. By the time they finish they are going to have an arch that doesn't work for them anymore. I love this disclaimer they threw in there...Note: During infrastructure construction, lot frontages often have piles of rocks and other excavated material that will be removed or graded properly when roads, culverts, water and electrical services are all complete.
In other words, pay us for the lot, and we'll pray to God that nobody actually wants to get started on a home because we still have cattle to move.
But look we have pictures! We have an entrance way! (but we're not going to tell you that getting power run out here will take years and cost 10's of thousands of dollars)
I do like the size of these lots. The smallest one that I found was still 1500 meters, and the price was 22 a meter, which comes out to about 32K....add costs lets say 40K. They are quoting from 08' 130K to build a 2000 square foot home. Lets add 10 percent cost overuns...13K...we are at 182K and its November 2014...since you have the first house built in the project you get the pleasure of driving through mud and watching the rest of the development for the next 10 years. Cerveza?

Originally Posted by SouthCentral

I agree that this is an interesting looking project, and I hope they do well. I really wish that these developers would put up 10 or so homes and finish infrastructure issues before they go ahead and build the token "main entrance arch." It's totally backwards. By the time they finish they are going to have an arch that doesn't work for them anymore. I love this disclaimer they threw in there...Note: During infrastructure construction, lot frontages often have piles of rocks and other excavated material that will be removed or graded properly when roads, culverts, water and electrical services are all complete.
In other words, pay us for the lot, and we'll pray to God that nobody actually wants to get started on a home because we still have cattle to move.
But look we have pictures! We have an entrance way! (but we're not going to tell you that getting power run out here will take years and cost 10's of thousands of dollars)
I do like the size of these lots. The smallest one that I found was still 1500 meters, and the price was 22 a meter, which comes out to about 32K....add costs lets say 40K. They are quoting from 08' 130K to build a 2000 square foot home. Lets add 10 percent cost overuns...13K...we are at 182K and its November 2014...since you have the first house built in the project you get the pleasure of driving through mud and watching the rest of the development for the next 10 years. Cerveza?

you would have to be soft in the head to pay anyone $22 a meter for dirt .

Originally Posted by nakedguydb

you would have to be soft in the head to pay anyone $22 a meter for dirt .

In your area they're asking over $50 a sq/mt:

Pacific Beach Pedasi House - Andromeda Ocean Estates

Pacific Beach Pedasi Gated Community - Pedasi Escapes

What's your assessment on how these projects are proceeding? Many rooftops?

Originally Posted by BalaBeacher

In your area they're asking over $50 a sq/mt:

Pacific Beach Pedasi House - Andromeda Ocean Estates

Pacific Beach Pedasi Gated Community - Pedasi Escapes

What's your assessment on how these projects are proceeding? Many rooftops?

i have heard that one out there is $100 a meter , and i stand by what i said in the above post , yes there is some houses being built , i do not know if they have buyers or are spec homes , and the same care and detail being done as on $25.000 houses being built everywhere else in the country , only at a much larger price . , but the turnip truck comes thru town every now and again .

Originally Posted by BalaBeacher

In your area they're asking over $50 a sq/mt:

Pacific Beach Pedasi House - Andromeda Ocean Estates

Pacific Beach Pedasi Gated Community - Pedasi Escapes

What's your assessment on how these projects are proceeding? Many rooftops?

now who ever wrote this should go back and finish grade 6 , ...quote ... families sit on front Porsche on weekends and greets with a big smile. only one store and one gas station , well that just proves whoever wrote this has never , ever, been in pedasi . and the picture of the enterance into pedasi escapes is just someones idea , what is really there is a 8 ft high fence running right across the front of the property and from what i have seen from the road out front if you build a really tall house you might be able to see the ocean as it is in a hole and on the back side of two other projects . good luck with that .

Originally Posted by nakedguydb

now who ever wrote this should go back and finish grade 6 , ...quote ... families sit on front Porsche on weekends and greets with a big smile. only one store and one gas station , well that just proves whoever wrote this has never , ever, been in pedasi . and the picture of the enterance into pedasi escapes is just someones idea , what is really there is a 8 ft high fence running right across the front of the property and from what i have seen from the road out front if you build a really tall house you might be able to see the ocean as it is in a hole and on the back side of two other projects . good luck with that .

Wat iz rong wit dat?