18. Akumal, Mexico
The small town of Akumal, Mexico, enjoys gorgeous tropical water on the Caribbean Sea. In the Mayan language, Akumal means “The Land of the Turtles,” and it truly lives up to its namesake. Through the clear waters of the bay, you can spot plenty of sea turtles. For years, not many people have bothered to visit Akumal, but more recently, tourists who vacation in Cancun and Playa del Carmen have decided to make the trip. Because of this new influx of foreigners with money to spend, the town has acquired more restaurants, snorkeling expeditions, bars, and other various entertainment options.
Compared to the United States, all of Mexico has a significantly lower cost of living. For couples who move to Akumel, two people can live a luxurious lifestyle in the Caribbean for $2,240 a month, or just $26,880 a year. One US dollar is equivalent to almost 20 Mexican pesos, so a meager income of Social Security benefits can stretch a lot farther. The main drawback for monolingual retirees will be the need to learn Spanish to communicate with locals. While some tourism workers will speak English, Spanish is the native language and it is simply a must to learn.