Best cities to retire in the Americas

Retirement-ready cities in the Americas: every pick has a dedicated retirement visa route, ranked on healthcare, safety, climate and how far a pension actually stretches.

Methodology: Only cities with a dedicated retirement visa and solid healthcare (55+) qualify; ranked by a blend of healthcare (30%), safety (25%), climate (25%) and affordability (20%).

  1. 1. Boquete, Panama

    Healthcare 78/100 · Safety 88/100 · $1,350/mo

    Panama Pensionado Visa plus 78/100 healthcare on about $1,350/mo.

  2. 2. Cuenca, Ecuador

    Healthcare 78/100 · Safety 78/100 · $970/mo

    Ecuador Pensionado / Rentista Visa plus 78/100 healthcare on about $970/mo.

  3. 3. Mendoza, Argentina

    Healthcare 78/100 · Safety 78/100 · $950/mo

    Argentina Pensionado Visa plus 78/100 healthcare on about $950/mo.

  4. 4. Tamarindo, Costa Rica

    Healthcare 82/100 · Safety 80/100 · $1,540/mo

    Costa Rica Pensionado Visa plus 82/100 healthcare on about $1,540/mo.

  5. 5. Salta, Argentina

    Healthcare 75/100 · Safety 78/100 · $810/mo

    Argentina Pensionado Visa plus 75/100 healthcare on about $810/mo.

  6. 6. Punta del Este, Uruguay

    Healthcare 84/100 · Safety 88/100 · $1,980/mo

    Uruguay Permanent Residency plus 84/100 healthcare on about $1,980/mo.

  7. 7. Cabarete, Dominican Republic

    Healthcare 78/100 · Safety 78/100 · $1,330/mo

    Dominican Republic Pensionado / Rentista Visa plus 78/100 healthcare on about $1,330/mo.

  8. 8. Cancún, Mexico

    Healthcare 78/100 · Safety 70/100 · $1,380/mo

    Mexico Residente Temporal Rentista plus 78/100 healthcare on about $1,380/mo.

  9. 9. Willemstad, Curaçao

    Healthcare 76/100 · Safety 78/100 · $1,800/mo

    Curaçao Penshonado Residency plus 76/100 healthcare on about $1,800/mo.

  10. 10. Montevideo, Uruguay

    Healthcare 82/100 · Safety 80/100 · $1,665/mo

    Uruguay Rentista Visa plus 82/100 healthcare on about $1,665/mo.

  11. 11. Valparaíso, Chile

    Healthcare 80/100 · Safety 70/100 · $1,050/mo

    Chile Pensionado / Rentista Visa plus 80/100 healthcare on about $1,050/mo.

  12. 12. Panajachel, Guatemala

    Healthcare 65/100 · Safety 78/100 · $740/mo

    Guatemala Pensionado Visa plus 65/100 healthcare on about $740/mo.

Frequently asked questions

Best cities to retire in the Americas — which city is #1?

Boquete, Panama tops this list. Panama Pensionado Visa plus 78/100 healthcare on about $1,350/mo. Cuenca and Mendoza round out the top three.

How is this ranking calculated?

Only cities with a dedicated retirement visa and solid healthcare (55+) qualify; ranked by a blend of healthcare (30%), safety (25%), climate (25%) and affordability (20%). 52 catalog cities in the Americas qualified for this list; the top 12 are shown. Scores are catalog averages, not personalised — Jonzy re-ranks every city for your own income, passport and lifestyle when you sign in.

How much does it cost to live in the top city in the Americas?

Boquete runs about $1,350/month all-in for one person — rent, food, transport, healthcare, utilities and everyday extras. See the Boquete city guide for the full cost breakdown, visa options and FAQ.