Beachgoers sunbathe in Mar del Plata, Argentina, in January 2025. File Photo by Vicente Robles/EPA
Aug. 3 (UPI) -- Seven Latin American countries appear on Forbes' list of the best places for Americans to retire abroad in 2026, as rising living costs and political polarization continue to push senior U.S. residents to consider relocating overseas.
The annual ranking, published Friday, identifies 96 retirement destinations across 24 countries, evaluating factors that include cost of living, healthcare, taxes, residency requirements, crime, climate risk and accessibility to the United States.
According to Forbes, more Americans are looking beyond U.S. borders in search of a lower-cost lifestyle. The magazine cited official data showing that about 712,000 Americans were receiving Social Security benefits abroad at the end of 2024, a 20% increase over the previous 13 years, while surveys indicate growing interest in retiring overseas.
Latin American countries in the rankings are Argentina, Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama and Uruguay.
