The results are out: according to the Annual Global Retirement Index by International Living (IL), experts on global retirement and relocation opportunities the new best country to retire is Mexico. The survey has been conducted among US expatriates, and may or may not have the same relevance for people in Switzerland that are planning to retire abroad. Mexico was already ranked high (on position 3) in 2016, and has reached the top position, followed by Panama (2nd) and Ecuador (3rd). The other popular international retirement destinations are Costa Rica, Colombia, Malaysia, Spain, Nicaragua, Portugal and Malta. A relevant factor for these countries – besides the tropical or sub-tropical climate, is cost of living along with a favourable currency exchange rate. According to feedback of expats in Mexico, they can live well with 1200 USD per month. But costs should not be the only relevant factor. According to Dan Prescher, senior editor at International Living, before relocating you should “profile yourself ruthlessly about what you really want in a place. Find out what you can and can’t live without. And before making a permanent move to a particular place, try it out for as long as you can. See what it’s like to be there not just on vacation, but long enough to set up Internet access and to open a bank account.” If you are also planning to retire outside of Switzerland, feel free to contact Crown’s relocation consultants from our Swiss offices in Basel, Geneva, Lausanne or Zurich.