The Best Places to Live as an Expat in Central America
By Joel Stott-Jess
Looking to escape? Here is a guide to the best places to live in Central America as an expat - from Belize to Panama and everywhere in between.
Let’s face it. Living in a lot of the major cities in the US sucks right now. Between the coronavirus lock down, and the protest & riots, the shine has come off living in large North American cities.
Most people live in those cities because that’s where they work. But that’s changing too. Millions of people will be able to permanently work remotely once this is all over.
In my last article I wrote about the real estate market in Central America and why some places are poised to do better once travel opens. Remote workers will able to move to low cost locations while retaining their first world jobs and salaries. Welcome to the gold rush of income arbitrage.
In the next article, slated or a couple weeks from now, I’ll be writing I’ll talk about what getting out of the US or Canada really means. Here in the article I’ll briefly go into the benefits of living down in Central America, and then which places are the best for expats.
The main benefits for foreigners looking to move to Central America are obvious.
The first is cost of living. Depending on where you currently live, and where you are looking to move to, your living expenses can decrease from 30-70%. If you’re working remotely for a North American based company, earning those first world dollars, that means a lot more money in your pocket. Even the potential for early retirement.
Climate is the second major draw. I grew up in Alberta, Canada. A place that sometimes is the coldest place on the planet. Never gain.
The beaches in the region are obvious draws. There’s nothing like working remotely from your computer, looking out over a sandy beach and a sunset into the ocean. And, if you’re not set on the sand, there are more fresh highland climates available here as well. I’ll get in those below.
The third major draw for expats looking to get out of North America is the time zone and physical & flight distances to home. Central America shares time zones with the continental US and Canada. If you need to be online during North American office hours you can get up at a normal time.
When things reopen, including normal flights, they are short and relatively inexpensive. Making it easy to fly back for work if you need to, and to visit family and friends when you want to.
I personally considered Asia as well as Central America when I was looking for a destination to move to. (One that didn’t have freezing conditions and snow six months of the year.) But the flights lengths and time zone differences dissuaded me. Also, in Asia, it’s hard to own property as a foreigner. In Central America it’s generally really easy and you can have full title without a local partner.
Due to all those factors I chose to leave Canada for Central America. I visited the entire region and have some insights on the best places to live as an expat. Personally I live in San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua, and you can see more on what thats like at LifeInNica.com
The following list, by county, is by no means exhaustive. (And if you think there is a place that should be on here and isn’t, contact me!) Based on a combination of my personal experience, contacts, information, current popularity with expats, and available amenities, these are my picks for the best places to live in Central America as an expat. We’ll go from North to South, starting with Belize:
The best places to live in Belize as an expat: Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker
Belize is an interesting location for expats as it’s the only Central American country with English as the official language. It’s been growing in popularity for years with tourists, snowbirds and permanent residents. The top destinations are the islands just off the coast. There you’ll enjoy all the things you dream about from a tropical Carribean island.
Ambergis Caye is the most popular expat destination in Belize. Located in the Carribean just off the mainland, it’s known for it’s beaches and water sports. The Blue Hole and Belize Barrier Reef are right nearby. Meaning that if you’re a scuba diver this is one of the best location in all of the Americas.
As an island it can be more expensive, in terms of cost of living, so bear that in mind. It’s more popular with wealthy retirees than families. The main town of San Pedro has a population of 16,000+ so there is a at least some community - for social life and entertainment.
Caye Caulker is small limestone & coral island off the coast of Belize. It’s your prototypical Carribean island. At only about one mile wide by five miles long you might get island some fever. It’s heavily dependant on tourism, so when the coronavirus runs its course, and you can get down, there should be some deals on long term rentals & properties for sale.
The best places to live in Guatemala as an expat: Antigua and Lake Atitlan
Guatemala is different than the rest of Central America. Unlike the rest of region it’s not known for it’s beaches. Instead it’s highlands and lakes are the most attractive places in the country. And they are popular for a reason.
It also retains a higher percentage of indegenous, pre-Spanish population. 46% of the people have indigenous heritage. That’s third highest in the Americas, behind only Bolivia and Peru. The people, and their culture, give it a different feel. In that way it always reminds me a lot of Bolivia. (A country which I also love.)
Antigua is a famous as one of the most beautiful colonial cities in the region. A UNESCO world heritage site, it’s cobblestone streets and Spanish Baroque architecture attract more than a million tourists a year. That also means lots of amenities that you’ll enjoy as an expat - bars, restaurants events. I have friends living there and they love it.
Lake Atitlan is one of my favourite places in all of central Central America. Actually it’s one of my favourite places in the world.
It has a beautiful year-round springtime climate. You can wear shorts and a t-shirt during the day, and throw on some jeans and a light long sleeve at night. After this many years of living in a tropical beach town, I can tell you I do miss wearing jeans a little. (Though it seems the three pairs I have should last me forever.)
But back to Lake Atitlan. There are a number of towns that ring the lake. My personal favourite is San Pedro La Laguna. It’s where I learned Spanish in a great cooperative school and homestay, on one of my first trips to Latin America. With about 10,000 people and a large number of expats its a great spot to live. It was on my short list before I settled in Nicaragua.
The best places to live in El Salvador as an expat: the Surf Coast
There’s a large stretch of El Salvador’s Pacific Coast that I love. It’s a place that appeals more to surfers and younger expats, so it’s not for everyone. Bu not surprisingly I really like this area.
The popular twin beaches of Playa El Tunco and Sunzal are awesome. La Libertad is the region hub but it’s just the place for go for groceries.
There are more surf breaks, little communities and hidden gem properties all up the coast. Contact me for more and we can consult on what’s best for you, and who the best contacts are there.
The vibes are great, waves world class, and prices are reasonable. It’s only a 40 minute trip by car to the San Salvador international airport, so if you need to go back and forth to Canada or the States on a regular basis it’s super easy. These are are some of the best surf spots in Central America. In the US there would be hundreds of guys fighting for waves, here it' might be just you and a couple buddies.
El Salvador gets a bad rap in terms of security but thats not entirely justified. Yes you need to be careful and use common sense if when you visit the capital, San Salvador. But thats true of pretty much every capital city in Latin America. If you pick the home in the right community in El Salvador, you should be just as safe as in a major city in the US.
The best places to live in Honduras as an expat: The Bay Islands
I’m not a big fan of Honduras in general as a place to live for expats. With two major exceptions- the Bay Islands of Roatan and Utila. Mainland Honduras doesn’t have a lot to offer foreigners, and it’s got a justified reputation for security problems.
The Bay Islands are absolutely fantastic though. They were on my short list of places to live in Latin America when I did my years of deep research on the region.
Utila is smaller (population less than 5000), has a laid back vibe. If your a Scuba diver it’s a paradise. I spent weeks there and got my PADI certification at dive school on the island.
Utila was on my short list of places to live and invest as well. The only thing I’d say is it is small- both in terms of population and physically (17 square miles). So spend some time there first if you’re thinking about it.
Roatan is more expat friendly. It’s 32 square miles in size, so more than double Utila. And it’s population of about 60,000 means there are more people to hang out with. There are a lot of retirees here in addition to the tourists, long term visitors and expats. That means more bars, restaurants and more community.
So if you like the small island vibe head to Utila. For more people, and culture options, head to Roatan.
The best places to live in Nicaragua as an expat: San Juan Del Sur and Granada.
This is my home! If you haven’t seen it check out my other site - Life In Nica. I travelled the length of the Americas and Nicaragua had the best combination of what I was looking for- ease of property rights as a foreigner, ability to incorporate a business, great value for money, beautiful beaches and excellent surfing. You can see more about all that on the blog over there.
I live in San Juan Del Sur, which is a great spot for young digital nomads, expat families and retirees. In the article I wrote on what coronavirus means for Central America I detail why I think it will do well in the future too. There are world class waves, tons of amenities, a great school, and excellent values on properties. Especially compared to Costa Rica, which is only about 40 kilometres south of the town.
Granada has been popular with foreigners for a long time. As one of the oldest colonial cities in Latin America, the beautiful architecture attracts tourists and long term residents alike. The low cost of living is excellent as well- both for purchasing and renting. It does tend to attract an older crowd that San Juan Del Sur - both for that lower cost of living and the proximity to the excellent and affordable hospitals in Managua.
The best places to live in Costa Rica as an expat: San Jose / Escazu, Jaco, Puerto Viejo & Nosara
Costa Rica has been a staple of the expat life and investment scene for decades. It’s a stable democracy with high levels of development, excellent property rights and beautiful scenery. I’ve done business there extensively and know the area well.
It is more expensive than some of the other countries in this article. But if you like the aforementioned benefits it might be for you.
San Jose is one of the better capital cities in Latin America. And Escazu is one of the more upscale cantons in the San Jose region. It’s got all the ammeinities you’d want in a major North American city- great schools, entertainment and luxury homes. There’s a reason why lots of wealthy expats and Ticos choose to live there.
The Guanacaste Peninsula on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica is an extremely popular area for visitors and expats. There are a number of great little beach towns, and the international airport in Liberia makes getting in and out easy.
Nosara is my pick amongst the beach towns of the peninsula. It’s become the Malibu of Costa Rican beach towns on the Pacific coast. There’s a fantastic school, a friendly mix of locals and expats, and some fantastic waves.
Jaco is what it looks like when the condos come to the beach in Costa Rica. So it’s not for everyone - but its on the list because of the amenities. There are tons of options available for real estate both for sale and rent, restaurants, bars, and grocery stores. If you’re a retiree looking for ease of living its a good option. If you’re looking for uncrowded beaches - better to head to Nosara.
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is the best spot on the Carribean in Costa Rica. It’s got a laid back vibe, and a lot more English spoken, thanks to its creole history and heritage. Things are cheaper here than on the Pacific Coast. And there are some good prospects for growth and appreciation if you’re looking for property.
The best places to live in Panama as an expat: Panama City, Boquete and Bocas Del Toro
I love Panama City. It’s my favourite capital in the region. It has everything you want in a city with the spectacular scenery of modern buildings seeming to sprout from a tropical beach.
It’s not cheap - so bear that in mind. With all those amenities and density its the most expensive place to live in Panama. But it can still be reasonable by comparison if you’re coming from North America. The fantastic airport and connections means it’s easy to get anywhere from here. It was also on my short list of places to live personally. And now, if my wife and I ever decide to move from a beach town to an urban centre, it will be to Panama City.
Also if you’re looking for a condo and need some financing it’s got the best options in the region. I know a developer that will do 4% interest over 10 years on a mortgage, with 20-30% down payments. They’ve got beachfront and city centre options.
Thats the best deal in Central America if you need financing. Contact me if you want more on that.
Boquete is the most popular mountain town in Panama for foreigners - especially retirees. Its elevation of 1200 meters / 3900 feet above sea level means it’s significantly cooler than the coasts. The cost of living is also significantly lower than in Panama City. Plenty of locally produced fruits and vegetables keep the grocery bill down. The cool climate means minimal to no air conditioner use, which drastically drops your electricity bill.
And finally we have Bocas Del Toro - the archipelago off the Caribbean coast of Panama. It was my second choice after San Juan Del Sur as the place to settle down in Central America.
Bocas Town is the centrepiece - with enough of a population to have good bars, restaurants, community and nightlife. Things can be a little more expensive here than on the mainland - like every island. But the spectacular beaches, water sports, and scuba diving or surfing (depending on the season) make it worthwhile.
All right those are all my favourites. Thanks for reading!
Are you thinking about investing in or making a move to central America?
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Have a great day,
Joel Stott-Jess
Cell / WhatsApp / Telegram: +505 8176 8624
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Joel Stott-Jess is a New York Times featured speaker, writer and real estate broker based in Central America.
Originally from Alberta, Canada he has been doing business in Central America since 2014.
A serial entrepreneur, investor, and outdoor enthusiast he is an expert on the real estate and investment markets in the region.
Thanks to his lovely Nicaraguan wife and much better half, a medical doctor, he is also well informed on health care services.
