DAILY POSTCARD | FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2026 |
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Dear International Living reader, Imagine waking to snow-capped mountains behind a sleek, modern capital—then strolling to an outdoor market where fresh produce costs a fraction of back home. Add walkable neighborhoods, metro access, solid infrastructure, and high-quality healthcare at surprisingly affordable rates… You've found the kind of "New Europe" most retirees haven't even considered yet. This place changes the game. | P.S. Most Americans have never heard of this hidden corner of the world that was settled by Europeans hundreds of years ago. But we have, and we want to share it with you. We'll give you a FREE in-depth report on this overlooked part of the world when you join International Living here. |
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Capital City Living and a $190,000 Condo |
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Imagine waking up to views of pristine, snow-capped mountains rising behind glittering towers of glass and concrete. Or, picture the deep blue of the Pacific Ocean beyond rolling green hills dotted with stone farmhouses. In between, cows graze on lush grass fed by rich volcanic soil, and rows of grapevines recede into the high ground. This is where I choose to live. Every day, my wife, Gisela, and I shop in a lively outdoor farmers' market. We can find fresh vegetables of every color, meats of every variety, fruit, eggs, and much more at a cost much less than their grocery store equivalents. For example, we pay about $1.20 for a large head of freshly cut broccoli. We often eat out too. Restaurants here cater to a wide variety of tastes, including some you won't find in most American cities. Back in my single days I went to a few of the "joints" that cater to expats, with names like Flannery's and The Shamrock. These days, my wife and I tend to eat in or sometimes go to one of the local places within easy walking distance of our home—a 10th-floor condo we bought for under $200,000. We'd rented before that. Although we own our apartment, we do have ongoing costs. Living in a condo involves paying an HOA fee. While some of my expat friends grouse about this fee, it's used to pay for 24-hour security, cleaning, and to maintain the elevators, underground parking garage, and other facilities including a 24-hour gym. In our case, it's less than $200 a month. |
Utilities are similar in cost to the US, and of comparable quality, as is internet service. It's not a bad deal, overall. The view is fantastic, and we're well located in the city (two blocks from a Metro station). Medical care, incidentally, is high quality, comparable to anything in the US and typically much cheaper. A good private health plan may run from $120 to $300 a month. Even so, it's much more affordable than in the US. There is, however, a publicly financed insurance option which many locals use, and which provides cheaper coverage (in the $30 to $60 a month range). If you have a taste for exploration and variety, you'll never get bored here. There are deep deserts in the north where it almost never rains, and lush forests in the south eventually giving way to iceberg-filled bays and glaciers. Where we live, in the middle regions, the inland climate is akin to Southern California. My friend Ken Shields, who came here with his wife, Becky, shortly before I did and runs a tax business for expats, describes the climate at the coast just west of here as Mediterranean. Another friend, George Even, is a retired geologist who worked here from the 1980s. He and his wife retain a home here, even with family back in the States. He says that this country "is great for those who want to experience life in a foreign country but don't want to sacrifice the comforts that come from a stable, prosperous economy." Expats, many from the US but some from the UK, Australia, South Africa, and Europe, form a community spread throughout the city. There are others elsewhere in the country, spread throughout smaller towns. This country is not yet an established expat destination, but there's a lot to recommend it. I've lived here since 2012. As I got off the plane and collected seven boxes and suitcases, I was met by my associate at the college I'd come to teach in, Dr. John Cobin. He drove us to my first condo, purchased the year before for about $190,000, and said something that was as true then as it is now. Simply put, it was: "Welcome home." |
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Discover a hidden corner of the world that was built by the French, Italians, and Germans over 150 years ago... And today, Americans can live in European-style splendor for a fraction of the price you'd expect. Full details inside. |
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