Your retirement life could include the sound of deep blue salt water lapping gently against a white-sand shore or the roar of pounding waves against irrepressible craggy rocks and a view of the Pacific (or Atlantic) ocean from your own bedroom window.  You can enjoy warm sunny days and long walks on the sandy beach whenever the thought strikes you.

Affordable Beach Cities to Retire 

Beach retirement can even be an option for you even if you are on a budget as long as you know where to look.

Our first recommendation is  a very exotic location. Then we will share a few more places that might feel more familiar.

Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Many retirees choose Ambergris for their love of the Caribbean Sea and laid back lifestyle.  Expats tell us it is easy to establish new friend here because there are already so many retirees living there.

They speak English here, and the island offers a developed infrastructure geared towards services seniors will enjoy after retirement.

Ambergris Caye is the most expensive place to buy real estate if you want to live in Belize but there are cheaper towns on the mainland where you can enjoy retirement life.

Belize, formerly known as British Honduras was the crown colony of the U.K.  until 1973. Although Belize was granted its independence in 1981, Queen Elizabeth is still head of state and English is the official language here. The style of government is comfortable to Americans and very stable.  The American dollar is used almost everywhere in Belize so you don’t have to worry about currency exchange rates.

Health care is always a concern. In Belize it is basic in both Corozal and Ambergris Caye. If you have a more serious medical problem, retirees and other expats drive 2 hours to Belize City, or fly back to the States.

I was looking online and found that you can find house and condo rentals/leases for as little as $600 per month. In Ambergris Caye there was nothing under $1,200 per month but it is a good idea to rent for 6 months before you buy.

Belize has been graced with lush tropical jungles, ruins of once grand Mayan pyramids and forever white sand beaches caressed by the aquamarine Caribbean Sea. If you live to snorkel, you can find some of the best reefs for snorkeling here.

Most retirees with a healthy retirement budget choose retirement life on the largest island, Ambergris Caye. This is where you will find expensive upscale condos, multi-million dollar homes and high-end restaurants.  You can live here on a budget of approximately $40,000 a year.

Corazol is on the mainland’s northern tip on the border with Mexico and attracts retirees looking for more affordable housing costs. You can live comfortably here with a budget of $18,000 a year. This is where most of the native people live. The Corozal district has a more laid-back lifestyle, with year-round boating, hiking, swimming, snorkeling and diving but still just 20 minutes from shopping malls and movie theaters located in Chetumal, the capital of the state Quintana Roo in Mexico. Dining out for a couple hovers around $30. Homes sell for $75,000 to $300,000, depending on the proximity to the beach and the home’s amenities. Rentals can be found ranging from $250 per month to $500 also depending on location and features so it is very affordable.