- English speaking guides
- 9 destinations available
- Book in minutes
Destinations
Your local guide is waiting
Each guide has personally lived the expat experience in their country. They went through the visa process, found the neighborhoods, navigated the banking, finding the right community and now they share it all with you.
Canada
Local guide · boots on the ground
Deciding if Canada is the right fit. City and province comparisons, cost of living, healthcare, housing, weather, and everyday life.
Mexico
Local guide · boots on the ground
Residency options, private and public healthcare, cost of living, safety, popular expat areas, and cultural adjustment.
Panama
Local guide · boots on the ground
Relocation and retirement options, country fit, healthcare, banking, cost of living, and choosing between city, beach, and mountain communities.
Portugal
Local guide · boots on the ground
Dominican Republic
Local guide · boots on the ground
Country fit, healthcare expectations, local banking, cost of living, beach communities vs mountain, expat areas, and day-to-day life.
Thailand
Local guide · boots on the ground
Retirement lifestyle, healthcare experience, cost of living, tropical weather, safe areas, transportation, and comparing Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Hua Hin, and other popular expat communities.
Spain
Local guide · boots on the ground
Retirement lifestyle, healthcare experience, cost of living, weather, safe neighbourhoods, transportation, and comparing coastal areas, major cities, smaller towns, and popular expat communities.
Philippines
Local guide · boots on the ground
Retirement lifestyle, healthcare experience, cost of living, climate, safe neighbourhoods, transportation, veteran expat communities, and comparing Manila, Cebu, Dumaguete, beach areas, and other popular expat locations.
Not sure where to start?
Start with a free 15-minute call
Haven’t decided on a country yet? Not sure which destination makes the most sense for your lifestyle, budget, or retirement goals? That’s completely normal.
Book a free 15-minute call with our team to ask your initial questions, understand how Retire Abroad Hub works, and get pointed in the right direction before choosing a country-specific guide.
This short call is designed to help you get clarity, narrow down your options, and understand what type of consultation may be most helpful for you.
Start Here for Free
What the free call covers
- Understanding where you are in the planning process
- Helping you decide which destination may be worth exploring first
- Explaining how Retire Abroad Hub consultations work
- Helping you choose the right country-specific guide
- Answering basic questions before you book a full consultation
Note: This is a general information call only. It is not legal, immigration, financial, tax, or investment advice. For formal advice, you should speak with a licensed professional.
Ask anything
Real questions. Real answers. No filter.
Our guides have been through it all. Here are the kinds of questions they answer every week, organized by topic so you can come prepared.
Banking & money
- Can I open a local bank account as a foreigner?
- Which banks actually work with expats?
- How do I receive my pension or Social Security?
- Are there transfer fees moving money from home?
- Do I need a local account to rent or buy property?
Neighbourhoods & where to live
- Where do most expats actually live — and why?
- What are the safest areas for someone new?
- Beachside vs. city vs. mountains — what's the trade-off?
- Which neighbourhoods have the best walkability?
- Are there gated communities or is that unnecessary?
Expat community & social life
- Is there an active English-speaking expat community?
- How do people make friends after 50 in a new country?
- Are there expat clubs, groups, or regular meetups?
- How welcoming are locals to North Americans?
- What do expats do for fun day-to-day?
Safety & day-to-day life
- Is it actually safe to live there as a foreigner?
- What do people get wrong about safety in this country?
- Do I need a car, or can I get by without one?
- What's the internet and power reliability like?
- What do you wish someone had told you before you moved?
Healthcare & medical
- How good is the healthcare compared to back home?
- Can I access the public health system as a retiree?
- What does private health insurance cost?
- Are prescription medications available and affordable?
- What happens in a medical emergency?
Cost of living & budget
- What is a realistic monthly budget to live comfortably?
- How much does rent cost for a decent 1–2 bedroom?
- What do groceries and dining out cost?
- What costs are higher than people expect?
- Can you live well on $2,000/month? $3,000?
How it works
Three steps and you're talking to a local
1
Choose Your Destination
Start by exploring the countries that interest you most, the ones you like learning more about and what life there may look like. Once you find a country, the next step is to choose a local guide who can answer your questions and share real, first-hand experience about living there.
8 countries available
2
Pick a Guide
Pick a guide who best matches what you want to learn. Each guide brings their own lived experience, local knowledge, and personal perspective. Once you select a guide, you can book a call and ask practical, real-life questions about moving, settling in, and everyday life in that destination.
3
Book a Call
Pick a time on Calendly and book your call in just a few clicks. Choose a day and time that works best for you, complete your booking, and you’ll receive a confirmation with the call details. Then simply show up with your questions and get ready for an honest, practical conversation with your guide. Nothing is off limits.
Bring your questions · Get honest answers
Why choose us
What makes this different
Boots on the ground
Every guide lives there right now. They went through the same visa process, found the same neighbourhoods, and dealt with the same banking headaches you're worried about.
Honest, not a sales pitch
No commissions, no referral deals, no real estate upsells. Our guides are paid for their time and knowledge — that's it. You get the truth, including the downsides.
Book in 60 seconds
No phone tag, no emailing back and forth. Open Calendly, pick a guide, pick a time, confirm. You'll have a booking in under a minute with an instant calendar invite.
Open to all North Americans
Whether you're in Canada, the US, or Mexico, this service is for you. Our guides understand North American concerns, pension systems, and what "home" means to us.
What people say
Hear from our community
“The personal consultation was extremely helpful. It gave me the clarity I needed, and I booked my scouting trip for the following month.”
Margaret K.
Ottawa, ON — Portugal
“Before seriously considering a move abroad, we wanted to speak with people who had real local experience. This consultation saved us so much time researching and helped us understand what to focus on.”
Linda T.
Vancouver, BC — Panama
Susan R.
Phoenix, AZ — Costa Rica
Important notice: Retire Abroad Hub provides informal, experience-based consultations only. Our local guides are not lawyers, licensed immigration consultants, financial advisors, or tax professionals. Nothing shared in a session constitutes legal, immigration, financial, or tax advice. We strongly encourage all clients to consult licensed professionals before making any decisions. Sessions are for informational and conversational purposes only.
Our standards
Not everyone can become a guide
We keep this group small on purpose. Every guide on Retire Abroad Hub has been carefully vetted.