For some people, the ideal retirement takes place in a remote overseas paradise.
But what if you love fine dining, top-quality health care, walkable neighborhoods and lots of shopping? Then you need a city.
In these five overseas cities, retirees can get by on a fraction of what they'd need in the U.S., according to a report from International Living.
The cost of living index comparisons are from Numbeo.com, which gives prices in about 8,500 cities for restaurant meals, gas, transportation, clothing items and housing, among other items. The site gives prices for rental apartments of different sizes in more and less expensive areas, as well as the purchase price per square foot.
1. Medellin, Colombia
Known as the City of Flowers, Medellin offers an outdoor-based, active lifestyle with spring-like weather all year. Medellin is less expensive than many U.S. cities. A couple could live well on a budget from $1,400 to $2,000 per month.
According to Numbeo.com, the cost of living is 67 percent lower than in New York.
2. George Town, Malaysia
George Town is the multicultural capital of the Malaysian island of Penang. A couple can live there for $1,500 per month if they really watch spending. A high-living couple can splurge out, springing for a monthly budget of $2,500 for an indulgent life here. It's a luxury life on an easy budget with all the comforts and conveniences of home.
The cost of living in Penang, where prices are a bit higher than George Town, is 57 percent lower than in New York. A centrally located three-bedroom apartment in Penang is 2,388 ringgits ($577) and 2,100 ringgits ($507) in George Town.
3. Porto, Portugal
The second-largest metropolitan area in Portugal after Lisbon, Porto offers Old World charm and First World convenience. With the friendly feel of a small city, it's also a thriving business city with an international airport.
For all of Porto's natural and architectural beauty, fine food and wine, and pleasurable pastimes, it's surprisingly affordable — a monthly budget for a couple runs to $1,550. The cost of living index is 48 percent lower than in New York.
4. Panama City, Panama
You can enjoy inexpensive cosmopolitan living with many of the conveniences — high-speed internet and cell coverage are commonplace — you'd expect in New York, Miami or any major city. Panama City has excellent air and water, as well as solid infrastructure, top-class amenities and proximity to the U.S.
A couple can live comfortably in a rented two-bedroom apartment in a central area for $1,765 a month. In more exclusive residences, a monthly budget of $2,890 would fund a more lavish lifestyle. The cost of living index is 43 percent lower than in New York.
5. Montevideo, Uruguay
Montevideo has many large parks, plazas, tree-lined streets, sandy beaches and wide avenues. While the city's seven-mile coastline is not technically oceanfront, it looks like the ocean. More expat groups are springing up here, making it easier for newcomers to get settled.
Two people can live on $3,200 a month renting a one-bedroom, furnished apartment in Pocitos, the most popular expat neighborhood in the city. The cost of living index is 44 percent lower than in New York.