The Right Overseas Destination | Pathfinder International

Wednesday, December 09, 2009

Dear Reader,

Moving overseas can seem a daunting task, starting with knowing which country to choose. And then you’ve also got to consider where to find the best medical care…an acceptable cost of living…the nicest beaches…or the best intrinsic value in a property. The task is daunting, but with the proper research, it’s manageable.

Spending two months living in three different countries this year gave me an added edge in country comparisons. Today, I’ll share with you my take on Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay, ranking them in a number of different categories.

Infrastructure. Uruguay gets the highest score, with modern airports, good roads, and even wireless internet in some public parts of Montevideo and in all town squares around the country. The bus network is clean, safe and affordable, and the central bus terminal in Montevideo lists routes and prices online. Metered city cabs charge based on a fare schedule, usually displayed prominently in the cab. Regular ferry services cross the River Plate to Buenos Aires, if you fancy a weekend away.

Healthcare. In all three countries, healthcare was generally good in the main cities, and patchy in areas that are more rural. Private medical insurance is more expensive on average in Brazil, and will cost around $120 per month over the age of 50…Uruguay will start at about $50 per month.

Cost of Living. I kept a running tab on grocery costs in my three locations and Uruguay was the cheapest, with Brazil the most expensive. Utilities (electricity, internet, telephone) cost a similar amount in Argentina and Uruguay, with Brazil a little higher.

Imported items cost significantly more in all three countries than my home base in Panama, especially electrical goods and brand-name clothing. This was particularly marked in Brazil, where even a bar of imported Swiss chocolate that costs less than $3 in Panama, was around $9.

If you shop like the locals, buying locally produced goods, you’ll definitely save money in all three countries.

Climate. Climate preferences vary from person to person, and my own choice is year round warmth and sunshine. Brazil’s northeast coast wins this round easily. Uruguay and Argentina have distinct seasons (as does southern Brazil), and although in Uruguay you won’t see snow in winter, you won’t be swimming in the ocean.

Part-year residents should note that the seasons in Argentina and Uruguay are the opposite of those in the US and Canada. When it’s winter in the US, its summer in these two locations.

City Comforts. I’m including shopping, nightlife, and cultural activities in this category. Clearly Buenos Aires in Argentina has the edge when it comes to culture, with a wealth of museums, a world-famous theatre (Teatro Colon), opera, ballet, film festivals, book fairs, and a big enough population to attract internationally-renowned music acts, from rock to classical.

Shopping-wise, there’s a huge choice of specialty stores, shopping malls and hypermarkets. Brazil offers a similar mix in larger cities like Sao Paulo, but the prices are higher than in Argentina.

In my case, I would live in Montevideo because I find it more comfortable—with less bustle and a more laid-back atmosphere—and take a ferry or short flight to Buenos Aires when I needed those big-city amenities.

Beaches. The best beaches are in Uruguay and Brazil. For swimming year-round, Brazil’s northeast coast is best, with white sand beaches and warm water. The best beach towns are most certainly in Uruguay…and by beach town, I mean decent infrastructure, a resident population, and restaurants with linen and comfortable chairs (not a plastic stool beneath a palapa hut).

Friendly locals. Brazil wins this award easily. Brazilians are naturally warm, enthusiastic, and friendly. They will try chatting to you wherever you go, even if you don’t speak Portuguese. Uruguayans are initially more formal and reserved, but once you break through that barrier, you’ll have a friend for life.

For year-round living, Brazil’s Joao Pessoa got my vote...it’s safe, clean, low-rise along the beach, with affordable property prices, and a health-conscious feel.

For retirement, my money’s on Joao Pessoa again. For younger or health-conscious retirees, I rank it as Brazil’s top retirement destination.

For glamour, look no further than Punta del Este in Uruguay. What may surprise you is the number of affordable properties—more than 500 listed from $85-$170,000.

Culture buffs should head to Buenos Aires, and visit San Telmo for an authentic, traditional atmosphere, and properties for less than $1000 a square meter.

For culture in Brazil, head for Salvador in the state of Bahia. With a choice of small museums and galleries, and evening entertainment—along with Brazil’s finest colonial architecture—this city has a unique and exotic vibe.

For fabulous beach towns, it has to be Uruguay. Dotted along this country’s coast is a series of charming, unspoiled seaside towns that hark back to a time before amusement arcades and sprawling high-rises.

With an endless-summer feel, beautiful city bay and upscale living, Maceio is hard to beat as a second-home destination.

I’ll admit that Uruguay was my all-round favorite country out of the three…and I’m still looking for my own piece of paradise there. I’ll keep you updated.

Margaret Summerfield